Judge blocks sale of Sanofi’s, Regeneron’s Praluent; companies plan appeal

WILMINGTON, Del. — U.S. District Court Judge Sue Robinson on Thursday issued an injunction on the sale of Praluent, a PCSK9 inhibitor from Sanofi and Regeneron. Amgen, maker of another PCSK9 inhibitor Repatha, filed the request for the injunction in 2016 after a jury found its patent infringement claims against Sanofi and Regeneron valid. 

 

The injunction’s imposition has been delayed for 30 days to allow for a business resolution or appeal and request for expedited review from the Federal Circuit. Sanofi and Regeneron say they plan to appeal the decision. 

 

“We will immediately appeal today's ruling, along with the jury's earlier finding upholding the validity of Amgen's patents,” Sanofi EVP and general counsel Karen Linehan said. “It is our longstanding position that Amgen's patent claims are invalid and that the best interests of patients will be greatly disserved by an injunction preventing access to Praluent.”

 

Amgen chairman and CEO Robert Bradway said the company was pleased with the decision, noting, “Protecting intellectual property is essential to our industry as it reinforces the incentives for the large and risky investments we make in innovation to bring forward new medicines to treat serious diseases.”