Pfizer wins $107.5 million from AstraZeneca in US cancer drug patent trial

Puma Biotechnology

17/05/2024 22:25

By Blake Brittain
       May 17 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca  AZN.L  owes Pfizer
 PFE.N  $107.5 million in damages, a Delaware federal jury said
on Friday after finding that AstraZeneca's blockbuster lung
cancer drug Tagrisso violated its Wyeth unit's patent rights.
    The jury agreed that AstraZeneca's drug infringed two
patents covering methods for treating cancer with the
breast-cancer drug Nerlynx, which is sold by Puma Biotechnology
 PBYI.O . Puma licenses the patents from Pfizer to make its
drug.
    An AstraZeneca spokesperson said the company was
disappointed with the verdict but is "confident in our IP
(intellectual property) position in relation to Tagrisso" and
will "vigorously defend" its rights.
    Representatives for Pfizer did not immediately respond to a
request for comment on the verdict. Puma is no longer a
plaintiff in the case.
    Tagrisso earned AstraZeneca nearly $5.8 billion in revenue
last year, according to a company report.
    New York-based Pfizer, which acquired Wyeth in 2009, sued
AstraZeneca in 2021. It argued that Tagrisso used kinase
inhibitors to treat cancer in the same way as Nerlynx.
    AstraZeneca denied infringing the patents and argued that
they are invalid. 
    U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly will hold a separate
bench trial on some of AstraZeneca's remaining defenses in June,
which could result in a ruling that negates the verdict. 

 (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Bill
Berkrot)
 ((blake.brittain@tr.com; +1 (202) 938-5713;))