Glaxo’s Augmentin Patents Invalidated

A federal judge invalidated GlaxoSmithKline’s patents for Augmentin, clearing the way for rivals to introduce low-cost versions of the $2-billion-a-year antibiotic.

Generic-drug makers Geneva Pharmaceuticals Inc., a unit of Novartis; Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd.; and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. sued to invalidate three patents that protect Augmentin from generic competition through December.

Glaxo’s U.S. shares fell $1.56 to $46.39 in NYSE trading.