Pfizer has settled an ongoing battle with Teva Pharmaceuticals and several other parties to prevent the sale of Teva’s copycat version of the world’s best-selling drug, Lipitor (atorvastatin).

Under the terms of the agreement Teva, Phoenix Healthcare Distribution, Barclay Pharmaceuticals, AAH Pharmaceuticals, L Rowland & Co and Day Lewis will not the generic before May 2012, when the patent expires.

Pfizer commenced legal proceedings against Teva and three major wholesalers in July.

Upon the decision of a full trial, Pfizer said in a statement that Teva acknowledges that the Lipitor patent is valid and infringed by Teva’s product.

In November, Pfizer will launch a chewable low-dose version of Lipitor in the EU.