Johnson & Johnson’s Centocor unit has won $1.67 billion, the largest patent verdict in US history, from Abbott Laboratories over an invention used to produce the Humira arthritis drug.

The federal court jury in Marshall, Texas, sided with JJ, the world’s biggest health-care company, after five hours of deliberations yesterday, finding Abbott’s actions were wilful and J&J is owed $1.17 billion in lostprofits and $504 million in royalties. – Bloomberg