Patent revoked, Israel opens generic Eliquis market
On May 11, 2026, the Jerusalem District Court dismissed Bristol-Myers Squibb’s appeal and confirmed that Israel’s patent term extension on Eliquis® (apixaban) has lapsed. The ruling followed the revocation of the UK reference patent, and the court held that Israeli law draws no distinction between retroactive revocation and prospective expiry. When a reference country opens its market to generic competition, Israel follows.
The decision carries significant implications for pharmaceutical companies operating in, or seeking to enter, the Israeli market. Bristol-Myers Squibb, the US-based global biopharmaceutical company, developed Eliquis as one of the world’s best-selling anticoagulants. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the Israel-based global generic medicines manufacturer and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, now has a clear path to market a generic version of apixaban in Israel.
S. Horowitz & Co. represented Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and the Manufacturers’ Association of Israel, with the team led by Tal Band, Ran Vogel, and Yair Ziv.
