Pharma Blog Watch

Ariad Patent Re-Examination (Patent Baristas)
In his entry, blogger Stephen Albainy-Jenei discusses Ariad's patent on NF-kB, which has been challenged by Amgen and which Eli Lilly requested the U.S. Patent Office re-examine.

Editor's Note: In response to an entry in Derek Lowe’s blog, In the Pipeline, featured in the Sept. 7 issue of FDAnews Drug Pipeline Alert, where he wrote that the U.S. Patent Office has finished re-examining Ariad’s patent claims for NF-kB technology, Ariad sent the following statement:

Dr. Harvey Berger, Chairman and CEO of ARIAD, stated during the ARIAD 2Q06 earnings investor conference call and webcast on August 8, 2006, that on August 2, 2006, the PTO issued its initial Office Action, which upheld as patentable approximately 20% of the claims of the NF-kB patent and rejected the other claims. This action is a routine and expected step in the re-examination procedure and does not represent a final ruling. The PTO action invites a response from patentees, which will be filed in due course. It is important to remember that during the re-examination process, the NF-kB patent remains valid and enforceable.