Bristol-Myers Squibb Company reports that the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has denied the company's appeal of a February 2013 ruling by the US District Court for the District of Delaware that found the patent (US patent 5,206,244) covering Baraclude (entecavir) invalid. Baraclude is a drug for treating chronic hepatitis B.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.reports that its abbreviated new drug application for entecavir has received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Teva will finalize the launch plans for this product once it receives final approval from the FDA.

Source: Bristol-Myers Squibb and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries