NEW YORK - ABBOTT Laboratories plans to appeal a jury's US$1.67 billion (S$2.41 billion) patent infringement ruling in a case involving two blockbuster drugs that treat rheumatoid arthritis and other immune disorders.

Late on Monday, a jury in the Eastern District of Texas found that Abbott's best-selling drug, Humira, violated a patent on Johnson & Johnson's Remicade. The two biologic drugs each treat arthritis by blocking proteins that cause inflammation. Abbott said on Tuesday it will appeal the ruling.

Both Remicade and Humira are drugs that are approved to treat a variety of immune system-related ailments, including psoriasis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They work by blocking proteins called tumour necrosis factor. When too much of that protein is present in the body, it can cause inflammation and damage to bones, cartilage and tissue.

Wyeth and Amgen Inc's drug Enbrel works in the same fashion, as does Cimzia from Belgium's UCB.

In a note to clients, Goldman Sachs analyst Jami Rubin said the appeals process could last for years, and the award could be reduced or eliminated. She said Johnson & Johnson is not trying to block further sales of Humira and the Texas jury was not asked to award royalties on Humira sales.

Rubin believes Abbott, based in North Chicago, Illinois, could afford to make the payment if it must.

Remicade was first approved August 1998. Humira gained Food and Drug Administration approval at the end of 2002. Abbott says it discovered Humira, and filed a patent application in 1996.

Johnson & Johnson reported US$3.7 billion in Remicade sales in 2008. Remicade is administered once every six to eight weeks by a health care professional.

Humira is Abbott's top-selling drug, with revenue of US$4.5 billion last year. Abbott predicted sales of up to US$5.4 billion in 2009.

Johnson & Johnson, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, filed its suit against Abbott in April 2007. German drugmaker Bayer is also suing Abbott for patent infringement, saying Humira infringes on a patent it registered decades ago. Abbott said Humira doesn't infringe that patent, and believes Bayer's patent is not valid and not enforceable. -- AP