Eli Lilly and Co has said that a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the launch of a generic version of osteoporosis drug Evista.

Lilly said the action by Judge Sarah Barker of US District Court, Southern District of Indiana blocks Israeli drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from launching a cheaper copycat form of Evista until the court renders its final ruling.

Lilly previously sought and been granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the generic launch.

Analysts were concerned Teva, which has challenged Evista's patent, would launch its copycat if the judge rejected.

Lilly's motion and that it would quickly wrest away most of the branded drug's $650 million in annual US sales.

'We believe Teva's challenges to Lilly's Evista patents are without merit and we expect to prevail in this litigation,' Robert Armitage, Lilly's general counsel, said in a statement. – Reuters