Ranbaxy gets patent boost in Lipitor battle(T.O.I.,29-4-08)

India's Ranbaxy Laboratories has received a boost in its patent litigation with Pfizer over cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor, with the US Patent and Trademarks Office rejecting the world's biggest pharma firm's request for reissue of patent. Lipitor is the world's largest selling drug and the two companies are engaged in patent infringement battles in various geographies, including U.K. and other countries in Europe.Originally the Lipitor patent is scheduled to expire in June 2011