Pfizer Inc announced that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has granted reissue patent RE40667, relating to Lipitor. The company had applied for the reissue patent in January 2007, in order to correct a technical defect in the '995 enantiomer patent for atorvastatin calcium, the salt form of atorvastatin sold as Lipitor. On January 6, 2009, the company announced that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office had issued a "Notice of Allowance" accepting the company's application to correct the technical defect in the '995 patent. The reissue patent will have the same force and effect as the original '995 patent and the same June 2011 expiration date (including the six-month pediatric exclusivity period).
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Founded in 1849, Pfizer is the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company taking new approaches to better health. We discover, develop, manufacture and deliver quality, safe and effective prescription medicines to treat and help prevent disease for both people and animals. We also partner with healthcare providers, governments and local communities around the world to expand access to our medicines and to provide better quality health care and health system support. At Pfizer, more than 80,000 colleagues in more than 90 countries work every day to help people stay happier and healthier longer and to reduce the human and economic burden of disease worldwide.