Appeals court reverses opinion, invalidates Aloxi palonosetron patents from Helsinn
In early May, a federal appeals court invalidated U.S. Patent Nos. 7,947,724; 7,947,725; 7,960,424; and 8,598,219 from Helsinn Healthcare S.A. (Lugano, Switzerland) covering Aloxi palonosetron. The decision allows competition from a generic palonosetron product from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA; Tel Aviv:TEVA). Aloxi is a selective serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist indicated in the U.S. to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Helsinn’s partner Eisai Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4523) markets Aloxi in the U.S.
The decision reversed a November 2015 decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in a case brought by Helsinn and partner Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) which accused Teva, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. (NYSE:RDY) and the Sandoz unit of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) of patent infringement. Roche licensed Aloxi to Helsinn in 1998...