Pfizer considers appeal over Viagra ruling

Pfizer is considering launching an appeal against a court ruling in London that removed patent protection from a key ingredient in Viagra. The patent on Viagra as a compound remains in place, but the patent covering the use of the phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE 5) inhibitor in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction has been overturned.

The court ruling that Viagra had no general patent protection on the PDE 5 inhibitor is seen …