About Court Report:  Each week we will report briefly on recently filed biotech and pharma cases.

Merck & Cie et al. v. Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al.
2:12-cv-00223; filed February 13, 2012 in the District Court of Nevada

• Plaintiffs:  Merck & Cie; Bayer Pharma AG; Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Defendants:  Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Watson Laboratories Inc.

Merck & Cie et al. v. Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. et al.
1:12-cv-00161; filed February 10, 2012 in the District Court of Delaware

• Plaintiffs:  Merck & Cie; Bayer Pharma AG; Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Defendants:  Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Watson Laboratories Inc.

The complaints in these cases are substantially identical.  Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,441,168 ("Stable Crystalline Salts of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic Acid," issued August 27, 2002) following a Paragraph IV certification as part of Watson's filing of an ANDA to manufacture a generic version of Merck's Beyaz® (drospirenone, 17α-ethinyl estradiol, and levomefolate calcium, used for oral contraception).  View the Delaware complaint here.

Please see full update below for more information.