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:

Viagra (Sildenafil) – US: Pfizer’s patent on Viagra upheld by the EDVA: Pfizer v Teva (Rocket Docket IP Blog) (Patent Docs) (The IP Factor)

Actos (Pioglitazone) – Brazil: STJ rules against extension of patent related to Actos (IP tango)

 

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

John LaMattian, former head of Pfizer R&D, says industry mergers have harmed R&D efforts (KEI)

Non-communicable diseases and IP? (BIOtechNOW)

Matrix tablets and scope of protection: a reader asks (The SPC Blog)

UK: Manual of Patent Practice revised to include guidelines for assessing obviousness of ‘selection inventions’ in light of Dr Reddy (IPKat)

US: Strength in numbers? The lobbying push for a PTE (FDA Law Blog)

US: Generics fees: A fantastic opportunity (profitability through simplicity)

USPTO announces agenda for next BCP customer partnership meeting (Patent Docs)

US: GOP candidates unified in opposition to embryonic cell research (Patent Docs)

US: District Court Massachusetts: Method of detecting fetal down syndrome passes muster under Bilski‘s machine-or-transformation test: PerkinElmer, Inc., et. al. v. Intema Limited (Docket Report)

US: Is claim construction the key to patent-eligibility of isolated DNA?: AMP v USPTO (Patent Docs)

US: WFU law professor says Federal Circuit failed as “keeper of the Constitution” in AMP v. USPTO (Patent Docs)

US: ALJ Rogers sets procedural schedule in Certain Coenzyme Q10 (337-TA-790) (ITC 337 Law Blog)

 

Products

Actos (Pioglitazone) – Brazil: STJ rules against extension of patent related to Actos (IP tango)

Frova (Frovatriptan) – US: Endo Pharmaceuticals files patent infringement complaint against Mylan in response to Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Gemzar (Gemcitabine) – US: ALJ Rogers grants motion to terminate investigation in Certain Gemcitabine (337-TA-766) (ITC 337 Law Blog)

Gemzar (Gemcitabine) – US: Lilly and Hospira settle Gemzar patent suit (Patent Docs)

Latisse (Bimatoprost) – US: Allergan files patent infringement complaint against Hi-Tech following Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Levitra (Vardenafil) – Brazil: Anvisa Official Gazette reports ban on import of batch of counterfeit Levitra (IP tango)

Lexapro (Escitalopram) – Brazil: STJ Vice President restores power of Anvisa to grant registration of generic medicines containing active ingredient Escitalopram (IP tango)

Lexapro (Escitalopram) – Germany: Escitalopram ruling in English – now we know why there’s no ECJ reference (The SPC Blog)

Lipitor (Astorvastatin) – Philippines: Pharma patent litigation: Pfizer v Unilab & Therapharma (IP Komodo)

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) – US: Pfizer files patent infringement complaints against MSP Singapore and Macleods Pharmaceuticals in response to Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Memantine – Austria: Obster Gerichtshof: If SPC should have been denied (or granted with limited scope), because application period following date of first marketing approval has lapsed, it is entirely or partially void (Kluwer Patent Blog)

Memantine – Germany: Bundesgerichtshof concludes SPC invalid due to underlying patent invalidity for lack of novelty (The SPC Blog)

Prandin (Repaglimide) – US: Sandoz seeks declaratory judgment of invalidity, uneforceability and non-infringement based on its Para IV certification filing to manufacture generic version of Novo Nordisk’s Prandin (Patent Docs)

Ramipril – Hungary: Supreme Court holds first marketing authorization for pharmaceutical product granted in any EU Member State before 1 January 2000 excludes grant of SPC (Kluwer Patent Blog)

Refacto (Factor VIII) – US: The value of a patent beyond its expiration date: Genetics Institute v. Novartis (IPBiz)

Simcor (Niacin, Simvastatin) – US: Abbott Laboratories files patent infringement complaint against Teva in response to Para IV challenge (Patent Docs)

Vanos (Fluocinonide) – US: Medicis and Nycomed settle Vanos patent dispute (Patent Docs)

Viagra (Sildenafil) – US: Pfizer’s patent on Viagra upheld by the EDVA: Pfizer v Teva (Rocket Docket IP Blog) (Patent Docs) (The IP Factor)