Judge in Mircera case to consult expert

BOSTON U.S. District Judge William Young has ordered Amgen and Roche to submit a list of names for an expert to be appointed to their trial regarding the release of Roche’s anemia drug, Mircera, in the U.S., according to published reports. The expert will recommend how to compare the dosing and pricing of both of the companies’ anemia drugs.

The companies will have 15 days to submit a list of names and then the expert will have 60 days afterward to draw a conclusion. This would push the judge’s decision back on whether or not Roche’s drug Mircera could be sold in the U.S. until at least mid-June.

Amgen is looking for a permanent injunction against Roche because it was already determined that Mircera violated patents of Amgen’s drugs Epogen and Aranesp. But Judge Young has said that it’s not in the public interest to block the drug because it can be given differently than the other drugs, and can be administered less frequently.

Both of Amgen’s drugs are expected to pull in a total of $2.9 billion next year, according to Bear Sterns.