Gilead plans to appeal damages in HCV IP suit

A federal jury ordered Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) to pay $200 million in damages -- far short of what Merck & Co Inc. (NYSE:MRK) and Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) had sought -- for infringing two patents covering HCV therapies.

Gilead said it will appeal the decision if the judge maintains the jury's verdict. The case was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. ...