Novartis Faces Patent Infringement Lawsuit From The University Of South Florida (USF) And University Of Michigan

According to a report from Chemical & Engineering News, Novartis—the Swiss-American multinational pharmaceutical giant—is facing a joint patent infringement lawsuit from the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Michigan. The universities claim that Novartis unlawfully infringed on their patents in the development of the heart failure medication Entresto. More specifically, the plaintiffs allege that the defendant improperly used a patent-protected technology without proper authorization. They are seeking the payment of damages. Here, our Florida patent litigation attorney discusses the complaint in more detail.

Entresto is Commonly Prescribed Medication for Serious Cardiac Problems 

Entresto is the brand name drug for sacubitril/valsartan. It is a prescription drug used to treat heart failure. Novartis obtained approval to market and sell Entresto in the United States in July of 2015 through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) priority review process. This is a widely used medication. Based on official data from the FDA, Entresto is currently prescribed to approximately two million people in the United States alone. It is also approved for use in the European Union.

 USF and the University of Michigan Allege Patent Infringement in Development of Entresto 

Researchers at the University of South Florida and the University of Michigan were involved in a joint project to develop crystal engineering for the use of multi-component drugs. The two schools filed patent applications in both 2003 and 2014. At the core of the patent in question is a type of technology process for creating/designing a compound called cocrystals. These compounds can improve solubility—a key matter for medications, as more solubility generally means that there is a greater level of bioavailability for the body.

USF and the University of Michigan contend that the pharmaceutical company Novartis used their patent-protected technology without proper authorization. The universities have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Novartis in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiffs in the patent infringement lawsuit are requesting a trial before a jury and they are seeking compensatory damages for the alleged patent violation.

The patent infringement lawsuit over the prescription heart failure medication, Entresto, is currently pending in federal court in California. To be clear, no determinations on the allegations or the merits of the case have been made by any court. For its part, the pharmaceutical company Novartis has declined to provide public comment on the matter citing ongoing litigation.

 Speak to a Patent Infringement Attorney in South Florida

At Perkins Law, our Florida patent infringement attorney has the professional expertise that you can count on in a complex case. Our firm helps businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs protect their intellectual property (IP) rights. If you have questions about patent infringement claims, we can help. Contact our intellectual property team today to set up your fully confidential, no obligation case review. We provide patent infringement representation in South Florida and nationwide.

Source:

cen.acs.org/policy/intellectual-property/Novartis-slapped-patent-suit-blockbuster/100/i31