U.S. District Court Confirms Validity of Patent For UCB Pharma’s Vimpat®

UCB Pharma, a Belgian pharmaceutical company, announced on 14th August 2016 that the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware confirmed the validity of its U.S. reissued patent RE38551 related to anti-epileptic drug Vimpat® (lacosamide). The patent challenge was brought by generic drug makers who had questioned the validity of the UCB’s patent which is scheduled to expire in March 2022.

Vimpat®, one of four key products for UCB Pharma, generated net sales of 379 million euros ($423.7 million) in the first half of 2016. Vimpat® is indicated for use alone or as add-on therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients with epilepsy who are 17 years of age or older.

In 2013, UCB had sued numerous generic drug companies, including New York-based generics maker Argentum Pharmaceuticals, after they applied ANDA application to market a generic version of Vimpat® in the United States. In late May, Argentum Pharmaceuticals won an inter partes review of UCB’s patent by the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

The Delaware district court has ruled that UCB’s patent covering the epilepsy drug Vimpat® is valid. The Court upheld the validity of the UCB’s patent after issuing a sealed opinion on the patent. The court’s favorable decision for UCB now guarantees patent protection for Vimpat® until 2022.

Anna S. Richo, executive vice president and general counsel for UCB stated “We are pleased with Delaware Chief Judge Stark’s decision”. “This confirms the strength of our intellectual property for Vimpat®”.

The decision is currently under seal and will be released following an order from the court.

About the Author: Antony David, Senior Patent Associate at Khurana & Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorneys and can be reached at:[email protected].