Judge Rules Against Sanofi and Regeneron in Patent Case
January 05 2017 - 8:25PM
Dow Jones News
By Jonathan D. Rockoff
A U.S. federal judge ruled Thursday that drugmakers Sanofi SA
and partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. infringed the patent
that rival Amgen Inc. holds for its new cholesterol drug.
The decision permanently blocks Sanofi and Regeneron from
selling their drug Praluent in the U.S., which would provide a big
boost to Amgen's drug Repatha if the decision stands.
Both drugs were approved for sale in 2015 and belong to a new,
powerful class of cholesterol fighters known as PCSK9s. Their sales
have proven disappointing as health insurers have resisted paying
the high prices, though analysts expect the drugs will eventually
be big sellers.
RBC Capital Markets estimated peak annual sales for Repatha
could as much as double to $4 billion globally without competition
from its rival.
The injunction, issued by a judge from the U.S. District Court
in Delaware, takes effect 30 days from now, to give Sanofi and
Regeneron time to appeal or settle the case with Amgen.
The companies didn't have immediate comment.
Write to Jonathan D. Rockoff at Jonathan.Rockoff@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 05, 2017 20:10 ET (01:10 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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