2019年3月4日 星期一

沒有對應產品而失去上訴的立場 - Momenta v. Bristol-Myers (Fed. Cir. 2019)

案件資訊:
上訴人:MOMENTA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
被上訴人/專利權人:BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY (BMS)
系爭專利:US8,476,239
判決文:February 7, 2019

本案緣起Momenta Pharmaceutical對PTAB作出系爭專利仍具有專利性的決定提起上訴。

系爭專利US8,476,239提出一種穩定的蛋白質配方,其中為具有CTLA4Ig (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte as-sociated protein 4 immunoglobulin)分子的穩定製劑,包括凍乾的和液體製劑,可經過靜脈內(IV)和皮下(SC)給藥,用於治療免疫系統疾病。



Claim 1界定一種適於皮下給藥的穩定製劑,其包含至少100mg / ml CTLA4Ig分子,選自蔗糖,乳糖,麥芽糖,甘露醇和海藻糖及其混合物的糖和藥學上可接受的含水載體,其中所述製劑具有 pH範圍為6至8,粘度為9至20cps,糖:蛋白質的重量比為1.1:1或更高。(Google翻譯)

1. A stable formulation suitable for subcutaneous administration comprising at least 100mg/ml CTLA4Ig molecule, a sugar selected from the group consisting of sucrose, lactose, maltose, mannitol and trehalose and mixtures thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier, wherein the formulation has a pH range of from 6 to 8 and a viscosity of from 9 to 20 cps, and the weight ratio of sugar:protein is 1.1:1 or higher.

當Momenta提出上訴後,BMS提出撤銷上訴的請願,主張Momenta沒有提起聯邦法院訴訟的立場(憲法第三條),理由是Momenta提出的產品並未能通過「1期臨床試驗」,且已被撤銷。

Momenta為了證明具有提起上訴的立場(standing to invoke federal court jurisdiction),回應並未放棄其產品的Orencia®的生產(提出證明文件),並且系爭專利'239成為這個產品的阻礙,甚至提出還被禁反言所傷害(35 U.S.C. § 315(e))。BMS回應是,一個公司對於"放棄產品"的"未來的發展"不能證明其具有無效異議程序的立場

35 U.S.C. § 315(e)有「case-or-controversy requirement」(案件或爭議要求)。

(e)Estoppel.—
(1)Proceedings before the office.—
The petitioner in an inter partes review of a claim in a patent under this chapter that results in a final written decision under section 318(a), or the real party in interest or privy of the petitioner, may not request or maintain a proceeding before the Office with respect to that claim on any ground that the petitioner raised or reasonably could have raised during that inter partes review.
(2)Civil actions and other proceedings.—
The petitioner in an inter partes review of a claim in a patent under this chapter that results in a final written decision under section 318(a), or the real party in interest or privy of the petitioner, may not assert either in a civil action arising in whole or in part under section 1338 of title 28 or in a proceeding before the International Trade Commission under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 that the claim is invalid on any ground that the petitioner raised or reasonably could have raised during that inter partes review.

接著,雙方在訴訟中都提出證據、補充意見,以支持各自的主張,法院則舉出多個前例案件,其中重點在於,有沒有立場,就看是否有具體利益產生的利害關係

對於是否具有具體利益產生的利害關係,法院認為Momenta已經放棄了這個利益。


法院也聲明憲法第三條的規定要求具體的損害。


經過事實調查,Momenta最初確實花了大筆的經費發展產品Orencia®,但是這個生產計畫已經被終止了使得Momenta缺乏利害關係,因此沒有"真正需要行使司法審查權",失去了本案上訴的立場

"On abandoning development of this product, Momenta has no legally protected interest in the validity of the ’239 Patent, and there is no “real need to exercise the power of judicial review."

然而,為了這個立場爭辯過程中,Momenta的聲明已經產生「禁反言(estoppel)」(承認產品已經被系爭專利所阻礙),禁反言似乎已經產生「損害」的事實,法院仍明智地說明,這個禁反言並無關於Momenta放棄該產品發展的事實。如此,法院判決Momenta因為已經放棄相關產品開發,也就沒有侵權的議題,沒有對系爭專利無效異議結果(專利有效)上訴的立場



判決文:http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/17-1694.Opinion.2-7-2019.pdf(備份:https://app.box.com/s/6634hmbqn361zlb0spqvq98cgkro0eui

Ron

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