Teva Liable for Induced Infringement of Eli Lilly’s Methods of Administering Pemetrexed (ALIMTA®)

Eli Lilly & Co. v Teva Parenteral Meds., Inc. (Fed. Cir. No.: 15-2067); January 12, 2017
CAFC Opinion PDF

  • The Federal Circuit affirmed the District Court’s finding that Teva is liable for induced infringement of Eli Lilly’s US Patent No. 7,772,209 claiming methods for administering Pemetrexed.
    • The Federal Circuit addressed the issue of induced infringement and direct infringement by physicians even though one of the method steps is performed by patients. The Federal Circuit also addressed  indefiniteness, obviousness, and obviousness-type double patenting.
  • Eli Lilly markets pemetrexed under the brand name ALTIMA®
    • Pemetrexed is an antifolate that kills cancer cells by inhibiting the function of folates, a class of nutrients necessary for cell reproduction. The vitamin pretreatments reduce the toxicity of pemetrexed.
    • ALIMTA® is used to treat certain types of lung cancer and mesothelioma.
  • US Pat. No. 7,772,209 Claim 1:  A method for administering pemetrexed disodium to a patient in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of folic acid and an effective amount of a methylmalonic acid lowering agent followed by administering an effective amount of pemetrexed disodium, wherein the methylmalonic acid lowering agent is selected from the group consisting of vitamin B12, hydroxycobalamin, cyano-10-chlorocobalamin, aquocobalamin perchlorate, aquo-10-cobalamin perchlorate, azidocobalamin, cobalamin, cyanocobalamin, or chlorocobalamin.

Reuters Article: “Eli Lilly defeats Teva Appeal over Alimta Cancer Drug”