Fed. Circ. Voids Allergan's $39M Trial Win Over Eyelash Patent

By Editorial Team

The Federal Circuit recently overturned a $39 million verdict against Sandoz in a lawsuit filed by Allergan. The case involved allegations of patent infringement related to an eyelash growth drug patent. The Federal Circuit determined that the Colorado federal jury should have found the patent claim invalid due to inadequate written description.

According to the court's decision, the patent claim in question, which related to compositions and methods for treating hair loss using non-naturally occurring prostaglandins, lacked sufficient written description to support its validity. As a result, the $39 million trial win in favor of Allergan was voided.

Law360 reported that the case involved several prominent law firms representing the parties. Goodwin Procter, MoloLamken, O'Melveny & Myers, and Steptoe LLP were among the legal teams involved in the litigation. The companies at the center of the dispute were Allergan PLC, Duke University, and Sandoz International GmbH.

Government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit were also mentioned in connection with the case.

With this recent development, the legal landscape surrounding patent disputes in the pharmaceutical industry may see further shifts. The decision by the Federal Circuit serves as a reminder of the importance of meeting the requirements for a valid patent claim, particularly in cases involving complex scientific inventions.