Alza, Ciba-Geigy Corp., HMR drug delivery news

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a summary judgement invalidating the broadest claims of the patent covering Ciba-Geigy's transdermal nicotine system. The appeals panel sent back to the District Court for the Federal District of New Jersey the issue of validity of certain other claims in U.S. Patent No. 5,016,652.

AZA (Palo Alto) and partner Hoechst Marion Roussel said they believe that the narrower claims also are invalid and do not cover their Nicoderm product. ...