News Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that the Japan IP High Court confirmed the decisions of the Japan Patent Office and ruled in Lilly's favor in the invalidation trials initiated by Sawai regarding Lilly's vitamin regimen patents for Alimta.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Japan Patent Office issued written decisions upholding the validity of the Alimta vitamin regimen patents.

If the patents are ultimately upheld through all challenges, they could provide intellectual property protection for Alimta in Japan until June 2021. Lilly will take necessary actions to defend and enforce the patents.

"We are pleased with the decision from the Japan IP High Court confirming the validity of the Alimta vitamin regimen patents," said Michael J. Harrington, senior vice president and general counsel for Lilly. "Lilly's significant scientific research in support of the Alimta vitamin regimen deserves intellectual property protection."

Harrington continued, "We continue to emphasize that protection of intellectual property rights is extremely important to the biopharmaceutical industry and to the patients we serve. These rights provide assurances of market exclusivity that help support the development of the next generation of innovative medicines to treat unmet medical needs."

About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and http://newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels.  C-LLY   

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding Japan Alimta patent litigation. These statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that the company will prevail in any appeal.  Also, the company cannot predict whether generic pemetrexed will be marketed prior to the resolution of this litigation. Other risk factors that may affect the company's results can be found in the company's latest Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

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Alimta® (pemetrexed, Lilly)

Refer to:  Lauren Zierke; lauren_zierke@lilly.com; +1 317-277-6524 (U.S. Media)   
               Hironori Hosoi; hosoi_hironori@lilly.com; +81-(0)90-7870-5600 (Japan Media)
               Phil Johnson; johnson_philip_l@lilly.com; +1 317-655-6874 (Investors)    

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/japan-ip-high-court-rules-in-lillys-favor-on-alimta-vitamin-regimen-patents-300401234.html

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company