Supreme Court Rules Hikma Did Not Infringe Amarin Patents, Overturning Lower Court Win for Branded Drugmaker

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on June 4, 2026, that Hikma Pharmaceuticals did not infringe patents held by Amarin. The decision overturned a lower court ruling that had sided with Amarin. The case centered on so-called skinny labels, a practice in which generic companies seek regulatory approval to market a medicine for a specific use but not other patented uses.

A generic drug could be marketed to treat one type of heart problem but not another. The ruling makes generic drugmakers less vulnerable to lawsuits over skinny labels. Generic drugmakers had argued that a Supreme Court decision in favor of Amarin would discourage them from making and selling lower-cost versions of brand-name medicines.

The lawsuit was closely watched for its implications for the availability of generics. The Supreme Court decision was issued in Washington.