UPDATE 1-US court bars generic of AstraZeneca asthma drug

* Hearing to extend restraining order set for April 27

* Astra says confident in intellectual property rights

By Bill Berkrot

NEW YORK, April 16 (Reuters) - A U.S. court on Thursday granted a temporary restraining order that bars Apotex from selling a generic version of AstraZeneca's lucrative Pulmicort Respules asthma medicine, the British drugmaker said.

The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey is expected to hold a hearing on April 27 to determine whether the injunction should be continued, AstraZeneca (AZN.L) said.

Astra filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apotex earlier this month to stop the privately held Canadian company from selling the generic before its U.S. patents expire.

Apotex was granted approval for a generic version of the asthma medicine from U.S. health regulators.

"AstraZeneca has full confidence in the strength of its intellectual property rights protecting Pulmicort Respules and will continue to vigorously defend and enforce its intellectual property," the company said in a statement.

Apotex did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the court decision.