Novartis Escapes Further Review of Gilenya Patent Validity

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. won’t face a review of a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision that held a patent covering its multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya was valid, the Federal Circuit said Thursday.

Argentum Pharmaceuticals Corp. didn’t have standing to bring the case because it hadn’t shown that it suffered an injury from the decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said.

Apotex Inc. initially requested review of Novartis’ U.S. Patent No. 9,187,405, covering its multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya, at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and was joined by four other pharmaceutical companies including Argentum. The board ...