Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Jury Finds Merck Patents Valid In Dispute Over Gilead's Hep C Drug
The Wall Street Journal: Merck Gets Win Over Gilead In Hepatitis C Drug Patent Dispute
Merck & Co. won a legal victory over rival Gilead Sciences Inc. on Tuesday when a California jury upheld the validity of two patents that Merck says should entitle it to a portion of the multibillion-dollar annual sales of Gilead’s hepatitis C drugs. Financial repercussions of the decision weren’t immediately clear. The jury still must consider what damages to award to Merck and its co-owner of the patents, Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., for past sales, Kenilworth, N.J.-based Merck said in a statement. A judge then will decide on potential royalties on future sales. (Loftus, 3/22)
Reuters: Merck Wins Hepatitis C Drug Patent Claim Against Gilead
A federal jury on Tuesday upheld the validity of two Merck patents in a dispute with Gilead Sciences, which could be forced to hand over a portion of the billions of dollars in revenue from its blockbuster cure for hepatitis C. The verdict in federal court in San Jose, Calif., is a setback for Gilead, whose drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni brought in $19.2 billion in worldwide sales last year. Merck has demanded more than $2 billion in damages and a royalty of 10 percent of Gilead’s sales going forward. The jury must now decide exactly how much Gilead owes. (3/22)
