Novartis says will defend rights on Femara

ZURICH, May 3 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG (NOVN.VX) will continue to defend its intellectual property rights on Femara after U.S. approval of a generic version of the breast cancer drug from Mylan Laboratories Inc. MYL.N, a spokesman said.

"We will continue to protect our intellectual property," Novartis spokesman John Gilardi said on Thursday.

((Reporting by Sam Cage,

Email: zurich.newsroom@reuters.com

Reuters Messaging:

sam.cage.reuters.com@reuters.net Telephone: +41 (0) 44 631 7457)) Keywords: MYLAN/NOVARTIS

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