A U.S. judge on Tuesday dismissed Bayer’s patent lawsuit against Watson Pharmaceuticals and Novartis' Sandoz unit, which are seeking to market generic versions of Bayer's Yasmin birth control pills.

Bayer had alleged that the defendants infringed its patent by seeking U.S. approval to market generic versions of the oral contraceptive. The judge said that Bayer's patent does not claim a use for Yasmin that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The company's claim was dismissed "with prejudice," meaning it cannot be brought again.