AstraZeneca secured an interim injunction in the Australian Federal Court to stop Pharmacor from selling or listing generic versions of dapagliflozin, the active ingredient in Forxiga, until the patent dispute is resolved.

The dispute centers on AU 2003237886, which covers dapagliflozin and expires on October 22, 2027; the court granted the injunction because AstraZeneca showed a prima facie case of infringement and potential irreparable harm if Pharmacor proceeded.

The injunction blocks Pharmacor from listing two generic versions of Forxiga on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, delaying cheaper options for consumers.

Both parties will propose a timetable for a full trial on infringement and invalidity, with the court planning a substantive trial later this year to determine the patent’s validity and scope.

More than 15 other generic firms had begun ARTG registrations for their own dapagliflozin versions, and a trial on the case is scheduled to begin in August.

Pharmacor argues the patent is invalid, but the court found its invalidity arguments arguable yet not strong enough to defeat the injunction at this stage, allowing the case to move toward a full trial.

The patent for Forxiga expires in late 2027, underscoring the ongoing balance between encouraging pharmaceutical innovation and ensuring affordable medications.

Pharmacor admitted infringement but contended the patent should be revoked as invalid; the judge found the infringement case strong and the potential harm to AstraZeneca’s monopoly and public interest in continued invention significant.

If the PBS listing had gone ahead, Forxiga’s ex-manufacturer price could have fallen by about 25%, a factor contributing to the injunction.

The injunction requires Pharmacor to withdraw or adjust its PBS listing applications and refrain from selling dapagliflozin products in Australia pending the proceedings.

Forxiga remains a top revenue driver for AstraZeneca, with around US$8.5 billion in 2025 sales and expected leadership in Australia through 2026–2027.