GSK settles Arzerra patent suit with Genentech, City of Hope

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) settled an infringement suit with Genentech Inc. and City of Hope related to GSK's cancer mAb Arzerra ofatumumab. Details of the settlement were not disclosed. Arzerra, a human mAb against CD20, is partnered with Genmab A/S (CSE:GEN).

In 2009, GSK filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking declaratory judgment that the Cabilly II patent co-owned by Genentech and the not-for-profit is invalid, unenforceable and not infringed by Arzerra. The suit was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Genentech and City of Hope filed suit against GSK in April 2011, when their Cabilly III patent was issued, alleging that GSK's Arzerra infringes the patent. GSK reported 2011 Arzerra sales of L43.5 million ($68.2 million). Genentech is a unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY). The patents, which cover recombinant antibody production, expire in December 2018. ...