Hospira Inc. Ticks Up On Favorable Patent Ruling Vs Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc

Hospira Inc.

ticked up Tuesday after a federal judge ruled that four patents held by Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc.

are invalid. The ruling on Monday may pave the way for Hospira to launch a genetic version of Cubist's Cubicin antibiotic. Cubist relies heavily on the product for its revenue and expects to appeal the rulings, which it said won't affect its agreement announced Tuesday to be acquired by Merck & Co.

for $9.5 billion or $102 a share. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/912183/000110465914085477/a14-25779_2sc14d9c.htm Hospira traded recently at $60.64, up nearly 1 percent; Cubist fell nearly 4 percent, changing hands at $96.61. Cubist Chief Executive Michael Bonney said Hospira is barred by the ruling from entering the market with a generic version of Cubicin until June of 2016. Bonney expects the appeals process will conclude "well before June 2016.: Cubist sued Hospira in 2012 over alleged infringement on its Cubicin patent and a trial was held in February. Hospira made an agreement with Cubist, amended in October, not to launch its generic product in the U.S. before January 9, 2015 or until the court issued a ruling on the trial.