MANILA, Philippines - United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab) can still sell its generic version of Pfizer Inc.'s Lipitor in drugstores and retail outlets after a Makati court denied the latter's petition for a preliminary injunction.

Judge Joselito Villarosa of the Makati regional trial court branch 66 denied Pfizer's application for a preliminary injunction barring Unilab and Therapharma Inc. from selling the generic version of Atorvastatin Calcium under the brand name Avamax.

Atorvastatin Calcium, which has the trade name Lipitor, is an anti-cholesterol medicine.

"The court finds no extreme urgency and paramount necessity for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction," Villarosa said in a decision dated February 8.

In a statement, Pfizer said it will file a motion for reconsideration as it still believes in the strong merits of the case, and will give the court a chance to re-evaluate the evidence presented before it.

The company added that its patent over Lipitor remains valid and enforceable since its infringement case against Unilab remains pending in the courts.