On November 6, 2017, Sandoz, Inc. filed its eighth inter partes review (“IPR”) against AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. (“AbbVie”), challenging yet another patent from the Humira® patent portfolio. Humira®, used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease, continues to be the number one selling drug in the world.[i] With

As previously reported, earlier this year Celltrion, Inc. (“Celltrion”) filed petitions seeking inter partes review (“IPR”) of certain Genentech patents covering Herceptin® (trastuzumab).  In particular, Celltrion challenged the patentability of certain claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,846,441 (“the ʼ441 patent”); 7,892,549 (“the ʼ549 patent”); 6,626,196 (“the ʼ196 patent”); 7,371,379 (“the ʼ379 patent”).  Earlier this month,

As we previously reported, Celltrion filed three petitions seeking inter partes review (“IPR”) of two patents related to Genentech and Biogen’s Rituxan® (rituximab).  Celltrion filed two petitions seeking review of U.S. Patent No. 7,682,612 (“the ʼ612 patent”) and one petition seeking review of U.S. Patent No. 8,206,711 (“the ʼ711 patent”).  The PTAB has now reached

Samsung Bioepis (“Bioepis”) has joined a growing list of challengers to Genentech’s U.S. Patent No. 6,407,213 (“the ʼ213 patent”) issued to Carter, et al. by filing two new petitions for inter partes review (“IPR”).  The ʼ213 patent, entitled “Method for Making Humanized Antibodies,” is generally directed to antibodies with humanized variable domains comprising non-human complementarity

Last week, Pfizer, Inc. (“Pfizer”) filed two petitions for inter partes review (“IPR”) of two patents related to Genentech and Biogen’s Rituxan® (rituximab).  One petition challenges all but two claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,682,612 (“the ʼ612 patent”), and has been assigned IPR2017-02126.  The other petition seeks review of all nine claims of U.S. Patent

On October 3, 2017, Pfizer, Inc. (“Pfizer”) filed a petition for inter partes review (“IPR”) against U.S. Patent No. 7,846,441 (“the ʼ441 patent”), assigned to Genentech, Inc. (“Genentech”), entitled “Treatment with anti-ErbB2 antibodies.”  The ʼ441 patent is related to Genentech’s Herceptin® (trastuzumab) product.  Last November, Pfizer announced positive results in a pivotal safety and efficacy

Sandoz, Inc. (“Sandoz”) entered into the battlefield over patents related to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab).  On July 20, 2017, Sandoz filed petitions with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) for inter partes review (“IPR”) of two patents assigned to AbbVie, U.S. Patent No. 8,802,100 (“the ’100 patent”) entitled “Formulation of Human Antibodies for Treating TNF-Alpha

On May 25, 2017, Pfizer, Inc. (“Pfizer”) filed two new petitions for inter partes review (“IPR”) of U.S. Patent No. 6,407,213 (“the ’213 patent”).  The ‘213 patent, entitled “Method for Making Humanized Antibodies,” issued on June 18, 2002.  Although the IPR petitions do not identify a particular biologic, Genentech has publicly stated that the technology

Partner Nikki Gifford gave a presentation entitled “Intellectual Property – Recent Developments and Implications,” at the World Biosimilar Congress in San Diego, California, on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. The 30-minute session covered: (1) the BPCIA’s “patent dance”; (2) what’s at stake in Sandoz v. Amgen, and the potential outcomes and practical implications of the