U.S. Federal Judge Rules for Sanofi, Regeneron in Long-Running Patent Dispute; Amgen to Appeal

   By Maria Armental 
 

A U.S. federal judge handed a partial victory to Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. in a long-running patent dispute with Amgen Inc.

The judge ruled that Amgen's patent claims for antibodies targeting PCSK9 were invalid based on lack of enablement, overturning portions of a jury verdict that had upheld the validity of three claims.

"Amgen's patents are overly broad and invalid," Joseph LaRosa, Regeneron's general counsel, said in a statement. "Praluent was developed using Regeneron's proprietary science and technology and the judge has confirmed our position by issuing this ruling."

Amgen said it planned to appeal.

"We disagree with the Court's decision in reversing the jury verdict on enablement and will seek review by the appellate court," Amgen wrote. "Protecting intellectual property is critical to our business since it allows for our investment in the research and development of new medicines."

Amgen sued in 2014 trying to block the sale of Praluent, which Sanofi and Regeneron jointly developed.

Praluent and Amgen's Repatha were approved for sale in the U.S. in 2015. They are both part of a powerful drug class that promises help for patients who have struggled to control their cholesterol using older statin medicines.

The drugs target a protein called PCSK9 that interferes with the body's ability to clear artery-damaging cholesterol from the blood.

Write to Maria Armental at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 28, 2019 18:19 ET (22:19 GMT)

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