July 16 (Reuters) - A federal judge rejected Novartis'

request for a preliminary injunction to stop MSN

Pharmaceuticals from selling a generic version of the

blockbuster heart medication Entresto.

In a decision on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin

in Newark, New Jersey also reversed her prior ruling that

Novartis would likely succeed on its claim of trade dress

infringement against the defendant

MSN proposed selling a generic version of Entresto under the

name Novadoz, which blends the names of Novartis and its Sandoz

generics unit.

Padin also said Novartis' exclusivity over Entresto may not

continue indefinitely, and that "denial of injunctive relief and

the availability of a generic alternative to a life-savings

medication is in the public interest."

Novartis and its lawyers did not immediately respond to

requests for comment on Wednesday. The judge said its

patent-related exclusivity expires today, July 16.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Chizu

Nomiyama )