Wednesday's Health Winners & Losers

Health stocks were apathetic midweek, save for a few bigger players slinging news and earnings into the fray.

Israeli generic-drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical(TEVA Quote) and Wyeth(WYE Quote) ended the standstill agreement for patent litigation on a generic version of acid-reflux treatment Protonix. Wyeth and partner Nycomed said after Tuesday's market close that it immediately would begin marketing its own generic version of the drug, which was due to see patent expiration in 2010. The move gives Teva the freedom to resume sales of its generic form of Protonix, which it originally introduced in December.

Despite the decision to market a generic version of the drug itself, Wyeth said the battle brews on. "Going forward, we will continue to seek an injunction against any infringement of this patent, as well as monetary damages, including lost profits, from Teva." ...