PTAB gives green light to four Acorda IPR trials
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has instituted trials on four patents owned by Acorda Therapeutics following challenges from the Coalition for Affordable Drugs and hedge fund manager Kyle Bass.
On Friday, March 11, the PTAB ruled that it will review the validity of the patents, which cover Acorda’s Ampyra (dalfampridine) drug, based on claims that they are obvious.
Ampyra is used to treat neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The drug assists patients with their ability to walk.
The PTAB said that the coalition had shown that it has a “reasonable likelihood” of prevailing” in its claim.
In December, Acorda accused the coalition of using the inter partes review process as a tool of harassment, criticised the coalition’s “legally deficient” analysis and urged the PTAB to throw out the case. But the PTAB declined the request and instituted trials on the four patents.
