Amgen Files Lawsuit Against Roche for Patent Infringement.THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Amgen (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, today announced that it filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court United States District Court In the U.S., any of the 94 trial courts of general jurisdiction in the federal judicial system. Each state, as well as the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, has at least one federal district court. in Boston, Massachusetts against F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd., Roche Diagnostics GmbH, and Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc., seeking a declaration by the Court that defendants' importation, use, sale or offer to sell a pegylated version of recombinant human erythropoietin erythropoietin /eryth·ro·poi·e·tin/ (-poi´e-tin) a glycoprotein hormone secreted by the kidney in the adult and by the liver in the fetus, which acts on stem cells of the bone marrow to stimulate red blood cell production infringe Amgen's patents. Amgen alleges infringement of six U.S. patents owned by Amgen that claim erythropoietin (EPO EPO see erythropoietin. EPO Erythropoietin, see there ) products and pharmaceutical compositions, and processes for making EPO. Amgen seeks a permanent injunction permanent injunction n. a final order of a court that a person or entity refrain from certain activities permanently or take certain actions (usually to correct a nuisance) until completed. preventing the defendants from making, importing, using, offering for sale or selling recombinant human EPO, including pegylated EPO, in the United States. Amgen markets a recombinant human EPO product in the United States as EPOGEN(R) (Epoetin alfa e·po·e·tin al·fa n. A recombinant preparation of human erythropoietin used to treat some forms of anemia. epoetin alfa Epogen, Eprex (CA) (UK), Procrit Pharmacologic class: ) for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic renal failure chronic renal failure Chronic kidney failure Nephrology A slow decline in renal function, which may be 2º to chronic HTN, DM, CHF, SLE, or sickle cell anemia and, if extreme, leads to ESRD, mandating kidney dialysis; an abrupt decline in renal function may be for patients on dialysis. Amgen's patent rights on erythropoietin protect Amgen's breakthrough inventions. About EPOGEN(R) (Epoetin alfa) EPOGEN (Epoetin alfa) is indicated for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic renal failure on dialysis. EPOGEN is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. For additional product information, please see www.Epogen.com. About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com. EDITOR'S NOTE: An electronic version of this news release may be accessed via our Web site at www.amgen.com. Journalists and media representatives may sign up to receive all news releases electronically at time of announcement by filling out a short form in the Media section of the Web site. |
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