Here is Think IP Strategy’s weekly selection of top Pharma & Biotech intellectual property news breaking in the blogosphere and internet.

Highlights this week included:

Efexor (Venlafaxine) – Australia: Federal Court blocks generic Efexor-XR: Sigma Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Ltd v Wyeth Australia Pty Ltd (Patentology) (BAZPAT) (GenericsWeb)

Please join the discussion by adding your comments on any of these stories, and please do let us know if you think we’ve missed something important, or if there is a source you think should be monitored.

General

Where in the world is pharmaceutical innovation? (Patent Baristas)

A round up of international events – Access and Benefit Sharing Protocol; review of Para 6 system; concerns with ACTA’s compatibility with TRIPS(Spicy IP)

Compromise UN protocol treaty against biopiracy adopted in Japan (IP Watch) (Innovation Law Blog)

TRIPS Council discusses efficacy of ACTA, public health amendment (IP Watch)

Altering genes in crops (IP Osgoode)

Asia Pacific Pharmas moving away from generics (GenericsWeb)

Belgium Commercial Court: No faultless liability for ‘saisie’ after patent limitation: GSK Biologicals / Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and Novartis AG (EPLAW)

UK: Amendment mid-stream: a question of timing: Omnipharm Ltd v Merial (PatLit)

US: Therasense to amplify demand for patent reexamination? (Patents Post Grant Blog)

US: University inventions, Stanford vs Roche (IPEG)

US: What ultimately matters in deciding the ‘gene patenting’ issue? (Patently-O)

US: Amicus brief filed by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals argues that Funk Bros. is about obviousness, not patent eligibility: AMP v USPTO (Holman’s Biotech IP Blog)

US: Amicus briefs in AMP v USPTO: Genetic Alliance (Patent Docs)

US: Patent expirations will stabilise the pharmaceutical industry (BiotechBlog)

US: Generic industry headed for a ‘180-day exclusivity cliff’ (FDA Law Blog)

US: PTO clarifies PTE availability in post-PhotoCure and post-Ortho-McNeil world; PhotoCure takes advantage of . . . . PhotoCure (FDA Law Blog)

US: Clinical trial requirements are top issue at FDA hearings on biosimilars (Patent Docs)

Products

Allegra (Fenofexadine, Psuedoephedrine) – US: Impax Laboratories receives final FDA approval for generic Allegra-D 60mg/120mg tablets (SmartBrief)

Allegra (Fexofenadine) – US: Sanofi-Aventis, Aventisub, Carderm file patent infringement complaint against Aurolife, Aurobindo following Para IV certification (Patent Docs)

Boniva (Ibandronate) – US: Roche succeeds in blocking release of Cobalt’s generic Boniva (Patent Docs)

Botox (Botumax) – EU: General Court rules TM case in favour of Botox (IP Osgoode)

Butrans (Buprenorphine) – US: Applicant claims PTE eligibility based on PhotoCure dicta; a set-up to a court challenge? (FDA Law Blog)

Crestor (Rosuvastatin) – US: AstraZeneca defeats Teva’s claim that Crestor infringes Teva’s patent (Orange Book Blog)

Crestor (Rosuvastatin) – US: AstraZeneca files patent infringement suit against Watson in response to Para IV certification (Patent Docs)

Efexor (Venlafaxine) – Australia: Federal Court blocks generic Efexor-XR: Sigma Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Ltd v Wyeth Australia Pty Ltd (Patentology) (BAZPAT) (GenericsWeb)

Fipronil – UK: Amendment mid-stream: a question of timing – EWPC ruling in Omnipharm v Merial (PatLit)

Husar – EU: Court of Justice rules on Hus(s)ar SPC: Case C-229/09 Hogan Lovells International v Bayer CropScience (The SPC Blog)

Locoid Lipicream (Hydrocortisone) – US: Triax files patent infringement complaint against Glenmark following Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Naropin (Ropivacaine) – US: CAFC sidesteps interesting questions of jurisdiction under 271(e)(2) and inducement of infringement in Ropivacaine case: Abraxis v Navinta (Orange Book Blog)

Nexium (Esomeprazole) – US: Ranbaxy sues AstraZeneca over Nexium patents (GenericsWeb)

Oleptro (Trazodone) – US: Labopharm receives notice of ANDA submission with Para IV certification for generic of Oleptro (GenericsWeb)

PrandiMet (Metformin, Repaglinide) – US: Novo Nordisk’s PrandiMet suit with Actavis dismissed (Patent Docs)

Pulmicort Respules (Budesonide) – US: AstraZeneca files patent infringement complaint against Sandoz following Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Roundup Ready soybean and cotton seed – US: Monsanto files patent infringement complaint against Southfork Farms based on use of seed produced from earlier planted Roundup Ready seeds (Patent Docs)

Sprycel (Dasatinib) – US: Bristol-Myers Squibb files patent infringement complaint against Apotex in response to Para IV challenge (Patent Docs)

Temodar (Temozolomide) – US: CAFC limits prosecution laches defense: Cancer Research Tech v Barr Labs (Inventive Step)

Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) – US: Five-year market exclusivity for Vyvanse upheld (GenericsWeb)

Zonnic (Nicotine) – Sweden: Svea Court of Appeal: Preliminary injunction cancelled – Niconovum v. McNeil (EPLAW)

Zymar (Gatifloxacin) – US: Allergan fails to secure new trial in Zymar case: Senju et al v Apotex (Patent Docs)