[Ip-health] Patent revoked for botulinum toxin in UK

[pierre chirac]

Dear Jamie,
An interesting recent case (30 October) of a patent revoked in UK for a
pharmaceutical product.
Best
Pierre Chirac
MSF Access campaign
Pierre.chirac@msf.org

A UK High Court judge has revoked Allergan=92s botulinum toxins patent
after a German pharmaceutical firm rival, Merz, successfully argued the
patent lacked novelty and was obvious.
Based on Merz=B4s application, the High Court of Justice has invalidated
the grant of a patent to Allergan relating to the use of a neurotoxic
component of botulinum toxin for treating pain related to muscle
activities for the territory of Great Britain. This patent with the
patent number EP-B1 1 366 770 was granted in 2005 by the European Patent
Office for a variety of European member states, including Germany and
Great Britain.
The patent was revoked due to added matter, lack of novelty and
obviousness.
More information on :
http://www.merz.com/press/press-releases/company/2006/10/30/01
http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_ipkitten_archive.html