Teva loses key battle in Copaxone patent fight

US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Friday denied a request by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd to stay a lower-court ruling in a patent case that favored the developers of generic versions of Teva's top-selling multiple sclerosis drug.

The decision could help pave the way for generic competitors of the Israeli pharmaceutical company's Copaxone drug to go on the market as soon as May 2014. (Reuters)