Latest News & Features
Americas
The US Patent and Trademark Office has rejected the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard’s request for a time extension before the start of its patent dispute surrounding the CRISPR technology. 16 August 2016
Africa
Eli Lilly has won a cybersquatting case in which the company successfully ordered the transfer of more than 200 domain names that purported to offer discounted erectile dysfunction drugs. 16 August 2016
Asia-Pacific
In Australia, laws governing the patentability of inventions directed to gene-based technology, including isolated naturally occurring and artificial gene sequences, are contentious. Unlike the US situation, the law on patentability of inventions involving “principles of nature” in Australia has yet to be considered judicially, but that is about to change, says Grant Shoebridge of Shelston IP. 16 August 2016
Americas
Dexcel Pharma, an Israel-based company, has sought a declaration of non-infringement against four Takeda patents. 15 August 2016
Americas
The US District Court for the District of Delaware has ruled that pharmaceutical company UCB’s patent covering epilepsy drug Vimpat is valid, after it was challenged by generic drug makers. 15 August 2016
Americas
Horizon Pharma has filed a complaint against Actavis accusing it of infringing three of patents for the Vimovo (naproxen/esomeprazole magnesium) drug. 12 August 2016
Americas
The US District Court for the Northern District of California decided yesterday, August 11, that Gilead should be entitled to attorneys’ fees following a lawsuit in which Merck was found guilty of misconduct. 12 August 2016
Africa
Roche has defeated a cybersquatter in a dispute centring on 18 domain names that infringed trademarks owned by the pharmaceutical company. 11 August 2016
Big Pharma
Pharming Group, a Netherlands based company, has agreed to buy the North American commercialisation rights to its drug Ruconest from Valeant Pharmaceuticals. 11 August 2016
Asia
Even if India moves towards a patent-unfriendly environment for green technologies, the pro-patent and pro-environment lobbies can coexist and meet their respective goals, argue Swarup Kumar and Jitesh Kumar of Remfry & Sagar. 11 August 2016