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:

US: FTC alleges companies were asleep at the wheel when they failed to report settlement agreements on Ambien CR; Commission uses the opportunity to provide industry guidance – and a warning (FDA Law Blog) (GenericsWeb)

Gemzar (Gemcitabine) – US: Certiorari denied in Eli Lilly v. Sun Pharmaceuticals on question of obviousness-type double patenting (Patent Docs) (IPBiz)

Australia: Therapeutic Goods Legislation Amendment (Copyright) Bill 2011 passed unamended (IP Whiteboard)

 

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

New texts in play in WIPO traditional knowledge, genetic resources talks (IP Watch)

World Health Assembly to address organisational reform, IP issues (IP Watch)

Australia:  Therapeutic Goods Legislation Amendment (Copyright) Bill 2011 passed unamended (IP Whiteboard)

EU: AG Bot says, it’s not the re-boxer who matters but the boss: C‑400/09 & C‑207/10 Orifarm v Merck and Paranova v Merck Sharp & Dohme (IPKat)

EU: European Court of Justice considers embryonic stem cell ban: Oliver Brüstle v Greenpeace eV (Patent Docs)

India: Border push in EU FTA to hit pharma exports (GenericsWeb)

US: BPAI seeks further briefing on claim encompassing “400 billion oligomers”: Ex parte DeGrado (Patent Docs)

US: FDA completes implementation of Affordable Care Act sec. 10609 “generic loophole” provisions (FDA Law Blog)

US: Battelle Report: $3.8 billion investment in Human Genome Project drove $796 billion in economic impact creating 310,000 jobs and launching the genomic revolution (PatentlyBIOtech)

 

Products

Actos (Pioglitazone) – US: Breckenridge, Synthon reach agreement with Takeda settling Actos patent litigation (GenericsWeb)

Ambien (Zolpidem) – US: FTC alleges companies were asleep at the wheel when they failed to report settlement agreements on Ambien CR; Commission uses the opportunity to provide industry guidance – and a warning (FDA Law Blog) (GenericsWeb)

Amrix (Cyclobenzaprine) – US: District Court decides Amrix litigation in favor of ANDA filers, finding claims of patents-in-suit invalid for obviousness: In Re: Cyclobenzaprine Hyldrochloride Extended-Release Capsule Patent Litigation (Orange Book Blog)

Alendronate – Switzerland: Alendronate dosage regime patentable: Mepha, Helvepharm and Streuli Pharma AG vs. Merck (EPLAW)

Byetta, Bydureon (Exenatide) – US: Amylin files suit against Eli Lilly alleging anticompetitive activity and breach of strategic alliance agreements (GenericsWeb)

Copegus (Ribavarin) – Portugal: Lisbon Court of Appeal accepts registration for CORIÉGUS for dietetic substance – CORIÉGUS v. COPEGUS (Class 46)

Effexor (Venlafaxine) – US: Wyeth files patent infringement suit against Nostrum in response to Para IV challenge (Patent Docs)

Escitalopram – Germany: Escitalopram revisited – Federal Patent Court rules in favor of validity of SPC for enantiomer over earlier marketing authorization for racemate (Kluwer Patent Blog)

Fluticasone – US: Perrigo to settle all Hatch-Waxman litigation relating to Fluticasone lotion (GenericsWeb)

Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate) – US: Celgene files patent infringement complaint against Teva following Para IV certification (Patent Docs)

Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate) – US: Elan files patent infringement complaint against Teva following Para IV certification (Patent Docs)

Folotyn (Pralatrexate) – Global: Allos Therapeutics and Mundipharma announce strategic collaboration for Folotyn (GenericsWeb)

Gemzar (Gemcitabine) – US: Certiorari denied in Eli Lilly v. Sun Pharmaceuticals on question of obviousness-type double patenting (Patent Docs) (IPBiz)

Glumetza (Metformin) – US: Depomed receives notice of Para IV certification against patents from second ANDA filer, Sun Pharmaceutical (GenericsWeb)

Myfortic7 (Mycophenolate) – US: Novartis files patent infringement complaint against Teva in response to Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

NuvaRing (Etonogestrel, Estradiol) – US: ALJ Luckern sets procedural schedule in Certain Vaginal Ring Birth Control Devices (337-TA-768) (ITC Law Blog)

Losartan/HCTZ – France: Court of appeal confirms basic patent for Losartan covers any product comprising Losartan, including a product comprising Losartan and another product such as a diuretic, like HCTZ: Mylan v. Du Pont (EPLAW)

Opana (Oxymorphone) – US: CAFC: important decision controlling BPAI obviousness holdings: In re Kao (Patently-O) (PharmaPatents)

Silenor (Doxepin) – US: Somaxon sues Actavis over application to market generic Silenor (GenericsWeb)

Tanakan (Ginko Biloba) – France: Mylan ordered to pay €17M to Ipsen for unfair competition by marketing Vitalogink to pharmacists as an “equivalent” to Tanakan (EPLAW)

Valcyte (Valganciclovir) – US: Genentech files patent infringement complaint against Sandoz in response to Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Vimovo (Naproxen, Esomeprazole) – US: AstraZeneca files patent infringement complaint against Dr Reddy’s in response to Para IV certification (Patent Docs)

Xibrom (Bromfenac) – US: ISTA sues FDA over generic Xibrom approval, says ANDA approval should disappear in the blink of an eye (FDA Law Blog)