J&J: Court bars Mylan sale of generic Topamax to '08

NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters) - A U.S. court has permanently enjoined Mylan Laboratories Inc. MYL.N from selling a generic version of Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) epilepsy drug Topamax until 2008, J&J said on Thursday.

U.S. District Court Judge Stanley Chesler, who is in Newark, New Jersey, upheld the validity and enforceability of the Topamax patent, J&J said. Chesler's ruling directs U.S. regulators to change the effective date of Mylan's approvals for its generic to no earlier than Sept. 26, 2008, J&J said.