Bio-Technology General, Biogen Corp., Genentech regulatory update

The Israeli Registrar of Patents ruled that BTGC's subsidiary in Israel is entitled to a compulsory license to BGEN's Israeli Patent No. 59007 relating to a genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine.

Unless the determination is stayed or overturned on appeal, the license will allow BTGC to produce and market its third-generation mammalian cell-based hepatitis B vaccine in Israel. A spokesperson for BGEN said it has a number of "legal remedies," but declined to discuss any specifics. BGEN (Cambridge, Mass.) does not break out the sales of its products. ...