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27 January 2017Americas

Doctors back Sanofi in Amgen injunction appeal

A number of doctors have filed amicus briefs backing Sanofi and Regeneron in their fight against an injunction obtained by Amgen.

In two briefs, doctors asked the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to undo a permanent injunction which stops Sanofi’s cholesterol-lowering drug Praluent (alirocumab) from being sold on the market.

The injunction was granted earlier this month when Amgen’s patents on Repatha (evolocumab) were found to be valid.

In the amicus briefs, the doctors argued that removing the drug from the market would have “immediate detrimental effects” on patients.

Some argued that pulling the drug off the market would increase the risk of major cardiovascular problems for their patients and that it would jeopardise the integrity of a research project.

As previously reported by LSIPR, Sanofi and Regeneron’s motion to suspend the injunction following its patent dispute with Amgen at the US District Court for the District of Delaware was denied on January 5.

However, the court delayed the imposition of the injunction for an additional 15 days after having already delayed it for 30 days. The injunction is due to come into force in February.

On January 13, Sanofi and Regeneron announced that they filed a motion with the Federal Circuit to suspend the injunction pending the appeal.

Regeneron said in a statement: “We are hopeful that the appellate court will rule on our stay motion within the next few weeks.

“An injunction would not be in the best interests of patients, and we are focused on ensuring Praluent remains available to patients in need. It is our longstanding position that Amgen’s asserted patent claims are invalid.”