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: CAFC confirms that isolated DNA may be patented: Association for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Orange Book Blog) (IP Watch) (KEI) (Patent Docs) (Patent Docs) (IP Spotlight) (Patently-O) (Inventive Step) (Patentology) (Patent Law Practice Center) (IPBiz) (Out-Law) (PharmaPatents) (Maier & Maier) (Patent Docs) (Patent Baristas)

Memantine – EU: CJEU ruling rejects pre-65/65 authorisations: Case C-195/09 Synthon v Merz Pharma (The SPC Blog) (EPLAW)

Modafinil – UK: EWHC: Constructing a case for infringing particle-size patents: Cephalon Inc, Cephalon France SAS and Cephalon (UK) Ltd v Orchid Europe Ltd and Generics (UK) Ltd (t/a Mylan) (JIPLP) (Spicy IP)

 

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

EU – India agreement in WTO dispute raises bar for EU drug seizures (IP Watch)

EU: CJEU rules on repackaging of pharma goods: Joined Cases C-400/09 and C-207/10 Orifarm and Paranova v Merck Sharp Dohme (Class 46) (IPKat)

EU: Ophtal v Oftal Cusi- General Court upholds finding of no likelihood of confusion for identical goods in T-160/09 (Class 46)

EU: The holiday is over: a close reading of the opinion in Medeva: Joined Cases C‑322/10 Medeva v Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and C‑422/10 Georgetown University v Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (The SPC Blog)

France: Limitation of the French designation of a European patent: before which office?: Cour d’Appel Paris decision in Teva v Eli Lilly (Kluwer Patent Blog)

US: CAFC confirms that isolated DNA may be patented: Association for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Orange Book Blog) (IP Watch) (KEI) (Patent Docs) (Patent Docs) (IP Spotlight) (Patently-O) (Inventive Step) (Patentology) (Patent Law Practice Center) (IPBiz) (Out-Law) (PharmaPatents) (Maier & Maier) (Patent Docs) (Patent Baristas)

US: CAFC ruling casts doubt on patent eligibility of “purified” (as opposed to “isolated”) biomolecules: Association for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Holman’s Biotech IP Blog)

US: Myriad writes to CAFC on standing issue (Patent Docs) (Patent Docs) (Holman’s Biotech IP Blog)

US: In the first 7 months of 2011, the FDA has approved 18 new molecular entity pharmaceutical drugs (and no biologic NMEs) (KEI)

US: Embryonic stem cell funding suit dead: Sherley v. Sebelius (Patent Baristas)

US: IOM recommends replacing 510(k) clearance process “as soon as reasonably possible” (FDA Law Blog)

US: PDUFA IV user fees end with a bang, not a whimper! Application fee increases by a whopping 19.4% (or almost $300K) (FDA Law Blog)

US: Life sciences venture funding up 37% in second quarter (Patent Docs)

 

Products

Arava (Leflunomide) – Australia: FCA ‘evergreens’ Arava: Sanofi-Aventis Australia v Apotex (Patentology)

Cambia (Diclofenac) – US: Nautilus files patent infringement complaint against Edict Pharmaceuticals in response to Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Cenestin – US: CAFC affirms summary judgment of no DOE infringement in Cenestin case: Duramed v. Paddock (Orange Book Blog) (Holman’s Biotech IP Blog)

Cetrorelix – UK: Non-payment of Cetrorelix fee on time fatal for SPC: Case BLO/252/11 The Administrators of the Tulane Education Fund (The SPC Blog)

Detrol (Tolterodine tartrate) – US: Pfizer files patent infringement complaint against Torrent Pharma in response to Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Galantamine – EU: CJEU ruling in Case C-427/09 Generics (UK) Ltd v Synaptech (The SPC Blog) (EPLAW)

Memantine – EU: CJEU ruling rejects pre-65/65 authorisations: Case C-195/09 Synthon v Merz Pharma (The SPC Blog) (EPLAW)

Modafinil – UK: EWHC: Constructing a case for infringing particle-size patents: Cephalon Inc, Cephalon France SAS and Cephalon (UK) Ltd v Orchid Europe Ltd and Generics (UK) Ltd (t/a Mylan) (JIPLP) (Spicy IP)

Naltrexzone – US: Pellet Technologies files patent infringement suit against Martin Avenue Pharmacy over Naltrexzone containing pellets (Patent Docs)

Rapamycin-coated stents – US: CAFC’s expanding application of the written description requirement: Boston Scientific v Johnson & Johnson (Patent Docs)

Rapamycin-coated stents – US: Johnson & Johnson petitions CAFC for rehearing en banc: Boston Scientific v Johnson & Johnson (Patent Docs)

Strattera (Atomoxetine) – US: CAFC affirms validity of Lilly’s Strattera patent: Eli Lilly v Actavis Elizabeth (GenericsWeb)

Valsartan/HCT – Switzerland: Swiss Federal Supreme Court: Payment of court fees and reimbursement of plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees by alleged patent infringer because of defendant’s contradictory conduct and plaintiff’s good faith (Kluwer Patent Blog)

Viagra (Sildenafil) – US: Pfizer files patent infringement complaint against Hetero Drugs, Invagen in response to Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Vimovo (Naproxen, Esomeprazole) – US: Astrazeneca files patent infringement complaint against Lupin in response to Para IV challenge (Patent Docs)

Zemplar (Paricalcitol) – US: Abbott Laboratories files patent infringement complaint against Hospira following Para IV certification filing (Patent Docs)

Zurcal (Tamsulosin) – EU: General Court upholds finding of likelihood of confusion between ZUFAL and ZURCAL for identical goods (Class 46)