Amgen’s Otezla Improvements Justified New Patent, Fed. Cir. Says

Amgen Inc. fended off generic pharmaceutical makers’ patent challenge to its psoriasis treatment Otezla, as a Federal Circuit panel held that the drug’s “unexpected” strength and efficacy saved the patent from being invalid.

Wednesday’s ruling ensures that a generic can’t come to market before February 2028, when the last of the patents covering the drug expire. Novartis AG’s Sandoz Inc. and Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. both are seeking to make and sell Otezla copies.

The claims of one of Amgen’s patents, US Patent No. 7,427,638, spell out a variation of a preferred compound, apremilast, that would treat inflammation while ...