Russian pharmaceutical company PSK Pharma has filed a lawsuit against the American corporation Pfizer in the Intellectual Property Court (IPC). As reported by Gazeta.Ru, the plaintiff is demanding a review of Rospatent’s decision regarding the rights to a drug used for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis.
The Core of the Claim: The Tofacitinib Dispute
The judicial conflict centers on tofacitinib, the active ingredient in the original drug Xeljanz, which Pfizer registered on the Russian market in 2013.
In January 2026, Rospatent refused a request for the early termination of Pfizer’s Russian patent No. 007251 for this drug. The current validity period of this protective document expires in May 2027. Disagreeing with the regulator’s position, PSK Pharma filed a lawsuit with the Intellectual Property Court on April 10, 2026.
According to case materials, on April 17, the court temporarily stayed the application due to procedural violations (missing supporting documents), but the plaintiff subsequently submitted the necessary additional paperwork.
Background: The Dispute Over the Generic
The conflict over the patent protection of tofacitinib in Russia has been ongoing for several years. Previously, PSK Pharma registered its own generic drug under the trade name Tofara.
However, the American corporation successfully obtained a court injunction banning the introduction of this Russian analog into civil circulation. This ban was imposed as part of a dispute over a different patent for tofacitinib, with the restrictions remaining in effect until November 2025.
Market Implications:
The outcome of this new litigation is critical for the entire segment of tofacitinib-based drugs. The court’s decision will determine whether Pfizer can maintain its patent monopoly in its current scope and will dictate the timeline for launching accessible generics into the Russian pharmaceutical market in the coming years.
