Presentation at the Center for Professional Advancement (CFPA) Course on Generic Drug Approval, August 2013. New Brunswick, NJ., with a focus on the patent provisions of the 1984 Hatch-Waxman Act
2. www.duanemorris.com2
Generic Firm’s Duties, Triggered By
Patents
• Be Aware Of Patent Status
– Infringement = triple damages
– Search Orange Book and PTO
• Patent Certification, 21 CFR 314.94(a)(12)
• Amend Patent Cert. Until ANDA Approval
• Lack of “Duty of Care” Risks Payment of
Attorney’s Fees
3. www.duanemorris.com3
Safe Harbor for ANDA R&D on Patent-
Protected RLD
• History: Court Held “Patent Infringement” Includes Pre-
commercial Testing of Product (Roche v. Bolar, Federal Circuit,
1984)
• Waxman Hatch Act -- Overturned the Court Decision,
Specifically Declaring that Precommercial Testing Is NOT an
Infringement (35 USC Section 271(e)(1))
• Statute Language: Person May Make, Use or Sell a Patented
Drug During the Patent Life If Solely for Uses Reasonably
Related to the Development and Submission of Information
under a Federal Law Which Regulates the Manufacture, Use or
Sale of Drugs
4. www.duanemorris.com4
Safe Harbor for ANDA R&D on
Patent-Protected RLD
• Safe Harbor Applies to Innovator and Generic Firms
(Bristol-Myers Squibb v. Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, S.D.N.Y.
2001, aff’d, 3rd Circuit, 2003)
• “Reasonably Related” Means Having a Decent Prospect that
the “Use” Would Generate the Kind of Information Relevant
to FDA Approval Requirements
– (Intermedics v. Ventritex, N.D.Ca. 1991, aff’d, Federal Circuit, 1993 – clinical
trials on intermediates, yes)
– (Integra Life Sciences v. Merck, Sup. Ct., 2005 – preclinical research to identify
future candidate, yes)
5. www.duanemorris.com5
ANDA Patent Certifications
No -- Orange Book Patent
• Paragraph 1 – Patent
information not submitted to
FDA
• Paragraph 2 – Patent has
expired
• No Relevant Patents
Statement – No Patents exist
Yes -- Orange Book Patent
• Paragraph 3 – Will not market
until patent expires
• Paragraph 4 – Challenging the
patent as invalid, unenforceable
or not infringed
• Little viii Statement – Patent
not infringed because not
seeking approval for that use;
use will not be on label (Method
of Use Carve-Out)
6. www.duanemorris.com6
Labeling Carve-Outs (“Little viii”
Statement)
• Authorized by FFDCA, Sec. 505(j)(2)(A)(v)
– Generic drug must have same labeling as RLD, except for
changes required because of different manufacturers
• Preferred by FDA, 21 CFR 314.94(a)(7), (8)
– Generic labeling may omit an indication or other labeled aspect
that is protected by patent or exclusivity
• Upheld by Courts
– “The statute expresses the legislature's concern that the new generic be safe and
effective for each indication that will appear on its label; whether the label for
the new generic lists every indication approved for the use of the pioneer is a
matter of indifference.“ Bristol Myers Squibb Co. v. Shalala, 91 F.3d 1493, 1500
(D.C. Cir. 1996).
– Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Schwetz, 288 F .3d 141 (4th Cir. 2002) (orphan
drug exclusivity).
7. www.duanemorris.com7
Labeling Carve-Outs (“Little viii”
Statement)
• Differences must not render the proposed product less safe or
effective than the RLD for all remaining, non-protected
conditions of use. 21 CFR 314.127(a)(7)
• Rapamune (sirolimus) – Carve-out Denied
– 3-yr Excl. for cyclosporine withdrawal regimen, extensive info from
clinical study throughout labeling, protected labeling info essential
to safe and effective use of the drug
– FDA: Labeling contains extensive, critical prescribing info that
doctors should receive to determine treatment for any indication.
Sept. 20, 2004, Docket FDA-2003-P-00002.
• Oxandrin (oxandrolone) – Carve-out Upheld
– 3-yr Excl. for geriatric use, clinical study info in labeling
– FDA: all S&E issues within general adult population are adequately
addressed in labeling without geriatric-specific info. Dec. 1, 2006,
Docket FDA-2005-P-0368.
8. www.duanemorris.com8
Para. IV Patent Certification
• Submit Completed ANDA
• Receive FDA Letter That ANDA Has Been
Received
• Send Notice To NDA Sponsor/Patent Holder
• Notice Must Contain:
- ANDA No. - Drug Info.
- Patent No. - Expiry Date
- Scientific Rationale why no infringement/invalid
- Offer to Provide Access to ANDA, if no infringement
- Legal Brief supporting position
9. www.duanemorris.com9
Para. IV Patent Certification
• Amend ANDA to Inform FDA of Notice
• Get Receipt of Delivery Confirmation and Submit
to FDA, 21 CFR 314.95
• NDA Sponsor Has 45 Days to Sue, Starting Day
After Notice is Received
• Suit Triggers 30-month Stay Against ANDA
Approval
• Amend ANDA “Immediately” to Inform FDA of
Suit
10. www.duanemorris.com10
30-Month Stay Rules
• FDA Is Prohibited From Approving The
ANDA For A Period Of:
– Either 30 Months Counted From Day of NDA
Holder’s Receipt of Notice
– Or Until the Day of a Favorable Court Decision
– Whichever Occurs First
11. www.duanemorris.com11
30-Month Stay Rules
• Definition of “Favorable Court Decision” Is
Date-Dependent
• Before March 2000: Appellate Court, per FDA
Policy
• From March 2000 to Dec. 8, 2003: District
Court, per Court Ruling
• After Dec. 8, 2003, Any of the Following:
– District Court Judgment or Settlement Order
– Appellate Court Judgment or Settlement Order
12. www.duanemorris.com12
30-Month Stay Rules
• FDA Amendments Act of 2007
• Signed September 27, 2007
• 30-Month Stay Can Be Extended if FDA Decides
that a Pending Citizen Petition Must Cause a
Necessary Delay in the ANDA Approval
• Extension Equals Length of Time from FDA’s
Receipt of Petition to FDA’s Grant/Denial of
Petition
13. www.duanemorris.com13
Later-Listed Patents
• Definition: Patents Listed With FDA After An
ANDA Is Filed With FDA
• Whether They Trigger 30-Month Stay
Depends On Before/After Aug. 18, 2003
• Old FDA Regulation: Submit Patent Cert. To
Later-Listed Patents & Notice To NDA Holder.
Effect Is Multiple 30-Month Stays
• MMA: After Para. IV ANDA Is Filed, Submit
Patent Cert. & Notice, But 45-Day Clock & 30-
Month Stay Are NOT Triggered
14. www.duanemorris.com14
180-Day Exclusivity
• Available To ANDAs That Contain a Paragraph
IV Patent Certification
• Awarded For Challenging a Patent (Regardless
Of Success)
• Affect On ANDAs:
– Affects Only Subsequently-Filed ANDAs with
Paragraph IV Patent Certifications
– May Be Filed With FDA, And Reviewed, But Will
Not Be Approved Until Exclusivity Expires
– Results In A Tentative Approval Letter
– May Stop/Restart Due to Pediatric Exclusivity
15. www.duanemorris.com15
Requirements for ANDA Exclusivity
• First Person to Submit Complete ANDA
(“First to File”)
• Containing a Paragraph IV Certification
• Challenging a Patent as Invalid or Not
Infringed
• Notice to Patent Holder and NDA Holder
• Eligible for 180 Days of Exclusivity
16. www.duanemorris.com16
Medicare Modernization Act of 2003
• Rules Governing 180-Day Exclusivity are
Now Date Dependent
– Para. IV ANDAs filed before Dec. 8, 2003 are under “old”
pre-MMA rules
– Para. IV ANDAs filed after Dec. 8, 2003 are under “new”
MMA rules
– For 2nd and 3rd ANDA Filers, “old” pre-MMA rules apply
if First-to-File was Before Dec. 8, 2003
17. www.duanemorris.com17
Medicare Modernization Act of 2003
• Timing of Notice to NDA/Patent Holder
– Before Aug. 18, 2003:
At ANDA Applicant’s Discretion
– After Aug. 18, 2003:
Within 20 Days After ANDA Applicant Receives
Word From FDA That ANDA Is Acceptable to
Be Received
18. www.duanemorris.com18
Medicare Modernization Act of 2003
• Trigger for Start of Exclusivity
– Before Aug. 18, 2003:
Earlier of Date of Favorable Court Decision
in a Patent Lawsuit, or Date of First-to-File’s
First Commercial Marketing
– After Aug. 18, 2003:
First-to-File’s First Commercial Marketing (Only); Includes
Authorized Generic
19. www.duanemorris.com19
Forfeiture of 180-Day Exclusivity
• After December 8, 2003, via Medicare Modernization Act
• New Section 505(j)(5)(D)
• By the Following Actions
– Withdrawal of ANDA
– Amendment or Withdrawal of Paragraph IV Cert.
– Failure to obtain Tentative Approval within 30 Months after
submission of ANDA
– Agreement with another ANDA Applicant, NDA Holder or
Patent Owner, where FTC files a complaint and successfully
argues the agreement violates antitrust laws
– Expiration of all patents that had Para. IV certs.
20. www.duanemorris.com20
Forfeiture of 180-Day Exclusivity …
• By Failure to Market the ANDA Drug by the Later of 2 Dates:
– Date 1: The earlier of the date that is
75 days after ANDA approval, or
30 months after ANDA submission
– Date 2:
75 days after
Final Ct. Decision that patent is invalid or not infringed
Lawsuit Settlement where Court enters final judgment that
states patent is invalid or not infringed
Patent is withdrawn from Orange Book by NDA Holder
For all patents with Para. IV Certs.
By any Para. IV ANDA applicant with Tentative Approval
21. www.duanemorris.com21
Historical Controversies Over 180-Day
Exclusivity
• Must First Filer Be Sued?
• What is a “Court Decision” That Triggers 180-Day
Exclusivity?
– 1999: FDA Regulation Said Appellate Court
– 1997-2000: Court Rulings Said Trial Court
– 2000: FDA Guidance Said First Court That Decides the
Patent Is Invalid, Unenforceable or Not Infringed
– After Aug. 18, 2003: No Court (Only Trigger Is First Filer’s
First Commercial Marketing)
22. www.duanemorris.com22
Problems Interpreting 180-Day
Exclusivity
• Does Later Filer Ever Get ANDA Exclusivity?
• What About Patents Not Filed Promptly With FDA
(“Late Listed” Patents)?
• Can There Be “Shared” Exclusivity?
– Based on Differing Product Characteristics
– Based on Multiple Patents
– Based on Same-Day Filing of ANDAs
• Can the ANDA Applicant Force a Patent Infringement
Suit?
– Possibly, via Declaratory Judgment Action
23. www.duanemorris.com23
Problems Interpreting 180-Day
Exclusivity
• Can exclusivity be “sold”?
• What Are the Potential Consequences of Settling the
Patent Lawsuit?
– Risk of Lawsuit by Plaintiff’s Lawyers, Patient Groups,
Shareholders, Competing Generic Companies, FTC, State
Attorney General
– After Jan. 4, 2004: Must Notify FTC & DOJ Within 10
Business Days of Settlement
– Forfeiture of 180-Day Exclusivity, if settlement “converts”
cert to Para. III