Patent Prospector: Heart Attack

Patent Prospector: Heart Attack: "Toprol-XL� is a drug used to treat heart-related malfunctions. Astra owns two patents for its active ingredient, metoprolol succinate; patents which Astra asserted against generic drug makers seeking FDA approval; patents with a peculiar pedigree. The district court found Astra's metoprolol patents invalid owing to double patenting, and inequitable conduct, owing to the peculiar pedigree. Astra appealed the invalidity finding of one asserted patent, leaving the other dead without appeal."