Research Foundation of State University v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

809 F. Supp. 2d 296
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedAugust 26, 2011
DocketCIV. Nos. 09-184-LPS, 10-892-LPS
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 809 F. Supp. 2d 296 (Research Foundation of State University v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals 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
Research Foundation of State University v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., 809 F. Supp. 2d 296 (D. Del. 2011).

Opinion

OPINION

STARK, District Judge:

In July 2011, the Court held a four-day bench trial in this patent infringement action brought pursuant to the Hatch-Wax-man Act. The case arises from Defendant’s efforts to bring to market a generic version of Plaintiffs’ Oracea® drug product, a once-daily 40 milligram (mg) administration of doxycycline indicated for the treatment of acne rosacea. Plaintiffs assert that claims of five separate patents are infringed. Defendants contend that all five patents are invalid.1 As explained below, the Court concludes that the asserted claims of one patent-in-suit are infringed and valid. The preliminary injunction entered in July 2010 will remain in effect pending the Court’s receipt and review of supplemental briefing as to an appropriate permanent remedy.2

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. PARTIES

1. Plaintiff The Research Foundation of State University of New York (“RF SUNY”) is a private, non-profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, having a principal place of business in Albany, New York. (Statement of Uncontested Facts (C.A. 09-184-LPS D.I. 257-13) (“SUF”) ¶ 1)

2. Plaintiff New York University (“NYU”) is a private, non-profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, having a place of business in New York, New York. (SUF ¶ 2)

3. Plaintiff Galderma Laboratories Inc. (“GLI”) is a corporation organized and ex[299]*299isting under the laws of the State of Delaware, having a principal place of business in Fort Worth, Texas. (SUF ¶ 3)

4. Plaintiff Galderma Laboratories, L.P. (“GLLP”) is a privately held partnership registered in the State of Texas, having a principal place of business in Fort Worth, Texas. (SUF ¶ 4)

5. Plaintiff Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Supernus”) is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, having a principal place of business in Rockville, Maryland. (SUF ¶ 5)4

6.Defendant Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Mylan”) is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of West Virginia, having a principal place of business in Morgantown, West Virginia. (SUF ¶ 6)

II. DOXYCYCLINE

7.The structural formula of doxycycline monohydrate is:

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(SUF ¶ 41)

8. Doxycycline is a member of the tetracycline class of antibacterial drugs. (SUF ¶ 42)

9. Doxycycline is an antibiotic tetracycline compound. (SUF ¶ 44)

10. There are two general categories of antibiotics: bacteriostatic agents, which inhibit bacterial growth; and bactericidal agents, which kill bacteria. (SUF ¶ 45)

11. Generic doxycycline is commercially available in at least 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg dosage forms. (SUF ¶ 46)

12. Periostat® is a 20 mg dose of doxycycline administered twice-daily to a human and is indicated for treatment of periodontal disease. (SUF ¶ 47)

13. According to its approved label, Periostat® has a steady state Cmax of 0.790 ixg/ml. (SUF ¶ 48)

III. ROSACEA AND ITS TREATMENT

14. Rosacea is a long-lasting, chronic inflammatory disorder. (Tr. 71)5

15. Historically, rosacea has been treated by oral administration of antibiotics in antibiotic dosages and/or administration of topical gels and creams to treat the signs and symptoms of the disease. (PTX 209 at 1249; Tr. 75, 534-36)

16. The most common oral treatments for rosacea prior to the launch of Oracea® were antibiotic doses of tetracyclines. (PTX 209 at 1249; Tr. 534-36)

[300]*300IY. Oracea®

17. Plaintiff GLLP currently holds New Drug Application (“NDA”) 50-805 on Oracea® brand doxycycline capsules (“Oracea®”), which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) on May 26, 2006. (SUF ¶49)

18. GLLP is the exclusive distributor of Oracea® in the United States. (SUF ¶ 50)

19. The active ingredient in Oracea® is doxycycline monohydrate. (SUF ¶ 51)

20. Oracea® is a capsule dosage form for oral administration. (SUF ¶ 52)

21. The dosage strength of Oracea® is 40 mg. (SUF ¶ 53)

22. Oracea® is an oral pharmaceutical composition of doxycycline to be administered once-daily. (SUF ¶ 54)

23. Oracea® is indicated for the treatment of only inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) of rosacea in adult patients. (SUF ¶ 56)

24. Oracea® is a hard shell gelatin capsule filled with two types of doxycycline beads, 30 mg immediate-release (“IR”) beads and 10 mg delayed-release (“DR”) beads (coated with an enteric polymer). (SUF ¶¶ 57-58)

25. Oracea® does not contain a bisphosphonate compound. (SUF ¶ 59)

26. Oracea® contains one or more pharmaceutical excipients. (SUF ¶ 60)

27. Oracea® is the first and only orally administered, systemically delivered drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of rosacea. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229992; Tr. 540)

28. Oracea® treats rosacea in a human. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229992; PTX 381 at GAL 0240969-70; Tr. 73, 129-30)

29. Oracea®, when administered once-daily, is administered in an amount that reduces lesion count and an amount that is effective to treat the papules and pustules of rosacea. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229996-97; PTX 381 at GAL 0240969-70; Tr. 73, 287-88, 727)

30. Oracea® is administered long-term, i.e., over a period of time longer than eight to ten days. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229993, -96-97; SUF ¶ 38)

31. Oracea® is administered by “sustained release,” i.e., a method of drug delivery to achieve a certain level of the drug over a particular period of time. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229993, -95,-96)

32. Oracea®, when administered once daily, is administered in an amount that results in no reduction of skin microflora during a six-month treatment. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229996; PTX 394; 459, 612-15)

33. In vivo microbiological studies utilizing a similar drug exposure to Oracea® for up to 18 months demonstrated no detectable long-term effects on bacterial flora of the oral cavity, skin, intestinal tract, and vagina. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229996; PTX 394; PTX 413; PTX 200; PTX 201)

34. Oracea® should not be used for treating bacterial infections, providing antibacterial prophylaxis, or reducing the numbers or eliminating microorganisms associated with any bacterial disease. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229996)

35. Patients should not take Oracea® to treat infections caused by bacteria germs or viruses. (PTX 426 at GAL 0229998)

V. MYLAN’S GENERIC PRODUCT

36. Defendant Mylan submitted Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”) 90-855 to the FDA under § 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FFDCA”), seeking FDA approval for the commercial manufacture, use, and sale of a [301]*301generic version of Oracea® (“Mylan’s Generic Product” or “Mylan’s ANDA Product”) before the expiration of the '267 patent, the '572 patent, the '395 patent, and the '775 patent. (SUF ¶ 61)

37.

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809 F. Supp. 2d 296, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/research-foundation-of-state-university-v-mylan-pharmaceuticals-inc-ded-2011.