Merck Challenges Validity of Johns Hopkins Cancer-Drug Patents

A Merck & Co. unit petitioned an administrative tribunal to review the validity of four patents at the heart of its lawsuit against Johns Hopkins University over the blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda.

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC on Monday asked the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to take up its challenges of four patents that it’s accused Johns Hopkins University of obtaining improperly.

• Merck sought inter partes review of US Patent Nos. 11,325,974; 11,339,219; 10,934,356; and 11,325,975, which deal with a method for treating certain cancerous tumors.
• Merck sued Johns Hopkins in November 2022 in Maryland ...