Morphosys AG v. Janssen Biotech, Inc.

358 F. Supp. 3d 354
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedJanuary 25, 2019
DocketC.A. No. 16-221-LPS
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 358 F. Supp. 3d 354 (Morphosys AG v. Janssen Biotech, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Morphosys AG v. Janssen Biotech, Inc., 358 F. Supp. 3d 354 (D. Del. 2019).

Opinion

STARK, U.S District Judge

MorphoSys, Inc. ("MorphoSys" or "Plaintiff") sued Janssen Biotech, Inc., Genmab US, Inc., and Genmab A/S (together, "Janssen" or "Defendants") for infringement of three patents on antibodies that bind to the CD38 protein. (D.I. 205) Pending before the Court are summary judgment motions filed by both sides. Janssen moves for summary judgment of (1) non-infringement of the "human" antibody claims (D.I. 384) and (2) invalidity for lack of written description, lack of enablement, and indefiniteness (D.I. 382). MorphoSys moves for summary judgment of no invalidity for lack of enablement. (D.I. 390) The Court heard argument on November 27, 2018.1 (D.I. 461) ("Tr.")

For the reasons stated below, the Court will grant summary judgment as to non-infringement of the human antibody claims; grant-in-part and deny-in-part summary judgment of invalidity for lack of written description; deny summary judgment of invalidity for indefiniteness; and grant summary judgment of invalidity for lack of enablement.

I. BACKGROUND

MorphoSys alleges infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,263,746 ("the '746 patent"), 9,200,061 ("the '061 patent"), and 9,758,590 ("the '590 patent").2 The asserted patents describe antibodies that can be used to treat blood cancer. ( '746 patent, Abstract) Specifically, in certain kinds of blood cancer, a protein called CD38 appears on the surface of cancerous cells. (Id. at 1:14-19) The patents describe antibodies that bind to CD38, thus causing the destruction of the cancerous cells. (Id. at 1:49-63, 2:33-42) More specifically, the antibodies disclosed by the patents are "human or humanized" - they appear human to the human immune system, and therefore they do not trigger a deleterious immune response. (Id. at 6:55-60) Janssen produces an antibody drug, Darzalex (chemical name "daratumumab"), that MorphoSys contends infringes the asserted patents. (D.I. 205)

*359II. LEGAL STANDARDS

Pursuant to Rule 56(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, "[t]he 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." The moving party bears the burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp. , 475 U.S. 574, 585-86, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). An assertion that a fact cannot be - or, alternatively, is - genuinely disputed must be supported either by citing to "particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials," or by "showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A) & (B). If the moving party has carried its burden, the nonmovant must then "come forward with specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Matsushita , 475 U.S. at 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348 (internal quotation marks omitted). The Court will "draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party, and it may not make credibility determinations or weigh the evidence." Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc. , 530 U.S. 133, 150, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000).

To defeat a motion for summary judgment, the nonmoving party must "do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita , 475 U.S. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348 ; see also Podobnik v. U.S. Postal Serv. , 409 F.3d 584, 594 (3d Cir. 2005) (stating party opposing summary judgment "must present more than just bare assertions, conclusory allegations or suspicions to show the existence of a genuine issue") (internal quotation marks omitted). The "mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment;" a factual dispute is genuine only where "the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). "If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted." Id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (internal citations omitted); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett , 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct.

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358 F. Supp. 3d 354, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/morphosys-ag-v-janssen-biotech-inc-ded-2019.