Allergan partners with tribe to fight IPR

In an effort to create a shield against patent challenges under the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s inter partes review process, Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN) announced Sept. 8 that it had transferred ownership of six patents covering dry eye drug Restasis cyclosporine to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. Citing its sovereign immunity as a recognized tribal government, the tribe is filing a motion to dismiss ongoing IPR challenges to the patents, Allergan reported.

Allergan said its action is intended to eliminate the IPR challenge while a district court adjudicates cases that generic companies have brought against its patents. The biopharmaceutical industry has launched broad attacks against the IPR process, contending that it is unfair and biased against the rights of patent holders...