Shire Development, LLC v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Shire Development, LLC v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
This cause came before the Court at a four-day bench trial held from September
Shire filed this patent infringement case pursuant to the Hatch-Waxman Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 355. Plaintiffs
II. FINDINGS OF FACT
A. The Parties
1. Shire Development LLC is a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its principal place of business at 725 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087. See Statement of Admitted Facts, Doc. S-502, ¶ 1. Shire Pharmaceutical Development Inc. is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland, having its principal place of business at 1801 Research Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Id. at ¶ 2. Cosmo Technologies Limited (“Cos-mo”) is a company organized and existing under the laws of Ireland, having its principal place of business at 2, Duncairn Terrace, Bray Co., Wicklow, Ireland. Id. at ¶3. Giuliani International Limited (now known as Nogra Pharma Limited) is a company organized and existing under the laws of Ireland, having its principal place of business at 33 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland. Id. at ¶ 4.
2. Cosmo Technologies Limited is the owner of the ’720 patent on assignment from Cosmo S.P.A. Nogra Pharma Limited is an exclusive licensee of the ’720 patent and has granted Shire Pharmaceutical Development Inc. an exclusive sublicense. Id. at ¶ 16.
3. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of West Virginia having a place of business at 491 Chestnut Ridge Road, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505. Id. at ¶ 5. Mylan Inc. is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania having a place of business at 1500 Corporate Drive, Canons-
B. Background
4. Shire is the holder of New Drug Application (“NDA”) No. 22-000, which relates to delayed release mesalamine tablets, 1.2 g. Id. at ¶ 8. On January 16, 2007, the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved the marketing of the delayed release mesalamine tablets, 1.2 g, described in NDA No. 22-000. Id. at ¶ 9. The delayed release mesalamine tablets, 1.2 g, -described in NDA No. 22-000 are sold in the United States by Shire using the trademark Lialda®. Id. at ¶ 10. Lialda .is a delayed-release mesalamine tablet used to treat ulcerative colitis.
5. U.S. Patent No. 6,773,720 (“the ’720 patent”), entitled “Mesalazine controlled release oral pharmaceutical compositions,” was issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) on August 10, 2004. Id. at ¶ 11. U.S. Patent Application No. 10/009,491 (“the ’491 application”), from which the ’720 patent issued, was filed in the USPTO on June 8, 2000. Id. at ¶ 12.- In the FDA’s “Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations” (“Orange Book”), the ’720 patent is listed in the entry for Lialda®. The ’720 patent expires on June 8, 2020. Id. at ¶ 13.
6. Mylan Pharmaceuticals submitted Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”) No. 20-3574 to the FDA under § 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) (codified at 21 U.S.C. § 355(j)), seeking approval to engage in the commercial manufacture, use, or sale of mesalamine delayed-release tablets, 1.2 g (“Mylan’s ANDA Product” or “Mylan’s Product”) prior to expiration of the ’720 patent. Id. at ¶ 17. The, ANDA contains data for the purpose of establishing bioequivalence to Lialda®. It identifies Lialda® as the Reference Listed Drug and provides data for an exhibit batch of My-lan’s ANDA Product, labeled 1042070 (the “exhibit batch”). Id. at 1120. The exhibit batch of Mylan’s ANDA Product is representative of the product that Mylan will sell, if approved by the FDA. See Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Deshmukh) and Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Mr. Panan-chukunnath).
7. The November 24, 2015 Resubmission and Amendment to ANDA No. 20-3574 provided data for three validation batches of Mylan’s ANDA Product, labeled 3040706, 3040780, and 3040826 (collectively, “validation batch”). See Doc. S-502 at If 21. Mylan did not change the formulation composition, drug product manufacturing process, or controls between its exhibit batch and validation batch. See Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Deshmukh). Mylan’s November 24, 2015 Resubmission and Amendment to ANDA No. 20-3674 reports to FDA that “[t]here are no changes to the formulation composition, Drug Product manufacturing process or controls.” See Doc. S-502 at ¶ 22. Thus, data and representations in Mylan’s' original ANDA submission, such as its Product Development Report and dissolution data, also apply to Mylan’s validation batch. See Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Deshmukh). ,
8. Mylan Pharmaceuticals submitted a certification pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 355(b)(2)(A)(iv) in'ANDA No. 20-3574 that the ’720 patent is invalid, unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale, or importation of Mylan’s ANDA Product. See Doc. S-502 at ¶24. By letters dated April 12, 2012, Mylan Pharmaceuticals provided notification of paragraph IV certifications regarding the ’720 patent pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 355Cj)(2)(B)(i)-(iv) of the
9. On May 25, 2012, Shire filed this suit for declaratory relief against Mylan Pharmaceuticals and Mylan Inc. alleging infringement of the ’720 patent. Id. at ¶ 26. Shire asserts that Mylan’s commercial manufacture, use, sale or offer for sale in the United States and importation into the United States of Mylan’s ANDA Product would infringe claims 1 and 3 of the ’720 patent. Id. at ¶ 29.'
10. On August 27, 2012, Mylan filed counterclaims, including inter alia, for a declaratory judgment that the ’720 patent is not infringed. Id. at ¶ 27. It denies that its ANDA Product, if manufactured, used, sold, or offered for sale in the United States or imported into the United States would infringe claims 1 and 3 of the ’720 patent. Id. at ¶ 30. Mylan dismissed its invalidity claims and defenses prior to trial. Id. at ¶ 31.
C. The ’720 Patent
11. The ’720 Patent at issue in this case contains 4 claims. Shire alleges infringement of Claims 1 and 3 of the ’720 Patent. Claim 1 is the ’720 Patent’s only independent claim. It provides:
Controlled-release oral pharmaceutical compositions containing as an active ingre-diént’5-amino-sálicylic acid, comprising:
a. an inner lipophilic matrix consisting of substances selected from the group consisting of unsaturated and/or hydrogenated fatty acid, salts, esters or amides thereof, fatty acid mono-, dior triglycer-ids, waxes, ceramides, and cholesterol derivatives with melting points below 90° C[ ], and wherein the active ingredient is dispersed both in said lipophilic matrix and in the hydrophilic matrix;
b. an outer hydrophilic matrix wherein the lipophilic matrix is dispersed, and said outer hydrophilic matrix consists of compounds selected from the group consisting of polymers or copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acid, alkylvinyl polymers, hydroxyalkyl celluloses, car-boxyalkyl celluloses, polysaccharides, dextrins, .pectins, starches and derivatives, alginic acid, and natural or synthetic gums;
c.optionally other excipients; wherein the active ingredient is present in an amount of 8.0 to 95% by weight of the total composition, and wherein the active ingredient is. dispersed both in the lipo-philic matrix and in the hydrophilic matrix.
Claim 3, which is dependent on Claim 1, provides: “Compositions as claimed, in [c]laim 1, in the form of tablets, capsules, minitablets”. See the ’720 Patent, Plaintiffs Ex. PTX-t001.
D. Mylan ⅛ ANDA Product
12. Mylan knew of the ,’720 Patent during the development of its ANDA Product. See Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Mr. Pa-nanchukunnath); Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Mr. Amminabavi).
13. Mylan admits that its ANDA Product is an oral pharmaceutical containing as an active ingredient 5-amino-salicylic acid. Do.c. S-502 at ¶ 32. 5-amino-salicylic acid is also known as mesalamine or mesalazine. Id. at ¶33. Mylan. also admits that its ANDA. Product contains, active, ingredient in an amount of 85.59% by weight of the total composition. Id. at ¶34. Mylan’s ANDA Product is in the form of a tablet. Id. at ¶ 35.
14. Mylan’s ANDA Product contains two Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (“HPMCs”), Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium (“CMC”), and Sodium Starch Glyco-late (“SSG”), each of which is identified in the ’720 Patent as “examples of hydrogels which can be used according to the inven
15. Mylan uses a double-granulation process to manufacture its ANDA product. See Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Mr. Pananchukunnath). Granulation is a process in which ingredients are combined in order to form granules. There are four general stages to Mylan’s manufacturing process: (1) First Granulation (referred to as “Intragranular Part I”); (2) Second Granulation (referred to as “Intragranular Part II”); (3) Blending; and (4) Compression. See Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Mr. Pananchukunnath).
16. In Mylan’s First Granulation, the following ingredients are dispensed in the amounts indicated (mg/tablet), sifted, uniformly mixed, and granulated: (i) Mesala-mine (1200 mg/tablet); (ii) SSG (16 mg/tablet); (iii) CMC (16 mg/tablet); and (iv) Eudragit (30 mg/tablet). See Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko). Mylan’s First Granulation produces granules that contain a mixture of Mesalamine, SSG, CMC, and Eudragit, as well as “fines” (i.e., small particles) of these same ingredients. Id.
17. In Mylan’s Second Granulation, the granules and fines from the First Granulation are mixed and granulated again with: (i) HPMC E-15 (30 mg/tablet); (ii) HPMC E-50 (35 mg/tablet); (iii) a higher quantity of CMC (20 mg/tablet); (iv) a higher quantity of SSG (20 mg/tablet); and (v) CSD (15 mg'tablet). See Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko), As a result, the ingredients of the Second Granulation are added around the granules formed in the First Granulation. See Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Deshmukh). The ingredients added during Mylan’s Second Granulation-HPMC E-15, HPMC E-50, SSG, CMC, and CSD-are also mixed with the fines of, inter alia, Mesalamine produced in the First Granulation step. See Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
18.After the Second Granulation step, Stearic Acid NF (which contains a mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid) is blended into a final mixture, which is then compressed into tablets, See Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr, Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko). During the Compression step, Stearic Acid NF is forced into the granules via pores. Id. As a result, Stearic Acid NF is distributed throughout the granules in the final tableted Product, Id.
III. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
At the request of the parties, and following claim construction briefing and a Markman hearing on December 22, 2014, see Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967, 979 (Fed. Cir. 1995), the Court issued an Order dated March 23, 2015 (Doc. 233), construing certain disputed claims of the ’720 Patent. The Court’s claim constructions are as follows:
Additionally, the parties agreed on the meaning of the following claim terms:
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IV. THE LAW OF INFRINGEMENT
Patent infringement is a question of fact, and a patent is infringed if a single claim is infringed. Cephalon, Inc. v. Watson Pharms., Inc., 707 F.3d 1330, 1340, (Fed. Cir. 2013); Intervet Am., Inc. v. Kee-Vet Labs., Inc., 887 F.2d 1050, 1055 (Fed. Cir. 1989). The infringement analysis involves two steps. “First, the court determines the scope and meaning, of the patent claims asserted ... and then the properly construed claims are compared to the allegedly infringing device.” Cybor Corp. v. FAS Techs., Inc., 138 F.3d 1448, 1454 (Fed. Cir. 1998). “To prevail, the plaintiff must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the accused device infringes one or more claims of the patent either literally or. ¡under the doctrine of equivalents.” Bayer AG v. Elan Pharm. Research Corp., 212 F.3d 1241, 1247 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (citing Insituform Techs., Inc. v. Cat Contracting, Inc., 161 F.3d 688, 692 (Fed. Cir. 1998)).
A. Literal Infringement
“To prove literal infringement, a plaintiff must show that the accused device contains each and every limitation of the asserted claims.” Presidio Components, Inc. v. Am. Technical Ceramics Corp., 702 F.3d 1351, 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (citing Uniloc USA, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp., 632 F.3d 1292, 1301 (Fed. Cir. 2011)). This may be done with direct or circumstantial evidence, and a patentee need not present direct evidence of infringement. 02 Micro Int’l Ltd. v. Beyond Innovation Tech. Co., Ltd., 449 Fed. Appx 923, 928 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citing Lucent Techs., Inc. v. Gateway, Inc., 580 F.3d 1301, 1318 (Fed. Cir. 2009); Symantec Corp. v. Computer Assocs. Int’l, Inc., 522 F.3d 1279, 1293 (Fed. Cir. 2008)). Further, it is improper to compare the accused product with a preferred embodiment in the Examples of the patent, instead of with the claims. See SRI Int’l v. Matsushita Elec. Corp. of Am., 775 F.2d 1107, 1121 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (citations omitted). “If any claim limitation is absent from the accused device, there is no literal infringement as a matter of law.” Id. (quoting Bayer AG, 212 F.3d at 1247).
B. The Doctrine of Equivalents
An accused product that does not literally infringe a claim may still infringe under the doctrine of equivalents if each limitation of the claim is met in the accused product either literally or equivalently. Cybor Corp. v. FAS Techs., Inc., 138 F.3d 1448, 1459 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (citations. omitted). To find infringement under the doctrine of equivalents, there must be “a showing that the difference between the claimed invention and the accused product
C. Contributory and Induced Infringement
To succeed on a theory of contributory or induced infringement, Plaintiff must first show direct infringement of the'’720 Patent. Lucent, 580 F.3d at 1317; see also Glenayre Elecs., Inc. v. Jackson, 443 F.3d 851, 858 (Fed. Cir. 2006).
35 U.S.C. § 271(c) provides as to contributory infringement:
Whoever offers to sell or sells within the United States or imports into the United States a component of a patented machine, manufacture, combination or composition ... constituting a material part of the invention, knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent, and not a staple article or commodity of, commerce, suitable for substantial noninfringing use, shall be liable, as a contributory infringer.
Id. at § 271(c).
To establish contributory infringement under § 271(c) in the ANDA context, a plaintiff must establish (i) direct infringement, (ii) knowledge of the listed patents, and (iii) that the defendant intended its generic drug to be bioequivalent to the plaintiffs product. Wyeth v. Sandoz, Inc., 703 F.Supp.2d 508, 521-23 (E.D.N.C. 2010) (citing § 271(c)).
Induced infringement requires: (i) direct infringement, and (ii)' that thé alleged infringer knowingly induced infringement and possessed specific intent to encourage another’s infringement Global-Tech Appliances, Inc. v. SEB S.A., 563 U.S. 754, 765-66, 131 S.Ct. 2060, 179 L.Ed.2d 1167 (2011); Minn. Mining & Mfg. Co. v. Chemque, Inc., 303 F.3d 1294, 1304-05 (Fed. Cir. 2002). Intent to induce infringement is based on an objective analysis. Aventis Pharm., Inc. v. Barr Labs., Inc., 411 F.Supp.2d 490, 518 (D.N.J. 2006), aff'd, 208 Fed.Appx. 843 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (per curiam). Evidence of intent can be proved by direct or circumstantial evidence. Water Techs. Corp. v. Calco, Ltd., 850 F.2d 660, 668 (Fed. Cir. 1988). “Whoever actively induces infringement of- a patent shall be liable as an infringer.” 35 U.S.C. § 271(b).
V. INFRINGEMENT ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
A. Trial Testimony
At trial, Shire presented the testimony of two of Mylan’s 30(b)(6) witnesses: "Ma-noj Paiianchukunnath, who was vice president and héad of global scientific affairs at Mylan and was involved in the formulation of' Mylan’s ANDA Product; and Doctor Abhijit Deshmukh, a Mylan formulation scientist, who was the Global Head of Scientific Affairs for the solid oral dosage business at Mylan. Shire also presented the testimony of Nagaraj Amminabavi, a senior manager at the formulation development department of Mylan, who was involved in the formulation development of Mylan’s ANDA Product and Mayur Loya, an assistant manager at Mylan Laborato
Shire’s expert witnesses presented and analyzed the results of tests conducted on Mylan’s ANDA Product and its related properties: (a) dissolution testing and imaging; (b) scanning electron microscopy (“SEM”) imaging; (c) time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (“ToF-SIMS”) imaging; and (d) drop penetration testing.
To rebut Shire’s infringement case, My-lan presented the testimony of Luigi Moro, a 30(b)(6) witness for Cosmo and its Chief Scientific Officer, and the expert testimony of Neil E. Spingarn, Ph.D., an analytical chemist.
The following admissions were announced at the commencement of the trial, and therefore, required no proof. Mylan’s ANDA Product contains stearic acid. My-lan’s ANDA Product contains palmitic acid. The stearic acid in Mylan’s ANDA Product has a melting point below 90° C. The palmitic acid in Mylan’s ANDA Product has a melting point below 90° C. My-lan’s ANDA Product contains two hydrogenated fatty acid substances. Stearic acid is a hydrogenated fatty acid. Palmitic Acid is a hydrogenated fatty acid.
B. The Claim Limitations
Claim 1 of the ’720 Patent has several claim limitations, all of which must be met in order for the Court to make a finding of literal infringement. First, Claim 1 requires “controlled-release oral pharmaceutical compositions” that have 5-amino-salicylic acid (mesalamine) as the active ingredient. And Claim 1 requires the mesalamine to be present in an amount of 80-95% by weight of the total composition. The ANDA Product must have an “inner lipophilic matrix” that consists of one or more of the listed lipophilic substances and the lipophilic excipients used to form the lipophilic matrix must have a melting point below 90° C. Claim 1 also requires an “outer hydrophilic matrix” consisting of one of the listed hydro-philic substances. Finally, Claim 1 requires that mesalamine be dispersed in
1. Controlled Release
“Controlled release” means the dissolution rate of the active ingredient is not immediate.
Mylan asserts that the five examples in the ’720 Patent show that mesalamine is released at a rate of not more than 60-70% within four hours and not more than 90% within eight hours.
Ms. Vivian A. Gray, an expert in dissolution testing,
Dr. Little, an expert in controlled-release formulation and testing,
Dr. Sinko is an expert in pharmaceutical science and formulation.
And Mylan’s ANDA states that its Product was “designed with a combination of delayed and controlled release dosage attributes,” and that this “dual functionality” is built through a delayed-release coating and “extended release tablet core.”
After considering the evidence, testimony and documents, the Court finds that Shire has met its burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that My-lan’s ANDA Product is a controlled-release oral pharmaceutical composition. This aspect of Claim 1 is met.
2. The Matrices
The Court construed the term “inner lipophilic matrix” to mean a “macroscopically homogeneous structure in all is volume that is separate from the outer hydrophilic matrix that has poor affinity towards aqueous fluids.”
(A). Separate Matrices
The Court construed the matrices .as “separate.”
Shire contends that the matrices in the Mylan ADNA Product have spatially and compositionally separate volumes. It presented the testimony of Dr. Paul, an expert in analytical chemistry and materials characterization of pharmaceutical materials.
ToF-SIMS imaging of Mylan’s Product shows ah 'outer volume' (defined by the presence of the two HPMCs) that is spatially separate from an inner volume (defined by thé: absence" of the two HPMGs) dispersed within.
Mylan argues that the evidence does not support a conclusion that there are separate matrices in its ANDA Product. Although Dr. Little and Dr. Sinko testified that Mylan’s Product has separate matrices based on Dr. Paul’s ToF-SIMS images showing fatty acids and HPMCs
But Ms. Gray’s images in dissolution show that the inner and outer volumes of Mylan’s Product exhibit separate compositional characteristics. The outer volume exhibits increased viscosity in the hydrated gel layer and the inner volume resists the penetration of aqueous solvent. And ToF-SIMS imaging shows that the distribution of stearic acid and palmitic acid in the inner volume is spatially separate from the HPMCs, CMC, and SSG in the outer volume.
After considering the evidence, testimony and documents, the Court finds that Shire has proven by a preponderance of the evidence that the Mylan ANDA Product contains separate matrices. This aspect of Claim 1 is met.
(B). Macroscopically Homogeneous in All its Volume
The Court construed both the inner lipo-philic matrix and the outer hydrophilic matrix as being “macroscopically homogeneous in all its volume.”
In support, Shire offered the testimony of Dr. Sinko and Dr. Paul. They explained that when viewing the ToF-SIMS images together, in consideration of the entire tablet, the inner lipophilic matrix is macroscopically homogeneous.
Mylan’s expert, Dr. Spingarn, opined that the evidence does not show macroscopic homogeneity precisely because the images are not macroscopic.
The Court appreciates Dr. Spingarn’s criticism that there were‘no macroscopic images in the record, but that absence in and of itself is insufficient to completely disregard Shire’s experts’ testimony that the matrices are macroscopically homogeneous. There is nothing to refute the fact that Shire’s experts could have reasonably inferred from the microscopic images that the matrices were macroscopically homogeneous. Further, Dr.. Spingarn admitted at deposition that something could look homogenous at one level, but might not be homogeneous at another level and vice ver-
After considering the evidence, testimony and documents, the Court finds that Shire has proven by a preponderance of the evidence that the Mylan ANDA Product contains'matrices that are macroseopi-cally homogeneous in all their' volume. This aspect of Claim 1 is met.
(C). Inner Lipophilic Matrix
Having found that the inner lipophilic matrix is separate and macroscopically homogeneous, the Court now turns to whether it has a popr affinity towards aqueous fluids. “Poor affinity towards aqueous fluids” is observed over the volume of the inner lipophilic matrix.
The test compacts in Dr. Hoag’s drop penetration test simulated the inner volume of Mylan’s ANDA Product.
Dr. Hoag’s mesalamine compact was the appropriate control for assessing “poor affinity towards aqueous fluids.”
The CMC and SSG in Mylan’s inner volume do not cause it to exhibit an affinity for water. Dr. Hoag’s test compacts did not exhibit increased viscosity or swelling
Mylan argues that Shire’s theory of what constitutes the inner lipophilic matrix has been a moving target. In particular, it argues that Shire proposed that the “inner lipophilic matrix” in Mylan’s Product was only the distribution of stearic acid in the inner volume of Mylan’s granules while the “outer hydrophilic matrix” was only the distribution of SSG and HPMCs outside of the inner volume. Mylan argues that this infringement theory is foreclosed by Federal Circuit precedent relating to the ’720 Patent and this, Court’s claim construction order because those ingredients alone do not form a “structure.” Dr. Sinko testified that the stearic and palmitic acids located in the inner volume of Mylan’s granules are not physically connected and the fatty acids in the granules are held in place by mesalamine, SSG, CMC, and Eudragit such that if one removed those ingredients from the granule there would be only a pile of the fatty acids left.
And Mylan argues that the distribution of disconnected particles in a granule is not a structure and the required structure is a “whole bod/’ made of substances from the list in part (a) of claim 1 that has the potential to “crack,” leading to “accidental leakage” of the pharmaceutical ingredient.
Mylan’s second argument-is that Shire alternatively alleged that the “inner lipo-philic matrix” was the entire inner volume of the' granules and the “outer hydrophilic matrix” was the entire outer volume. My-lan argues that under this theory Shire’s case contradicts jurisprudence regarding Markush limitations because the inner volume includes ingredients which also exist in the outer volume. It ultimately argues that Shire has hot met its burden of proof under either theory as argued in its Rule 52(c) motion,' and in its proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.
But, as Shire’s experts testified, the stearic acid is pushed into the granules during the manufacturing process, and is found throughout the tablet. Although Mylan uses a different sequence in its manufacturing process than the ’720 Patent, the resulting tablet can still have the same characteristics as the -’720 Patent. A different manufacturing process does not necessarily produce a different result, as demonstrated by the SEM and ToF-SIMS images showing stearic acid throughout the tablet. The Court is otherwise unpersuaded by Mylan’s argument.
After considering the evidence, testimony and documents, the Court finds that Shire has proven by a preponderance of the evidence that the Mylan ANDA Product contains ah “inner lipophilic matrix” that has a poor affinity for aqueous fluids. This aspect of Claim 1 is met.
(D). Outer Hydrophilic Matrix
Having found that the matrices are sep-araté and mácroscopically homogeneous,
Shire presented evidence and testimony to support this position. Specifically, My-lan’s witness testimony and documents describe its ANDA Product as a “hydrophilic matrix system” and that its “core matrix forms a hydrogel.”
The two HPMCs in Mylan’s Product are “prototypical hydrophilic matrix materials” known to produce the affinity for water described in the ’720 Patent.
Mylan’s outer volume contains SSG and CMC, which are also hydrophilic matrix-forming compounds. SSG is a starch derivative that is known to swell upon contact with water.
The other excipients (stearic acid, palmitic acid, Eudragit, and CSD) are unrelated to the affinity for water exhibited over Mylan’s outer volume. The presence of lipophilic substances in the outer volume does not result in poor affinity towards aqueous fluids or otherwise affect the affinity for water exhibited by Mylan’s outer hydrophilic matrix.
Mylan argues that because stearic acid—the lipophilic matrix-forming substance- exists in the extragranular space with the other excipients, the matrices are mixed, and such dual presence violates the “consisting of’ limitation in Claim 1(b). It also argues that this presence renders the inner and outer matrix requirements meaningless. The Court rejects this argument. Although the matrices need to be separate, the stearic acid in the extragran-ular space may serve another function (e.g. lubricant).
Mylan also argues that Shire appears to equate the “inner lipophilic matrix” with the “inner volume,” and the “outer hydro-philic matrix” with the “outer volume” when neither assertion is supported by the evidentiary record.
After considering the evidence, testimony and documents, the Court finds that Shire has proven by a preponderance of the evidence that the outer hydrophilic matrix has an affinity towards water. And Shire has proven that the Mylan ANDA Product contains an “inner lipophilic matrix” which is located inside and is spatially and compositionally separate from the outer matrix and an “outer hydrophilic matrix” that is located inside and is spatially and compositionally separate from the inner matrix. This aspect of Claim 1 is met.
3. Melting Point Below 90 degrees C
Mylan admits that stearic acid and pal-mitic acid are two hydrogenated fatty
4. “Wherein the Active Ingredient is Dispersed Both in the Lipophilic Matrix and in the Hydrophilic Matrix”
The Court construed the term “dispersed” as its plain and ordinary meaning.
Mylan’s. expert witness, Dr. Spingarn, offered no opinion in rebuttal. But, Mylan contends that the patent requires j;hat the mesalamine be “dispersed in”—not just “partly inglobated” in—both matrices.
After considering the evidence, testimony and documents, and the arguments made by both sides, the Court finds that Shire has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the active ingredient mesala-mine is dispersed both in the inner lipo-philic matrix and in the outer hydrophilic matrix. This aspect of Claim 1 is met.
5. Optionally Other Excipients
The Court has construed “other excipients” in part (c) of claim 1 to mean “excipients, not including coatings, other than those substances forming the inner lipophilic matrix and those compounds forming the outer hydrophilic matrix.”
Drs. Paul, Little and Sinko all agreed that there is mesalamine, stearic acid, pal-mitic acid, SSG, CMC, and Eudragit in the inner volume of Mylan’s granules
Dr. Sinko opined that the stearic acid and palmitic acid distributed in the outer volume are “optionally other excipients” under part (c) of claim 1, and, therefore, are excipients other than those forming the “inner lipophilic matrix.”
Mylan argues that under the Court’s claim construction, stearic and palmitic acid cannot be “other excipients” because Shire contends that they form the “inner lipophilic matrix” in Mylan’s Product and that SSG and CMC cannot be “other excip-ients” because Shire contends that they form the “outer hydrophilic matrix” in My-lan’s ANDA Product.
Based on the evidence, testimony and documents, the Court finds- that Shire has proven by a preponderance of the evidence that stearic acid and palmitic acid, are optionally other excipients when they exist in the outer hydrophilic matrix. And SSG, and CMC are optionally other excipients when they exist in the inner lipophilic matrix. Shire met its burden by demonstrating that the stearic and palmitic acid when found in the outer matrix, and the other excipients besides stearic and palmitic acid when found in the inner matrix are unrelated to the properties of the respective matrix. This aspect of Claim 1 is met.
C. Induced and Contributory Infringement
Having found direct infringement, the court now directs its attention to induced and contributory infringement. “The only difference in the analysis of a traditional infringement claim and a claim of infringement under section 271(e)(2) is the time-frame under which the elements of infringement are considered.” Wyeth, 703 F.Supp.2d at 519 (quoting Allergan, Inc. v. Alcon Labs., Inc. 324 F.3d 1322, 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (per curiam)).
As to induced infringement, .the asserted claims cover the FDA-approved uses. See 21 U.S.C. §' 355(j)(2)(A). Mylan seeks to “piggyback” on the FDA approval of Lialda® with the same activé ingredient and a drug dissolution profile covered by the asserted claims. Because Mylan shows that the ANDA drug is safe and effective with the studies that Shire conducted to prove the safety and efficacy of Lialda®, Mylan is “forbidden from obtaining such approval” for a use that is not covered by Shire’s approved NDA, “unless it files its own ... full safety and efficacy data.” Warner-Lambert Co. v. Apotex Corp., 316 F.3d 1348, 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (emphasis omitted). Mylaii did not present a new use supported by new studies to show that the hypothetical new use is safe and effective. Rather, the récord shows that the proposed use of the ANDA Product infringes the asserted patent claims because the FDA-approved uses are covered by the asserted' claims. Thus, the record shows that the uses for which Mylan seeks approval are covered by Shire’s asserted claims.
As to contributory infringement, when Mylan filed the ANDA, fit knew of the patents-in-suit and knew that sale of
Shire has proven by a preponderance of the evidence that Mylan Inc. knowingly induced Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. to infringe and contributed to Mylan Pharmaceuticals’ infringement of claims 1 and 3 of the ’720 Patent.
VI. CONCLUSION
Based on the Court’s findings set forth above, Shire has established by a preponderance of the evidence that Mylan’s ANDA Product infringes Claims 1 and 3 of the ’720 Patent, literally. And Shire has established secondary liability by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. on the theory of induced and contributory infringement. Shire is entitled to the following relief:
1. A judgment declaring that the submission and filing of Mylan’s ANDA with a paragraph IY certification was an act of infringement of the ’720 Patent by Mylan.
2. A judgment declaring that the commercial manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and/or importation into the United States of Mylan’s Product prior to the expiration of the ’720 Patent will constitute an act of infringement of the ’720 Patent by Mylan.
3. A judgment declaring that Mylan Inc. has, is, and will induce and/or contribute to Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s infringement of the ’720 Patent.
4. An order that the effective date of any approval of Mylan’s ANDA shall be no earlier than the expiration date of the ’720 Patent.
5. A judgment permanently enjoining Mylan from engaging in the commercial manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and/or importation in the United States of Mylan’s Product until the expiration of the ’720 Patent.
6. A judgment declaring that Mylan’s claims of invalidity are dismissed with prejudice.
For the foregoing reasons, Mylan’s Motion for Judgment on Partial Findings (Doc. 478) is DENIED. A Final Judgment in favor of Shire will issue by separate Order.
DONE AND ORDERED.
. Throughout these Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the Court may adopt, without attribution, language proposed by one side of the dispute. In all such instances, the findings or conclusions in question have become the Court’s, based on the Court’s review of the evidence and the law. To the extent that any of the Court’s findings of fact may be considered conclusions of law, or vice versa they should be considered as such.
. Plaintiffs are Shire Development LLC, Shire Pharmaceutical Development, Inc., Cosmo Technologies Limited, and Nogra Pharma Limited.
. Defendants are Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Mylan, Inc.
. For convenience, the Court will refer to plaintiffs and defendants in the singular, except where otherwise noted.
. The Court’s infringement analysis contains additional findings of fact.
. Tr. Day 1 am (Testimony of Ms. Gray); PX-30-318.
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); PX-40-707.
. Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Hoag); PX-601-361.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); PX-613-796.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); PX-617-797.
. Tr. Day 4 am (Testimony of Dr. Spingarn).
. Tr. Day 4 am (Testimony of Dr. Spingarn).
. Tr. Day 4 am (Testimony of Dr. Spingarn).
. Tr. Day 1 am, pp 73-74.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Id.
. Id.
. See '720 Patent.
. Tr. Day 1 am (Testimony of Ms. Gray); PX-30-318.
. Tr. Day 1 am (Testimony of Ms. Gray).
. id.
. Id.; see also Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 1 am (Testimony of Ms. Gray).
. Id.
. Id.; PX-32-322.4-.6.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 1 am (Testimony of Ms. Gray); PX-33-800.1-800.786; PX-34-800.787-800.1618; PX-35-800.1619-800.2375.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); . PX-613-796.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Id.
. Id.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); PX-617-797.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Id.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); PX-614-477.2.
. Id.) see also Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Doc. 233 at'18.
. Doc. 233 at 10.
.Doc. 233 at 8.
. “A Markush group,is a listing of specified alternatives of a group in a patent claim.” Abbott Labs. v. Baxter Pharm. Prods., 334 F.3d 1274, 1280 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr, Paul); PX-40-r707.
. Tr, Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul).
. Id.
. Id.) PX-41-700.351.
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul).
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.) PX-55-700.004; PX-56-700.013; PX-57-700.033; PX-58-700.007.
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); PX-54-700.121; PX-53-700.122.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); PX-53-700.097;" PX-54-700.095; PX-53-700.125; PX-54-700.123; PX-53-700.165; PX-54-700.163; PX-53-700.054; PX-54-700.052; PX-53-700.388; PX-54-700.389; " PX-53-700.417; PX-54-700.416;. PX-53-700.405; PX-54-700.404; PX-53-700.427; PX-54-700,426. "
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr, Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); (Testimony, of Dr. Little); PX-54-700,095.
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr, Sinko); Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr, Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 4 am (Testimony of Dr. Spingarn); PX-53-700.388; PX-54-700.389 (Validation Batch, Area 1); Tr. Day 4 am (Testimony of Dr. Spingarn); PX-53-700.107; PX-54-700,106 (Exhibit Batch, Area 1).
. See infra ¶¶ 82-106.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul).
. See Doc. 500 ("Mylan’s Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law”) at 21-22.
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); PX-54-700,121; Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); PX-53-700.097; PX-54-700.095.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); PX-54-700,121; PX-53-700.097; PX-54-700.095; Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); PX-53-700.097; PX-54-700.095; PX-53-700,122; PX-54-700.121; PX-34-800.1210 (enlarged).
. Doc. 233 at 10.
. Doc. 499 (Shire’s ¶ 89; Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little), Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko), Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); see also Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul).
. Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr, Sinko).
. Tr. Day 4 am (Testimony of Dr. Spingarn).
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Tr. Day 4 am (Testimony of Dr. Spingarn).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. PX-1-1.3 at col.l 11.17-20; Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr, Little); Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Hoag); Tr, Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. PX-1-1.4 at col.4 11.1-5; Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Hoag); Tr. Day 3-am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Hoag).
. . Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Hoag).
. Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Hoag); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr, Hoag).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Mr. Pananchu-kunnath); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); PX-24-258.196; PX-26-260.98; PX-619-525.2-4; PX-620-527.3-5.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 2 am (Testimony of Dr. Hoag).
. Tr, Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little),
. ’ Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Doc. 500 at 11.
. See Doc. 500 at 1.
. Doc. 233 at 6-7.
. PX-1-1.4 at col.3 11.60-64 ("[S]welling due to the distension of the polymeric chains of the hydrogels” results in “a high viscosity hydrated front.”); Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr, Day 1 pm (Testimony of Mr. Pananchukun-nath); PX-5-235.21; PX-604-392.19.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); PX-1-1.4, col.4 11.14-16, 39-41, 58-63; id. at 1-5, col.5 11.11-18, 34-36, col.6 11.18-25.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Amminabavi Dep.); PX-19-269.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); PX-604-392.19; see also PX-5-235.21.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); PX-33-800.117; PX-34-800.925; PX-35-800.1735.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. PX-1-1.4 at col.4 11.15-16, col.4 11.39-40, col.4 11.60-61, col.5 11.15-16, col.5 11.35-36; see also id. at col.3 11,25-30 (identifying “hydroxyalkyl celluloses”); Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr, Sinko).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr, Sinko).
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Mr. Pananchukun-nath).
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Mr. Pananchukun-nath).
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); PX-5-235.24.
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Doc. 500 at 25.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little).
. Tr. Day 1 am.
. Doc. 233 at 12.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr, Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); PX-54-700.121; see also Tr, Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); PX-58-700.7; PX-59-700.1.
. Doc. 500 at 7.
. Doc. 500 at 8.
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko); Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. D.ay 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little). -
. Doc. 233 at 12.
. Doc. 233 at 19.
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr. Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 1 pm (Testimony of Dr. Paul); Tr. Day 2 pm (Testimony of Dr, Little); Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Tr. Day 3 pm (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Id.
. Id.
. Order, Doc. 233 (Mar. 23, 2015).
. See also Tr. Day 3 am (Testimony of Dr. Sinko).
. Doc. 175-2 at 2; 175-3 at 1.
. Doc. 175-2 at 2; Ex. 3 and Doc. 175-3 at 1.
. Doc. 175-2 at 2; Doc. 175-3 at 15.
. Doc. 175-2 at 2; Doc. 175-3 at 1.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SHIRE DEVELOPMENT, LLC, Shire Pharmaceutical Development, Inc., Cosmo Technologies Limited and Nogra Pharma Limited v. MYLAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. and Mylan, Inc.
- Status
- Published