Ciba-Geigy Corp. said Wednesday that a federal judge inNewark, N.J., has denied applications by both Ciba-Geigy andElan Corp. for temporary restraining orders against the othercompany's transdermal nicotine patch.

Ciba-Geigy sued Elan on Dec. 2, seeking a declaratory judgmentthat Elan's patent is invalid and that Ciba-Geigy's patch doesn'tinfringe that patent. Elan and its marketing partner, AmericanCyanamid, on Dec. 6 filed a counterclaim, alleging that Ciba-Geigy infringes their patent.

The court set a Jan. 28 date for hearing motions by both sidesfor preliminary injunctions against sales of the patches.

Ciba-Geigy has begun selling its patch, which received Food andDrug Administration approval on Nov. 27. Elan's patch hasn'tbeen approved.

A federal judge in San Francisco was expected to rule today onan injunction sought by Elan in its suit to block Alza Corp.'spatch.

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.