Janssen Remicade patent invalidated in Massachusetts
The US District Court for the District of Massachusetts has issued a ruling on a summary judgment motion filed by Celltrion Healthcare and Hospira, invalidating a Janssen patent related to Remicade (infliximab).
The invalidated patent is US number 6,284,471, but Janssen is continuing the appeal process in proceedings related to the patent before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which has already invalided the patent as well.
The case arose after Janssen filed a lawsuit against Celltrion and Hospira with claims that their proposed biosimilar drug infringes the patent, which is due to expire in 2018.
Celltrion developed the drug, called Inflectra, and Ho spira has the rights to market it in the US.
Besides continuing the appeal process with the USPTO, Janssen will also appeal against the decision.
Johnson & Johnson said in a statement yesterday on behalf of its subsidiary Janssen: “Janssen is disappointed with the court’s ruling and plans to appeal the decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.”
The company also said that a commercial launch of an infliximab biosimilar before the outcome of the appeals would be considered “at-risk”.
Remicade is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and ankylosing spondylitis by reducing the effects of substances in the body that can cause inflammation.
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