Pfizer faces injunction over pregnancy tests patent

Inverness Medical Innovations Inc said it has obtained a preliminary injunction against Pfizer Inc, based on a finding that Pfizer's e.p.t. pregnancy tests, manufactured for Pfizer by Apogent Inc's subsidiary ABI, may infringe its patent.

The US District Court for the District of New Jersey, which granted the injunction, "also found that Pfizer raised no substantial questions as to the validity or enforceability of the patent", Inverness said in a statement.

The order precludes Pfizer from selling the ABI pregnancy tests, effective upon posting of a bond, and denied Pfizer's request for a stay of the injunction pending appeal, which Inverness anticipates.

Pfizer is in the process of replacing the ABI pregnancy tests with an alternative version but Inverness also alleges that the replacement infringes the same patent.

Inverness provides women's health and nutritional products and develops advanced medical devices.