Biogen, Genentech, Hoffmann-La Roche, Schering-Plough regulatory update

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's board of patent appeals and interferences issued a decision in favor of a GNE/Roche patent application over a competing application by BGEN concerning mature recombinant alpha interferon. No patent has yet issued.

The application covers Roche's Roferon and Schering-Plough's Intron A. Intron A is licensed from BGEN. However, the PTO ruling has no impact on BGEN's patent No. 4,530,901, issued in July 1985, which covers the DNA sequence and recombinant production of alpha interferon. BGEN receives royalties from Schering-Plough based on that patent. ...