Pfizer Wins British Ruling on Lipitor Patent

Pfizer Inc. won a British court ruling protecting a key patent on Lipitor, the world’s bestselling drug, until 2011. Its shares rose the most in six months.

The High Court in London rejected a challenge to a Lipitor patent by India’s Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., which wants to release a generic version of the cholesterol treatment.

Analysts and investors said the British decision might influence investor views on the strength of Pfizer’s patents in the U.S., where Ranbaxy is pursuing a similar legal challenge.

Shares in Pfizer rose 54 cents, or 2.2%, to $24.84.