Allergan, Inc. v. Revance Therapeutics, Inc.

District Court, D. Delaware·Decided June 30, 2025·No. 1:21-cv-01411·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE ALLERGAN, INC., Plaintiff, us Civil Action No, 21-1411-RGA REVANCE THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND AJINOMOTO ALTHEA, INC. D/B/A AJINOMOTO BIO-PHARMA SERVICES, Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION Jack B. Blumenfeld, Anthony David Raucci, Jeremy A. Tigan, MORRIS, NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP, Wilmington, DE; Ashley N. Mays-Williams, Bruce M. Wexler, Carl J. Minniti II (argued), Chad J. Peterman, Eric W. Dittmann (argued), Isaac S. Ashkenazi (argued), Krystina L. Ho, Melanie R. Rupert, PAUL HASTINGS LLP, New York, NY, Attorneys for Plaintiffs. Anne Shea Gaza, Samantha G. Wilson, Daniel G. Mackrides, YOUNG, CONAWAY, STARGATT & TAYLOR LLP, Wilmington, DE; Adam C. LaRock (argued), Adil B. Moghal, Anna G. Phillips (argued), Byron L. Pickard (argued), Christopher M. Gallo, Deirdre M. Wells (argued), Dennies Varughese (argued), Louis P. Panzica, Jr., Marsha Rose Gillentine, Nirav N. Desai (argued), Ryan E. Conkin, Sasha S. Rao, Tyler C. Liu, STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX PLLC, Washington, D.C., Attorneys for Defendants.

June 90 , 2025

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wculeacAnG Mydioacn Before me is Revance’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Exclusion of Expert Opinion and Testimony (D.I. 344) and Allergan’s motion for the same. (D.I. 347). I have considered the parties’ briefing. (D.1. 345, 348, 356, 358, 362, 364, 398, 400, 401, 496, 512, 517, 530, 536, 537). I heard oral argument. (D.I. 529 at 1). For the reasons set forth below, Revance’s motion is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART, Allergan’s motion is DENIED. Both motions are partially DISMISSED AS MOOT. I. BACKGROUND Allergan asserts four patent claims relating to Revance’s commercial manufacture, use, sale, or offer for sale of Daxxify, an animal protein-free (“APF”) product similar to Botox intended for the treatment of glabellar lines and cervical dystonia. (D.I. 348 at 4; D.I. 449). Two of the four are “formulation” claims (when referring to the patents, “Formulation Patents”); the other two are “manufacturing” claims (when referring to the patents, “Manufacturing Patents”). On August 29, 2023, I issued a claim construction decision (D.I. 211) and subsequently denied Revance’s motion for reconsideration. (D.I. 262). On May 30, 2025, I issued an order dismissing Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland Unlimited Company and Allergan USA, Inc. as parties. (D.I. 558, 559), which renders many of the parties’ lost profits arguments moot. See Sections III.B—D, infra. Assuming the validity of the patents, Revance concedes infringement of all the asserted claims. (D.I. 352 at 4; D.I. 477 at 14:16-15:16). Both parties now move for summary judgment on multiple issues and seek to exclude opposing expert opinions.

Il. LEGAL STANDARDS A. Summary Judgment “The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). The moving party has the initial burden of proving the absence of a genuinely disputed material fact relative to the claims in question. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 330 (1986). Material facts are those “that could affect the outcome” of the proceeding. Lamont v. New Jersey, 637 F.3d 177, 181 (3d Cir. 2011) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). “[A] dispute about a material fact is ‘genuine’ if the evidence is sufficient to permit a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Jd. The burden on the moving party may be discharged by pointing out to the district court that there is an absence of evidence supporting the non-moving party’s case. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. The burden then shifts to the non-movant to demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue for trial. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87 (1986); Williams v. Borough of West Chester, 891 F.2d 458, 460-61 (3d Cir. 1989). A non-moving party asserting that a fact is genuinely disputed must support such an assertion by: “(A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations . . ., admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials; or (B) showing that the materials cited [by the opposing party] do not establish the absence... of a genuine dispute... .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1). The non-moving party’s evidence “must amount to more than a scintilla, but may amount to less (in the evaluation of the court) than a preponderance.” Williams, 891 F.2d at 460-61.

When determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draw all reasonable inferences in that party's favor. Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007); Wishkin v. Potter, 476 F.3d 180, 184 (3d Cir. 2007). If the non-moving party fails to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of its case with respect to which it has the burden of proof, the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. B. Daubert .

Federal Rule of Evidence 702 sets out the requirements for expert witness testimony and states: A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if the proponent demonstrates to the court that it is more likely than not: (a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue; (b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data; (c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and (d) the expert’s opinion reflects a reliable application of the principles and methods to the facts of the case. Fed. R. Evid. 702 (amended Dec. 1, 2023). The Third Circuit has explained: Rule 702 embodies a trilogy of restrictions on expert testimony: qualification, reliability and fit. Qualification refers to the requirement that the witness possess specialized expertise. We have interpreted this requirement liberally, holding that “a broad range of knowledge, skills, and training qualify an expert.” Secondly, the testimony must be reliable; it “must be based on the ‘methods and procedures of science’ rather than on ‘subjective belief or unsupported speculation’; the expert must have ‘good grounds’ for his o[r] her belief. In sum, Daubert holds that an inquiry into the reliability of scientific evidence under Rule 702 requires a determination as to its scientific validity.” Finally, Rule 702 requires that the expert testimony must fit the issues in the case. In other words, the expert’s testimony must be relevant for the purposes of the case and must assist the trier of fact.

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Allergan, Inc. v. Revance Therapeutics, Inc., (D. Del. 2025).

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