In July, a divided Federal Circuit issued a ruling in the Amgen Inc. et al. v. Sandoz Inc., Case No. 2015-1499 appeal and held: (1) the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act’s (“BPCIA’s”) “patent dance” provisions are optional, and (2) a biosimilar applicant may only give effective notice of commercial marketing to meet the 180-day notice provision after the FDA licenses its product. Based on the FDA licensure requirement prior to a biosimilar applicant giving its 180-day notice, the Federal Circuit held Sandoz was precluded from marketing its product, Zarxio, prior to September 2, 2015. See BPCIA Statute: Patent Dance is Optional, But Opting Out has Consequences (describing the Federal Circuit’s ruling).

Following this ruling, on August 20, 2015, both Amgen Inc. and Amgen Manufacturing Limited (“Amgen”) and Sandoz Inc. (“Sandoz”) filed a petition for rehearing en banc. Each party mainly tracked the arguments it had made in its appeal brief to the Federal Circuit. Amgen argued the BPCIA’s “patent dance” provisions are mandatory, and Sandoz argued FDA licensure is not required for the 180-day notice requirement. 

On August 26, 2015, Amgen followed its petition for rehearing en banc with an emergency motion for an injunction pending en banc consideration and review. In this emergency motion, Amgen requested the Federal Circuit “preserve the status quo” and continue preventing Sandoz from launching Zarxio even after the September 2, 2015 date until the rehearing en banc issue is resolved. Amgen Inc., et al. v. Sandoz Inc., Case No. 2015-1499, at 3 (Aug. 26, 2015). Sandoz followed up with its opposition to this emergency motion for an injunction on August 31, 2015. A few days later, the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of Sandoz and issued an Order denying Amgen’s emergency motion for an injunction.

Finally, on October 16, 2015, the Federal Circuit ruled and issued a short Order merely stating the petitions for panel rehearing, and the petitions for rehearing en banc were denied.

At this point, it is unclear whether either Amgen or Sandoz will file a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court. However, for now, the July Federal Circuit holding regarding the optional “patent dance” provisions and the 180-day exclusivity period remain. As more BPCIA biosimilars “patent dances” are already beginning; it will be interesting to see how district courts will rule in light of the Federal Circuit holding in Amgen v. Sandoz. 

K&L Gates will continue to monitor this litigation and future litigations to see what developments may arise.