Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Et. Al.
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Et. Al.
and DR. FALK PHARMA GmbH, Plaintiffs, v. LUPIN LIMITED and LUPIN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT Plaintiffs Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Salix) and Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH (Falk) bring this action for patent infringement against Defendants Lupin Limited and Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (collectively Lupin). This action concerns a patent related to Salixs pharmaceutical product, Apriso (mesalamine), a prescription drug indicated for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis in adults. PARTIES 1. Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a corporation existing under the laws of California having its corporate offices and principal place of business at 8510 Colonnade Center Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27615. Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is engaged in the business of development, marketing and sale of branded pharmaceutical products. 2. Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH, Inc. is a corporation existing under the laws of Germany
having its corporate offices and principal place of business at Leinenweberstr. 5, 79108 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH is engaged in the business of development and sales of pharmaceutical products for indications in, inter alia, gastroenterology.
-1-
3. Upon information and belief, Lupin Limited (Lupin Ltd.) is a corporation existing under the laws of India having a principal place of business at B/4 Laxmi Towers, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai 400 051, India. 4. Upon information and belief, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Lupin Pharma) is a corporation existing under the laws of Virginia having a principal place of business at 111 South Calvert Street, 21st Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. 5. Upon information and belief, Lupin Pharma is a wholly-owned subsidiary and agent of Lupin Ltd. 6. Upon information and belief, Lupin Pharma, itself and on behalf of its parent corporation Lupin Ltd., distributes, markets, and/or sells generic drugs in Delaware and throughout the United States. 7. Upon information and belief, Lupin Ltd., itself and through its wholly-owned subsidiary and agent Lupin Pharma, is in the business of making and selling generic pharmaceutical products, which it distributes, markets, and/or sells in Delaware and throughout the United States. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 8. Subject matter jurisdiction is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a). 9. Venue in this Court is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391 and 1400(b). 10. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Lupin Ltd. and Lupin Pharma by virtue of, inter alia, their marketing and sales activities in this judicial district, including but not limited to the substantial, continuous, and systematic distribution, marketing, and/or sales of generic pharmaceutical products to residents of this judicial district, and because Lupin Ltd. established the principal place of business of its wholly-owned subsidiary Lupin Pharma in Maryland.
-2-
11. Upon information and belief, Lupin Ltd. is subject to personal jurisdiction in Maryland because, among other things, Lupin Ltd., itself and through its wholly owned subsidiary Lupin Pharma, has purposely availed itself of the benefits and protections of Marylands laws such that it should reasonably anticipate being haled into court in Maryland. Upon information and belief, Lupin Ltd., itself and through its wholly owned subsidiary Lupin Pharma, manufactures, markets, and/or sells generic drugs throughout the United States and within the State of Maryland, and/or has engaged in systematic and continuous business contacts within the State of Maryland. Lupin Ltd. is subject to personal jurisdiction in Maryland on the basis of its inducement of and/or contribution to Lupin Pharmas acts of infringement in Maryland. In addition, Lupin Ltd. is subject to personal jurisdiction in Maryland because, on information and belief, it controls and dominates Lupin Pharma and therefore the activities of Lupin Pharma in this jurisdiction are attributed to Lupin Ltd. 12. Upon information and belief, this Court has personal jurisdiction over Lupin Pharma because Lupin Pharma has its principal place of business in Maryland, is a resident and citizen thereof, and has purposely availed itself of the benefits and protections of Marylands laws such that it should reasonably anticipate being haled into court in Maryland. Upon information and belief, Lupin Pharma manufactures, markets, and/or sells generic drugs throughout the United States and within the State of Maryland, and/or has engaged in systematic and continuous business contacts within the State of Maryland. NATURE OF THIS ACTION 13. This is an action for patent infringement arising under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 100 et seq. This action relates to Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) No. 204202 filed by Lupin with the United States Food and Drug Administration
-3-
(FDA) for approval to market generic copies of Salixs Apriso pharmaceutical products that are sold in the United States. BACKGROUND 14. Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH is the owner by assignment of U.S. Patent No. 6,551,620 (the 620 patent), entitled Pellet Formulation for the Treatment of the Intestinal Tract. The 620 patent was duly and legally issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on April 22, 2003. A true and correct copy of the 620 patent is attached as Exhibit A. 15. Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is Dr. Falk Pharmas exclusive licensee of the 620 patent. 16. Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the holder of approved New Drug Application (NDA) No. 22-301 for the use of Apriso (mesalamine) Extended Release Capsules in a 0.375g dosage strength, as indicated for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis in adults. 17. On information and belief, Lupin filed ANDA No. 204202 with the FDA under 21 U.S.C. 355(j), seeking approval for the commercial manufacture, use, and sale of mesalamine extended-release capsules in 0.375g dosage strengths (Lupins generic mesalamine products) before the expiration of the620 patent (patent-in-suit). On information and belief, as part of its ANDA, Lupin filed a Paragraph IV Certification, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 355(j)(2)(A)(vii)(IV), alleging that the patent-in-suit is invalid, unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by the commercial manufacture, use, or sale of Lupins generic mesalamine products that are the subject of Lupins ANDA No. 204202. 18. Lupin caused to be sent to Salix a letter (the Notice Letter), dated July 27, 2012, notifying Salix that Lupin Ltd. had filed ANDA No. 204202 seeking approval to market Lupins generic mesalamine products prior to the expiration of the patent-in-suit, and stating that Lupin
-4-
was providing information to Salix pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 355(j)(2)(B)(iv). Salix received the Notice Letter on or about July 30, 2012. COUNT I FOR INFRINGEMENT OF THE 620 PATENT 19. Salix realleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1-18. 20. Lupin has filed or caused to be filed ANDA No. 204202 with the FDA, seeking authorization to manufacture, import, market, use, offer for sale, and sell Lupins generic mesalamine products before the expiration of the 620 patent. Upon information and belief, Lupin also filed with the FDA, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 355(j)(2)(A)(vii)(IV), a certification alleging that the 620 patent is invalid, unenforceable, or not infringed. 21. By submitting its ANDA No. 204202 under 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for the purpose of obtaining approval to engage in the commercial manufacture, use, or sale of Lupins generic mesalamine products before the expiration of the 620 patent, Lupin Ltd. has infringed the 620 patent under 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(2). 22. Upon information and belief, Lupin Pharma has acted in concert with Lupin Ltd., actively supporting, participating in, encouraging, and inducing Lupin Ltd.s filing of ANDA No. 204202 for Lupins generic mesalamine products, and in the preparation to sell in the United States Lupins generic mesalamine products. 23. The FDA requires Lupins proposed label for Lupins generic mesalamine products to contain the same prescribing, dosage and administration, and side effect information as found on the Apriso label. See 21 C.F.R. 314.94(8)(iv). 24. Upon information and belief, Lupin intends, soon after the FDA has approved the ANDA, to begin manufacturing, marketing, selling, and offering to sell Lupins generic
-5-
mesalamine products with a product insert that will direct physicians and patients in the use of Lupins generic mesalamine products. 25. Upon FDA approval of Lupins ANDA No. 204202, Lupin will infringe the 620 patent, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, by making, using, offering to sell, selling, and/or importing Lupins generic mesalamine products in the United States under 35 U.S.C. 271(a), and by actively inducing and contributing to infringement by others under 35 U.S.C. 271(b) and (c). 26. Upon information and belief, Lupin Pharma will actively aid, abet, encourage, and induce Lupin Ltd. and others in the production, importation, sale, offer for sale, and use of Lupins generic mesalamine products. 27. Upon information and belief, Lupin Pharma and Lupin Ltd. will both actively aid, abet, encourage, participate, and induce others to participate in the production, importation, sale, offer for sale, and use of Lupins generic mesalamine products. 28. Upon information and belief, the offer to sell, sale, and/or importation of Lupins generic mesalamine products would actively induce infringement under 35 U.S.C. 271(b) of at least one claim of the 620 patent, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 29. Upon information and belief, Lupin has knowledge of the 620 patent and knows that it will aid and abet anothers direct infringement of at least one of the claims of the 620 patent, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 30. On information and belief, Lupins generic mesalamine products are especially made or adapted for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis in adults, and Lupin is aware that its generic mesalamine products are so made or so adapted and, if approved, will be used in contravention of Plaintiffs rights under the 620 patent.
-6-
31. Upon information and belief, the offer to sell, sale, and/or importation of Lupins generic mesalamine products would contributorily infringe under 35 U.S.C. 271(c) at least one of the claims of the 620 patent, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 32. Lupin has knowledge of the 620 patent and is knowingly infringing the 620 patent. 33. As a result of Lupins infringement of the 620 patent, Salix has been and will continue to be damaged unless said infringement is enjoined by this Court. Salix has no adequate remedy at law. PRAYER FOR RELIEF Wherefore, Plaintiffs Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH pray for judgment and relief including: A. enforceable. B. A declaration that, under 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(2)(A), Lupins submission to the A declaration that the claims of United States Patent No. 6,551,620 are valid and
FDA of ANDA No. 204202 to obtain approval for the commercial manufacture, use, offer for sale, sale in, or importation into the United States of Lupins generic mesalamine products before the expiration of United States Patent No. 6,551,620 was an act of infringement; C. A declaration that, under 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(2)(A) and 271(b), Lupins active
and knowing aiding and abetting of the submission to the FDA of ANDA No. 204202 to obtain approval for the commercial manufacture, use, offer for sale, or sale in, or importation into the United States of Lupins generic mesalamine products before the expiration of United States Patent No. 6,551,620 were acts of infringement of the patent-in-suit; D. A declaration that Lupin would infringe one or more claims of United States
Patent No. 6,551,620 under one or more of 35 U.S.C. 271(a)-(c) by its manufacture, use,
-7-
offering to sell, and sale in, and importation into the United States of Lupins generic mesalamine products prior to expiration of said patent-in-suit and any additional dates of exclusivity therefor; E. A permanent injunction pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(4)(B) and 283, enjoining
Lupin, and all officers, agents, servants, employees, privies, and others acting for, on behalf of, or in concert with any of them from infringing any claims of the patent-in-suit with Lupins generic mesalamine products prior to the expiration date of United States Patent No. 6,551,620, and any additional dates of exclusivity; F. A permanent injunction enjoining Lupin and all persons acting in concert with
Lupin from seeking, obtaining, or maintaining approval of Lupins ANDA No. 204202 until the expiration date of United States Patent No. 6,551,620, and any additional dates of exclusivity; G. An order pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(4)(A) that the effective date of any FDA
approval of Lupins generic mesalamine products is not to be earlier than the expiration date of United States Patent No. 6,551,620 and any additional dates of exclusivity therefor. H. A declaration that Lupin has no legal or equitable defense to Plaintiffs allegations
of infringement; I. An award declaring this case exceptional pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 285 and
granting Plaintiffs their attorneys fees; J. K. proper. An award of Plaintiffs costs and expenses in this action; and An award of any further and additional relief as this Court may deem just and
-8-
Respectfully submitted, /s/ David. B. Hamilton WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, LLP 250 West Pratt Street Suite 1300 Baltimore, MD 21201 Tel.: (410) 545-5800 Fax: (410) 545-5801 [email protected]
Of Counsel: Mary W. Bourke (#2356) CONNOLLY, BOVE, LODGE & HUTZ LLP The Nemours Building 1007 North Orange Street P.O. Box. 2207 Wilmington, DE 19899 (302) 658-9141 [email protected]
Attorneys for Plaintiffs Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH Dated: September 7, 2012
-9-