Soliris Patent

Tulsa, OK: (Feb-14-08) The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) brought charges against Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., over patent rights to discoveries its scientists made in the 1980s. At the crux of the dispute was a lawsuit filed by OMRF in 2007 against Alexion, over the FDA approved drug Soliris. Alexion markets a year long treatment of Soliris for a rare blood disorder for an annual cost of $389,000 per patient. The suit stated that OMRF was issued patents in 1997 for discoveries that were effective in treating paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and licensed the rights to the patented property to Alexion in 1992. However, in 2006, Alexion said it had determined that the drug did not fall under its license with OMRF and did not owe any royalties over the sale of the drug. That prompted another lawsuit.

Sources close to the case stated that the parties had reached a settlement, in which Alexion Pharmaceuticals will pay $10 million, resolving the patent dispute. Under the terms of the deal, OMRF and Connecticut-based Alexion said that it had agreed to acquire from OMRF all rights to the patents related to the FDA approved drug. Solaris is used to treat patients with a condition known as PNH, described as a rare, debilitating and life-threatening disease. [NEWS OK: SOLIRIS PATENT]

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Published on Feb-18-08