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:

EU: No more patents for cells derived from human embryos in EU – ECJ issues final verdict in Brüstle v Greenpeace (C‑34/10) (Patent Docs) (Patent Docs) (IPKat) (IP finance) (Innovationpartners) (IAM)

Exelon (Rivastigmine) – UK: EWHC (Pat): Enantiomer not patentable over racemate mixture in UK: Generics (UK) v Novartis (Patent Baristas) (The SPC Blog) (IPEG) (EPLAW)

Sipralexa (Escitalopram) – Belgium: Brussels Commercial Court holds Escitalopram to be the same product as Citalopram under Articles 3(c)-(d) of the SPC-Regulation: Ratiopharm (Teva) and Tiefenbacher v Lundbeck (EPLAW) (The SPC Blog)

 

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

Trade and access to medicines: things the WTO should consider (IP Watch)

WTO trains officials on TRIPS flexibilities for public health (IP Watch)

Coverage of persons living with HIV included in Gilead MPP licenses (KEI)

KEI comments on the ITPC Letter to the Medicines Patent Pool Foundation and UNITAID (KEI)

UNITAID 3rd consultative forum; nineteen IP recommendations (KEI)

A response from the authors of The Health Impact Fund (IP Watch)

P J Heald’s latest research – “Veggie Tales: Pernicious Myths About Patents, Innovation and Crop Diversity in the Twentieth Century” (IPKat)

EU: No more patents for cells derived from human embryos in EU – ECJ issues final verdict in Brüstle v Greenpeace (C‑34/10) (Patent Docs) (Patent Docs) (IPKat) (IP finance) (Innovationpartners) (IAM)

EU: SPCs – Every day counts – bu how do we count them? (The SPC Blog)

Portugal: Lisbon Commercial Court (first instance) revokes INPI decision which had rejected the registration IMUNID due to the existence of likelihood of confusion with previous CTM IMMUNIQ, both referring to “Dietetic substances adapted for medical use” (Class 46)

Portugal: Pharmaceutical patent litigation in Portugal (PatLit)

South Africa: TK legislation in the new tradition (IP Watch)

US: FDA approval of biologics under 505(b)(2) expected to increase (Patent Docs)

US: Office of Orphan Products Development SOPP clarifies orphan drug designation policies (FDA Law Blog)

US: Representatives oppose President’s attempt to reduce data exclusivity period (Patent Docs)

US: Proposed statutory change could make de novo process more appealing (FDA Law Blog)

US: Biotech opponents argue that GE foods are materially different from conventional food (FDA Law Blog)

US: Patentable subject matter at the Supreme Court (Inventive Step)

US: Myriad case to be appealed to Supreme Court? (IPBiz)

US: Patent protection for the BRCA1 gene and genetic diagnostic methods in the USA: AMP v USPTO (JIPLP)

US: Marking with an unenforceable patent does not create intent to deceive: Hollander v Hospira (Chicago Intellectual Property Law Blog)

US: Regenerative Sciences lawsuit update and FDA’s attempt to broaden the definition of “interstate commerce”: USA v Regenerative Sciences (FDA Law Blog)

 

Products

Embeda (Morphine, Naltrexone) – US: Pfizer, Alpha Pharmaceuticals and King Pharmaceuticals file patent infringement complaint against Watson following Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Erlotinib – India: Roche files a total of ten law suits for infringement of its Erlotinib patent – IN 196774 (Spicy IP)

Exelon (Rivastigmine) – UK: EWHC (Pat) Enantiomer not patentable over racemate mixture in UK: Generics (UK) v Novartis (Patent Baristas) (The SPC Blog) (IPEG) (EPLAW)

Exelon (Rivastigmine) – US: Novartis files patent infringement complaint against Alembic and Breckenridge in response to Para IV challenge (Patent Docs)

Fortical (Calcitonin Salmon) – US: Standard for determining obviousness in chemical cases: Unigene Labs. and Upsher-Smith Labs v. Apotex (Spicy IP)

Levofloxacin – EU: Daiichi TRIPS reference: more time to comment!: Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH v DEMO Anonimos Viomikhaniki kai Emporiki Etairia Farmakon (IPKat) (The SPC Blog)

Naprelan (Naproxen) – US: Lawsuit seeks to compel FDA compliance with PDUFA user fee waiver provisions: Stat-Trade v USFDA (FDA Law Blog)

OxyContin(Oxycodone) – US: Purdue Pharma files patent infringement complaint against Ranbaxy in response to Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Plavix (Clopidogrel) – US: CAFC: Apotex wins on prejudgment interest issue in Plavix case: Sanofi-Aventis v Apotex (IPBiz) (Patently-O)

Sipralexa (Escitalopram) – Belgium: Brussels Commercial Court holds Escitalopram to be the same product as citalopram under Articles 3(c)-(d) of the SPC-Regulation: Ratiopharm (Teva) and Tiefenbacher v Lundbeck (EPLAW) (The SPC Blog)

Taxotere (Docetaxel) – Australia: Refusal of preliminary injunctions – a recent case: Interpharma v Aventis (Patentology)

Valsartan – Austria first instance court holds that Valsartan/HCTZ product infringes the mono SPC for Valsartan (The SPC Blog)

Zymaxid (Gatifloxacin) – US: Senju, Kyorin and Allergan file patent infringement suit against Hi-Tech Pharmacal following Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)