Amgen Sues Sanofi, Regeneron for Patent Infringement

Oct. 20, 2014

Amgen announced in a press release that it filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Delaware against Sanofi, Aventisub LLC, formerly doing business as Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. for patent infringement of U.S. Patent Numbers 8,563,698, 8,829,165, and 8,859,741. These patents, which are owned by Amgen, describe and claim monoclonal antibodies to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 ("PCSK9").

Amgen said it is seeking an injunction to prevent the infringing manufacture, use and sale of Sanofi and Regeneron's alirocumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting PCSK9. Sanofi and Regeneron recently announced that they have completed Phase 3 clinical trials on alirocumab and intend to pursue regulatory approval to market alirocumab in the U.S.

Amgen previously announced submission of a Biologics License Application to the U.S. FDA for evolocumab, its own investigational human monoclonal antibody to PCSK9, for the treatment of high cholesterol, on Aug. 28, 2014.