Prilosec patent extended

Washington, May 2 (Bloomberg) AstraZeneca, Europe's second-largest drugmaker, said the US Food and Drug Administration has extended the patent for Prilosec, the world's best-selling drug, for six months. AstraZeneca shares rose 21p, or 0.7%, to 3,266p in late trading. The FDA approved the use of the ulcer treatment in children, the company said in a statement released on the UK's Regulatory News Service. The company would not say when the extension will begin or expire, although analysts expect it will last through October. The extension, which was expected, will keep lower cost gen...