A Denmark court has ruled in Pfizer's favor in challenges to two of its patents covering atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor.

Generics manufacturer Ranbaxy had challenged the patents.

The court ruled that the basic patent, which expires in November 2011, would be infringed by Ranbaxy's generic atorvastatin product. The court also ruled that the atovastatin enantiomer patent is valid. That patent expires in July 2010.

The ruling prevents Ranbaxy from launching its generic product before November 2011.

Pfizer Inc. is based in New York.