CIPA Life Sciences: an update on the UPC
Kevin Mooney, chairman of the drafting committee for the Unified Patent Court (UPC)’s rules of procedure, explained the current state of play to the CIPA Life Sciences conference.
CIPA Life Sciences: How to navigate the EPO boards of appeal
The EPO boards of appeal are unlikely to be able to reduce the case backlog anytime soon, but attorneys should be wary of possible changes in board practice, former board head Alec Clelland told the CIPA Life Sciences conference.
Senate IP counsel set for Covington switch
Aaron Cooper, chief counsel for IP and antitrust law in the US Senate Judiciary Committee, is to join law firm Covington & Burling LLP.
FTC clarifies rules on patent right transfers
The FTC has issued final changes to the premerger notification rules that require pharmaceutical companies to report certain proposed patent right acquisitions to the commission and US Department of Justice for antitrust review.
Biologics milestone as court denies declaratory judgment
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has dismissed biosimilar maker Sandoz’s motion for declaratory judgment that its etanercept product does not infringe biopharmaceutical company Amgen’s arthritis drug Enbrel.
Shire acquires ViroPharma in $4.2 billion orphan drug deal
UK-based drugmaker Shire plc announced on November 11 that it had acquired rare disease biopharmaceutical company ViroPharma in an agreement worth approximately $4.2 billion.
Supreme Court hears Medtronic case
On November 5, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Medtronic Inc v Boston Scientific Corporation case to determine whether the patent holder or licensee bears the burden of proof in matters where declaratory judgment of non-infringement has been sought.
Syntrix celebrates US damages ruling
A federal court has upheld a ruling that biotech company Illumina should pay rival Syntrix $115 million and an 8 percent running royalty rate for patent infringement.
Forest and Actavis settle over blood pressure drug
US pharmaceutical company Forest Laboratories and drug company Actavis have settled a legal dispute over a patent protecting blood pressure drug Bystoli (nebivolol).
SPC questions referred to CJEU in Actavis v Boehringer
The UK Patents Court has referred four questions to the CJEU seeking clarification on how the SPC Regulation should be interpreted in relation to drug products made of a combination of active ingredients.
