By Sherri
Oslick —

About
Court
Report:  Each week we will report briefly on recently filed
biotech and pharma cases.

Roche Palo Alto LLC v. Endo
Pharmaceuticals Inc.
1:10-cv-00261; filed March 31, 2010 in the
District
Court of Delaware

Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,083,953 ("2-(2-amino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-purin-9-yl)methoxy-1,3-propanediol Derivative," issued
July 4, 2000) following a Paragraph IV certification as part of Endo's
filing
of an ANDA to manufacture a generic version of Roche's Valcyte®
(valganciclovir
hydrochloride, used to treat cytomegalovirus retinitis and
cytomegalovirus
disease).  View the complaint here.

Merck & Co., Inc. et al. v. Sandoz Inc.
2:10-cv-01625; filed March 30, 2010 in the
District
Court of New Jersey

• Plaintiffs:  Merck & Co., Inc.; Merck
Sharp
& Dohme Corp.
• Defendant:  Sandoz Inc.

Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,952,300
("Antifungal
Compositions," issued September 14, 1999) following a Paragraph IV
certification as part of Sandoz's filing of an ANDA to manufacture a
generic
version of Merck's Cancidas® (caspofungin acetate, used to treat
presumed
fungal infections in febrile, neutropenic patients, candidemia and
certain
Candida infections, esophageal candidiasis, and invasive aspergillosis
in
patients who are refractory to or intolerant of other therapies).  View the complaint here.

Promote Innovation LLC v. Ortho-McNeil
Pharmaceutical, LLC
2:10-cv-00109; filed March 29, 2010 in the
Eastern
District of Texas

False marking based on Ortho-McNeil's marking
of
its Retin-A Micro product indicating that this product is covered by
U.S.
Patent No. 4,690,825 ("Method for Delivering an Active Ingredient by
Controlled Time Release Utilizing a Novel Delivery Vehicle Which Can be
Prepared by a Process Utilizing the Active Ingredient as a Porogen,"
issued September 1, 1987), which is expired.  View the
complaint here.

Abbott Laboratories et al. v. Lupin Ltd.
et al.
2:10-cv-01578; filed March 26, 2010 in the
District
Court of New Jersey

• Plaintiffs:  Abbott Laboratories; Fournier
Laboratories Ireland Ltd.
• Defendants:  Lupin Ltd.; Lupin
Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.

Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,259,186
("Salts
of Fenofibric Acid and Pharmaceutical Formulations Thereof," issued
August
21, 2007) following a Paragraph IV certification as part of Lupin's
filing of
an ANDA to manufacture a generic version of Abbott's Trilipix® (choline
fenofibrate delayedrelease, used to treat increased triglyceride
levels).  View the complaint here.

Pfizer Inc. et al. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals
USA, Inc. et al.
2:10-cv-00128; filed March 24, 2010 in the
Eastern
District of Virginia

• Plaintiffs:  Pfizer Inc.; Pfizer Ltd.;
Pfizer
Ireland Pharmaceuticals
• Defendants:  Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.;
Teva
Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,469,012
("Pyrazolopyrimidinones
for the Treatment of Impotence," issued October 22, 2002) following a
Paragraph IV certification as part of Teva's filing of an ANDA to
manufacture a
generic version of Pfizer's Viagra® (sildenafil citrate, used to treat
erectile
dysfunction).  View the complaint here.