throbber
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`__________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`___________
`
`LUPIN LTD. and LUPIN PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`POZEN, INC.
`Patent Owner
`
`___________
`
`Inter Partes Review No.: UNASSIGNED
`
`___________
`
`Declaration of Umesh V. Banakar, Ph.D., in Support of Petition
`for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-6 and 13-15 of U.S. Patent No. 8,852,636
`
`Mail Stop “PATENT BOARD”
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Lupin Exh. 1002
`
`

`
`Table of Contents
`
`I.(cid:3)
`
`II.(cid:3)
`
`Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1(cid:3)
`
`Qualifications ...................................................................................................................... 2(cid:3)
`
`III.(cid:3)
`
`Legal standards ................................................................................................................... 7(cid:3)
`
`A.(cid:3)
`
`B.(cid:3)
`
`Obviousness ............................................................................................................ 7(cid:3)
`
`Prior Art .................................................................................................................. 9(cid:3)
`
`Background Of A Person of Ordinary Skill In The Art To The ’636
`C.(cid:3)
`Patent 9(cid:3)
`
`D.(cid:3)
`
`Claim Construction ............................................................................................... 11(cid:3)
`
`IV.(cid:3)
`
`V.(cid:3)
`
`Basis and summary of opinions ........................................................................................ 11(cid:3)
`
`State of the Technology of the ’636 patent as of June 1, 2001 ......................................... 11(cid:3)
`
`Claims 1-6 and 13-15 Would Have Been Obvious Over the ’556 Alone; in
`VI.(cid:3)
`view of Chandramouli; or in view of the ’225 Patent ................................................................... 16(cid:3)
`
`All Of The Limitations Of Independent Claim 1 Of The ’636
`A.(cid:3)
`Patent Are Disclosed In The ’556 Patent .......................................................................... 16(cid:3)
`
`The Further Limitations of Dependent Claims 2-4 and 13-15 of the
`B.(cid:3)
`’636 Patent are Disclosed in the ’556 Patent .................................................................... 18(cid:3)
`
`All the Limitations of Dependent Method Claims 5-6 of the ’636
`C.(cid:3)
`Patent are Disclosed in the ’556 Patent ............................................................................. 19(cid:3)
`
`Chandramouli Further Motivates Tablet Design to Release
`D.(cid:3)
`Esomeprazole Prior to Naproxen ...................................................................................... 20(cid:3)
`
`A POSA Would Have A Reasonable Expectation of Success That
`E.(cid:3)
`Non-Enteric Esomeprazole Would Be Therapeutically Effective .................................... 21(cid:3)
`
`The ’225 Patent Discloses Combination NSAIDs and Acid
`F.(cid:3)
`Inhibitor Formulations ...................................................................................................... 23(cid:3)
`
`Pilbrant and Other Prior Art Cited by Patentee Does Not Show that
`G.(cid:3)
`a POSA Would Avoid Using Non-Enteric Coated Esomeprazole ................................... 24(cid:3)
`
`VII.(cid:3) Claims 1-6 and 13-15 of the ’636 Patent are Obvious in View of the ’118
`Patent and the ’225 Patent or Further in View of the ’192 Patent ................................................ 28(cid:3)
`
`

`
`A.(cid:3)
`Claims 1-6 and 13-15 are Obvious in View Of the ’118 And ’225
`Patents 28(cid:3)
`
`Claims 1-6 and 13-15 are Obvious in View Of the ’118, ’225, and
`B.(cid:3)
`’192 Patents ....................................................................................................................... 29(cid:3)
`
`VIII.(cid:3) Claims 1-6 and 13-15 of the ’636 Patent are Obvious in View of the ’225
`Patent, Chandramouli, and WO ’185 ............................................................................................ 30(cid:3)
`
`There Are No Secondary Consideration Factors That Change My Opinion
`IX.(cid:3)
`That The Claims Would Have Been Obvious ............................................................................... 32(cid:3)
`
`X.(cid:3)
`
`Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 33(cid:3)
`
`

`
`Exhibit
`No.
`1001
`1003
`
`1004
`1005
`1006
`
`1007
`1008
`
`1009
`
`1010
`1011
`
`1012
`1014
`
`1016
`1017
`1018
`
`1019
`
`1020
`
`1021
`
`Exhibits Referenced In This Declaration
`
`Description
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,852,636
`U.S. Patent Application No. 14/045,156 (“the ’156 application”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,544,556 (“the ’ 556 patent”)
`U.S. Patent No. 5,877,192 (“the ’192 patent”)
`Howden et al., Effects of Single and Repeated Doses of Omeprazole in
`Gastric Acid and Pepsin Secretion in Man, Gut, Vol. 25, 707-710
`(1984) (“Howden”)
`U.S. Patent No. 5,698,225 (“the ’225 patent”)
`Pilbrant et al., Development of an Oral Formulation of Omeprazole,
`Scand. J. Gastroenterol., 20(Suppl. 108):113-120 (1985)(“Pilbrant”)
`Preliminary Patent Owner Response to Petition for Inter Partes
`Review of U.S. Patent No. 8,557,285 submitted by Pozen Inc.
`U.S. Patent No. 5,204,118 (“the ’118 patent”)
`Chandramouli et al., Prevention and management of NSAID-Induced
`Gastropathy, Journal of Pharmaceutical Pain and Symptom Control,
`8(4):27-40, 2000 (“Chandramouli”)
`WO/2000/026185 (“WO’185”)
`July 3, 2014 Citizen Petition Denial from FDA to Horizon Pharma
`(“Horizon Citizen Petition”)
`Curriculum Vitae of Umesh V. Banakar
`Pozen Website – John R. Plachetka educational background
`Naprosyn, Physicians’ Desk Reference, Medical Economics
`Company, 2631-32 (2000)
`Acid Suppression: Optimizing Therapy for Gastroduodenal Ulcer
`Healing, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, and Stress-Related Erosive
`Syndrome, Wolfe, et al., Gastroenterology, 118:S9-S31 (2000)
`(“Wolfe”).
`Prichard et al., “Omeprazole: A Study of Its Inhibition of Gastric pH
`and Oral Pharmacokinetics After Morning or Evening Dosage,”
`Gastroenterol., 88:64-69 (1985) (“Prichard”)
`Clissold, et al. Omeprazole- A Preliminary Review of its
`Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Properties, and Therapeutic
`Potential in Peptic Ulcer Disease and Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome,
`Drugs 32: 15-47 (1986) (“Clissold”)
`
`-i-
`
`

`
`1022
`
`1023
`
`1024
`
`1025
`1026
`1027
`
`1028
`1029
`
`1030
`1031
`
`Tolman et al., “The Effects of Oral Doses of Lansoprazole and
`Omeprazole on Gastric pH,” J. Clin. Gastroenterol, 24(2):65-70
`(1997) (“Tolman”)
`Prilosec, Physicians’ Desk Reference, Medical Economics Company,
`617-621 (2000)
`Claim Chart with ’556 Patent, Chandramouli, and ’225 patent
`disclosures
`Nexium Label
`U.S. Patent No. 6,331,316
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 8,557,285 And
`Mandatory Notices Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8 submitted by Dr. Reddy’s
`Laboratories, Inc.
`Fassihi, SA Pharm. J., July 1990, 259-265 (“Fassihi”)
`Gupta, et al., Ch. 6, Oral Controlled-Release Delivery, Treatise on
`Controlled Drug Delivery, A Kydonieus, Ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc.,
`NY, NY: 1992; 256-274. (“Gupta”)
`Claim Chart with ’118, ’225, and ’192 Patent disclosures
`Claim Chart with ’225 Patent, Chandramouli, and WO’185 disclosures
`
`-ii-
`
`

`
`I, Umesh V. Banakar, Ph.D., hereby declare as follows:
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`1.
`
`I understand that Lupin Ltd. and Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc.
`
`(collectively, “Petitioners”) are filing in the U.S. Patent And Trademark Office
`
`(“USPTO”) a petition seeking inter partes review (“IPR”) of the patentability of
`
`certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 8,852,636 (“the ’636 patent”). (Exh. 1001.) The
`
`’636 patent, entitled “Pharmaceutical Compositions for the Coordinated Delivery
`
`of NSAIDS,” issued on October 7, 2014. The inventor listed on the face of the
`
`patent is John R. Plachetka. It is my understanding that the ’636 patent is
`
`currently assigned to Pozen Inc. (“the patentee”).
`
`2.
`
`I have been retained by Petitioners to provide certain scientific
`
`analysis and opinions relating to the validity of claims of the ’636 patent. My
`
`declaration includes a detailed discussion of my qualifications, the background of
`
`the technology related to the ’636 patent, and prior art references that disclose,
`
`either alone or in combination, the limitations and features of claims 1-6 and 13-
`
`15 of the ’636 patent.
`
`3.
`
`I am being compensated from my time in connection with this
`
`proceeding at my standard consulting rate of $750.00 per hour and $950.00 per
`
`hour for my time during deposition and trial testimony, which is independent of
`
`the outcome of this proceeding.
`
`-1-
`
`

`
`II. QUALIFICATIONS
`
`4.
`
`As detailed in my current Curriculum Vitae attached as Exh. 1016, I
`
`am an independent consultant with over 35 years of experience and training with
`
`formulation
`
`technology
`
`including modified-release pharmaceutical dosage
`
`formulations, dissolution
`
`testing of modified-release
`
`formulations, and
`
`bioavailability assessment of such formulations.
`
`5.
`
`I am experienced in several fields within pharmaceutical formulation
`
`pertinent to the technology of the ’636 patent, including:
`
`a. Dosage Form Design (cid:16) the study of how to design drug product dosage
`forms in order to meet the goals for the product, including pertinent stability,
`handling characteristics, and administration.
`
`b. Drug Product Development and Formulation (cid:16) the study of how those of
`ordinary skill in the art prepare compositions for particular active
`pharmaceutical ingredients so that they can be made and sold for
`commercial products.
`
`c. Dissolution Assessment (cid:16) the process by which a solid drug substance enters
`a solvent (medium) to yield a solution.
`
`6.
`
`I received a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1978 from Bombay
`
`University in Bombay, India. I received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Technology,
`
`majoring in dosage form development, biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics,
`
`with a minor in pharmaceutical chemistry, in 1985 from Duquesne University in
`
`Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I performed post-graduate work at the Massachusetts
`
`-2-
`
`

`
`Institute of Technology in 1989, studying advances in drug formulation
`
`technology.
`
`7.
`
`Since the beginning of my education, I have worked in the
`
`pharmaceutical field. While obtaining my undergraduate degree at Bombay
`
`University, I interned at Pfizer, Ltd. Following graduation in 1978, I worked as a
`
`product chemist at Roussel Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. In 1980, I became a Lecturer in
`
`the Department of Pharmaceutics at J.N. Medical College in Belgaum, India.
`
`8.
`
`I came to the United States to pursue my Ph.D. and worked as
`
`Instructor-In-Charge of Pharmaceutics in the Department of Pharmaceutical
`
`Chemistry and Pharmaceutics at the School of Pharmacy at Duquesne University.
`
`After obtaining my Ph.D. in 1985, I taught for five years at Creighton University
`
`School of Pharmacy, as Assistant and
`
`then as Associate Professor of
`
`Pharmaceutics. While at Creighton, I developed courses addressing specialized
`
`dosage forms and formulations for pharmaceutical products.
`
`9.
`
`In 1990, I was recruited by the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, where
`
`I held positions of Section Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Director of
`
`Research, and Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics. In 1994, I was promoted to
`
`Professor of Pharmaceutics, less than ten years after obtaining my Ph.D. During
`
`my time there, I also developed courses addressing specialized dosage forms and
`
`formulations for pharmaceutical products. From 1997 to 1999, I served as
`
`-3-
`
`

`
`Professor of Pharmaceutics and Chairman of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the
`
`Graduate Program at Butler University’s College of Pharmacy and Health
`
`Sciences.
`
`10.
`
`I am now an independent consultant, specializing in assisting drug
`
`manufacturers around the world to develop new pharmaceutical products. Until
`
`recently, I was also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine at the
`
`University of Campinas in Brazil, where I developed and presented a Graduate
`
`Course for Masters and Doctoral programs entitled “Clinical Pharmacy Practice:
`
`Pharmacokinetics for the Practicing Healthcare Professional.” I also recently have
`
`been an adjunct Professor at Creighton University in the School of Pharmacy and
`
`Allied Health.
`
`11.
`
`I give advanced professional training programs worldwide in the
`
`areas of drug product design and evaluation, dissolution testing and solubility, and
`
`in vivo-in vitro correlation, among others to the pharmaceutical industrial and
`
`academic community.
`
`12.
`
`I currently work part-time as a consultant with the United States
`
`Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”), reviewing submissions, including
`
`Investigational New Drug Applications (“INDs”), New Drug Applications
`
`(“NDAs”), and Abbreviated New Drug Applications (“ANDAs”). I also review
`
`-4-
`
`

`
`grants and evaluate sites for compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices and
`
`Good Clinical Practices.
`
`13.
`
`I have authored more than one hundred publications, including
`
`numerous textbooks and manuals, in use by pharmaceutical scientists worldwide.
`
`As a specialist in formulations and pharmaceutical dosage forms, I have written
`
`many articles and book chapters on this topic, including, for example, IN SEARCH
`
`OF AN IDEAL ORAL SUSTAINED RELEASE DOSAGE FORM, Interphex-USA ‘91,
`
`WS07, New York, (1991); FUNDAMENTALS OF DRUG PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
`
`WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF GENERIC
`
`PHARMACEUTICALS, Novartis Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India (1999);
`
`“Beyond Traditional Non-conventional Drug Delivery Systems,” Chapter in
`
`DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS, ICB,
`
`Warsaw, Poland (1998); and “Materials Used in Controlled Release Technology –
`
`A Primer,” Ch. 8 in ADVANCES IN CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF DRUGS, Kohudic,
`
`MA, Fd., Technomic Publishing Co., Inc., Lancaster, PA, pp. 132-154 (1994).
`
`14.
`
`I have also served on the Editorial Boards of a variety of publications
`
`related to this field, including acting as Founding Editor-in-Chief of the
`
`INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL ADVANCES; Editor-at-Large in the
`
`area of Pharmaceutical Technology, for Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, New
`
`York (1990); member of the editorial board for the JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIAL
`
`-5-
`
`

`
`APPLICATIONS, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL &
`
`MEDICAL
`
`SCIENCES,
`
`PHARMACOKINETIC/PHARMACODYNAMIC
`
`&
`
`BIOPHARMACEUTICS SECTION, Brazil; Acta Pharmaceutica, Ljubljnana, Republic
`
`of Slovenia; and INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENTS,
`
`Mumbai, India. I have also been invited to give presentations on the
`
`pharmaceutical arts all over the world.
`
`15.
`
`I have had the opportunity to serve in the public sector on both a
`
`national and international level. I currently am an advisor to the National
`
`Institutes of Health, NIAID, NINDS and SBIR/STTR programs. I have advised
`
`the United Nations International Executive Service Corps in Hungary and India
`
`and currently am an advisor to the United Nations Transfer of Knowledge
`
`Through Expatriate Nationals program and to the World Health Organization. In
`
`May 2014, the Society for Pharmaceutical Dissolution Science (SPDS) awarded
`
`me the Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions to Pharmaceutical
`
`Dissolution Science.
`
`16.
`
`I have developed and formulated various types of pharmaceutical
`
`formulations (solids, liquid suspensions, specialized drug delivery systems such as
`
`topical and transdermal dosage forms) of numerous NSAIDS including naproxen.
`
`Similarly, I have developed and formulated pharmaceutical formulations of PPIs
`
`such as benzimidazoles - omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, among others,
`
`-6-
`
`

`
`as solid dosage forms including rapidly disintegrating solid (non-enteric coated)
`
`dosage forms, enteric coated solid dosage forms, among others. Additionally, I
`
`have developed and formulated Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) pharmaceutical
`
`formulations containing two or more active substances, including FDC of a PPI
`
`and a NSAID. The development of such FDCs of a PPI and NSAID formulations
`
`included those that did not contain an enteric coating agent and neither were
`
`enteric coated dosage forms.
`
`III. LEGAL STANDARDS
`
`17.
`
`I am not a patent attorney, nor have I independently researched the
`
`law of patent validity. Attorneys for the Petitioners have explained certain legal
`
`standards to me that I have relied on in forming my opinions set forth in my
`
`declaration.
`
`A.
`
`Obviousness
`
`18.
`
`I understand that a patent claim is invalid for obviousness if the
`
`differences between the subject matter of the claim and the prior art are such that
`
`the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention
`
`was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art. I also understand that
`
`certain factors are relevant to determining if a claim is obvious: (1) the scope and
`
`content of the prior art; (2) the level of ordinary skill in the art; (3) the difference
`
`between the prior art and the claims at issue; and (4) objective evidence of
`
`-7-
`
`

`
`secondary considerations, such as long-felt need, commercial success, and
`
`unexpected results. I have also been informed that there must be a nexus (a
`
`connection) between the evidence that is the basis for the secondary factor and the
`
`scope of the invention claimed in the patent.
`
`19.
`
`I have been informed by counsel, that obviousness may be based on a
`
`single prior art reference or on a combination of references and what those
`
`references would teach or disclose to a person of skill in the art. I have also been
`
`informed that, for the purposes, of an obviousness analysis, the person of skill in
`
`the art is presumed to be familiar with all relevant prior art. It is my
`
`understanding that if obviousness is based on a combination of references, there
`
`should be some reason why a person of skill would have made such a
`
`combination. For example, a prior art reference itself may provide a disclosure
`
`that would motivate a person of skill to combine references with a reasonable
`
`expectation of success. I have further been informed that motivation to combine
`
`references may come from any source, including common knowledge or
`
`understanding of those skilled in the art, the prior art as a whole, any need or
`
`problem in the field, and the inferences, judgments, and ordinary creativity of a
`
`person of skill in the field.
`
`-8-
`
`

`
`B.
`
`Prior Art
`
`20.
`
`I have been informed the law provides certain categories of
`
`information (known as prior art) that may be used to anticipate or render obvious
`
`patent claims. I have also been informed the references I discuss qualify as prior
`
`art because they were publicly available as of June 1, 2001, which I understand is
`
`the earliest priority date of the ’636 patent as shown on the front of the patent as
`
`the date of Provisional Application No. 60/294,588. I further understand U.S.
`
`Patent No. 6,544,556 is prior art under at least 35 U.S.C. § 102(e) because it is
`
`based on an application filed before June 1, 2001.
`
`C.
`
`Background Of A Person of Ordinary Skill In The Art To The
`’636 Patent
`
`21.
`
`I understand that assessment of the validity of the claims of the ’636
`
`patent must be undertaken from the perspective of what would have been known
`
`and understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art (“a POSA”) as of the time
`
`the invention was made, which I have been informed is the earliest priority date of
`
`the ’636 patent. I have been asked to provide my opinion as to the background of
`
`a POSA to the ’636 patent and have been informed that a POSA is a hypothetical
`
`person having the knowledge, experience and skill of an “ordinary” worker in the
`
`“art” pertinent to the subject matter of the patent. In determining the level of skill
`
`of the POSA, I have also been informed that the following factors could be
`
`applicable in the analysis to determine the level of a POSA: (1) the educational
`
`-9-
`
`

`
`level of the inventor; (2) type of problems encountered in the art; (3) prior art
`
`solutions to those problems; (4) rapidity with which innovations are made; (5)
`
`sophistication of the technology; and (6) educational level of active workers in the
`
`field.
`
`22.
`
`I understand that the listed inventor on the ’636 patent, John R.
`
`Plachetka, has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a doctor of pharmacy degree
`
`(Pharm.D.). (Exh. 1017.)
`
`23.
`
`The ’636 patent is generally directed to pharmaceutical formulations
`
`and methods of treatment using such formulations. The type of problems
`
`encountered and the solutions to those problems involve identification and testing
`
`of different formulations using different active pharmaceutical ingredients and
`
`excipients. A POSA addressing problems of this nature would typically have a
`
`degree in the pharmaceutical sciences field or related field with experience in
`
`formulating drugs. Likewise, active workers in this field typically have the same
`
`background.
`
`24. Based on my evaluation of the ’636 patent, its file history, the factors
`
`above, and my over 35 years of experience working in the field of formulating
`
`pharmaceutical compositions, it is my opinion that a POSA would include a
`
`pharmaceutical scientist having a Ph.D. degree in the field of pharmaceutical
`
`-10-
`
`

`
`sciences or equivalent training or degree and at least two years of experience with
`
`pharmaceutical formulations.
`
`D.
`
`Claim Construction
`
`25.
`
`I am informed that, in connection with an Inter Partes Review, the
`
`USPTO assigns the broadest possible construction for the terms used in the patent
`
`claims. For purposes of my opinions in my declaration, I will apply the above-
`
`referenced constructions set forth in the district court proceedings, which is
`
`consistent with how a POSA would understand those terms in the ’636 patent.
`
`IV. BASIS AND SUMMARY OF OPINIONS
`
`26.
`
`In preparing my opinions as set forth in this declaration, I have
`
`reviewed the ’636 patent and its prosecution history. I have also reviewed the
`
`documents cited herein and listed in the Exhibit List, above, in light of the general
`
`knowledge in the art from the view point of a person of skill in that art as of June
`
`2001.
`
`27.
`
`The opinions in this declaration are based on my more than 35 years
`
`of academic and clinical experience, training, research, and teaching in the fields
`
`of pharmaceutical formulation. As described herein, it is my opinion that claims
`
`1-6 and 13-15 of U.S. Patent No. 8,852,636 would have been obvious to a person
`
`of ordinary skill in the art as of June 2001.
`
`V.
`
`STATE OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE ’636 PATENT AS OF
`JUNE 1, 2001
`
`-11-
`
`

`
`28.
`
`The ’636 patent is entitled “Pharmaceutical Compositions For The
`
`Coordinated Delivery Of NSAIDs” and generally relates to pharmaceutical
`
`formulations and the use of those formulations to treat patients for pain or
`
`inflammation. The patent specification describes the formulations as containing a
`
`non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and an acid inhibitor. The claims
`
`specifically require naproxen as the NSAID and esomeprazole as the acid
`
`inhibitor. As detailed below, naproxen and esomeprazole were both well-known
`
`and described in the prior art.
`
`29. NSAIDs are a class of drugs that have analgesic and anti-
`
`inflammatory effects, and one of the best known examples of an NSAID is
`
`aspirin. The ’636 patent acknowledges that NSAIDs, including naproxen, “are
`
`widely accepted as effective agents for controlling pain.” (Exh. 1001, 1:31-32.)
`
`However, it was also well known prior to June of 2001 that NSAIDs can cause
`
`gastric injury. (See e.g. Exh. 1001, 1:31; Exh. 1011 at 31.) The NSAID naproxen
`
`was likewise known to cause gastric injury. (See e.g. Exh. 1011 at 31; Exh. 1018
`
`at 2631-32.)
`
`30. As of June 2001, various acid inhibiting compounds were known to
`
`treat and prevent NSAID-associated gastric injury. Commonly known acid
`
`inhibiting compounds included the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), prostaglandins,
`
`and histamine H2 blockers. PPIs are used to treat or prevent gastrointestinal
`
`-12-
`
`

`
`injuries because they irreversibly bind to an enzyme called hydrogen-potassium
`
`ATPase pump found on parietal cells in the duodenal region, the area that includes
`
`the gastric region (the stomach) and the early intestinal region. (Exh. 1006, 709;
`
`Exh. 1019.) Upon binding to this proton pump enzyme, the PPI inhibits secretion
`
`of hydrogen ions by the parietal cells. This mechanism decreases acidity of the
`
`gastric environment and increases the pH of the stomach. (Exh. 1006, 709.)
`
`31. An immediate increase in gastric pH occurs shortly after release of
`
`the PPI. However, the full therapeutic effect of increased pH from PPIs is reached
`
`after a steady-state gastric pH is achieved by repeated administration of the PPI.
`
`(Id.) While PPIs are acid labile, meaning that they degrade in acidic
`
`environments, repeated administration of PPIs results in a self-propagating effect.
`
`(See, e.g., Exh. 1006, 709; Exh. 1020, 64; Exh. 1021, 32; and Exh. 1022, 69.) As
`
`pH in the stomach rises due to initial doses of the PPI, gastric juices become less
`
`acidic, and further administration of the PPI results in increasing effectiveness
`
`until reaching maximum effect. Steady state is achieved typically within a few
`
`days of repeated administration. (Exh. 1006, 709.)
`
`32.
`
`The first PPI approved and marketed in the United States was
`
`omeprazole, which was approved in 1989 and sold as Prilosec®. (Exh. 1023.)
`
`Esomeprazole is the S-enantiomer of the racemate omeprazole. (Exh. 1005, 1:50-
`
`55.) The pure enantiomer esomeprazole was commonly recognized as having
`
`-13-
`
`

`
`substantially similar therapeutic effect to the racemic mixture omeprazole at
`
`similar dosages. (Id. at 2:4-12.) Esomeprazole additionally was understood to
`
`have less interindividual variability. (Id. at 2:29-36.) Both omeprazole and
`
`esomeprazole were understood to be safe and effective, with little concern for side
`
`effects at dosages greater than the FDA-approved amounts. (See, e.g., Exh. 1023,
`
`621; Exh. 1025, 23.) Non-enteric dosage forms of PPIs were known prior to
`
`2001. See, e.g., Santarus, Inc. v. Par Pharmaceutical, 694 F.3d 1344 (Fed. Cir.
`
`2012) (holding prior art
`
`taught solid dosage forms of omeprazole for
`
`administration without enteric coating)
`
`33.
`
`Proton pump inhibitors function by inhibiting H2 receptors in the
`
`parietal cells. (Exh. 1021, 20.) Parietal cells are located in the duodenum, which
`
`is located immediately after the stomach within the GI tract. (See Figure 1.) A
`
`POSA would know that a PPI such as esomeprazole should be available by the
`
`time it reaches the duodenal region in order to be therapeutically effective. (See
`
`Exh. 1021, 20.) NSAIDs, on the other hand, are absorbed later in the GI tract
`
`because they have a slower absorption rate, as reflected in the time to reach
`
`maximum concentration in the blood (Tmax) of 2-4 hours. (Ex. 1016, 2631.) Thus,
`
`a POSA would have understood that esomeprazole should be released early in the
`
`GI tract to reduce the acidity (inhibit proton pumps) while naproxen may be
`
`-14-
`
`

`
`released simultaneously, or preferably later than the release of esomeprazole, in
`
`order to reduce the risk of NSAID-associated gastroduodenal injury.
`
`Figure 1. Gastroduodenal Tract Anatomy
`
`34.
`
`The ’636 patent describes a single dosage form with the NSAID in an
`
`inner core of the formulation and the acid inhibitor in an outer layer. (Exh. 1001,
`
`4:42-67.) The patent further describes a dosage form where the NSAID in the
`
`inner core is coated and does not dissolve unless the surrounding medium is at a
`
`pH of 3.5 or higher. The acid inhibitor is outside of the core and is released
`
`before the NSAID. (Id.) As of June 2001, a POSA would have been able to
`
`prepare such a formulation using well known procedures. In fact, the ’636 patent
`
`acknowledges that the claimed dosage forms “can be made in accordance with
`
`methods that are standard in the art” and cites a 1980 edition of a well-known
`-15-
`
`

`
`textbook in the pharmaceutical field, Remington’s Pharmaceutical Sciences. (Id.,
`
`8:14-19.) Moreover, the patent discloses examples of the procedures to make the
`
`dosage forms, and those examples use standard formulation procedures and
`
`typical excipients that were well known in the art.
`
`VI. CLAIMS 1-6 AND 13-15 WOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS OVER
`THE ’556 ALONE; IN VIEW OF CHANDRAMOULI; OR IN VIEW
`OF THE ’225 PATENT
`
`35. U.S. Patent No. 6,544,556
`
`(“the
`
`’556 patent”)
`
`is entitled
`
`“Pharmaceutical Formulations Containing A Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory
`
`Drug And A Proton Pump Inhibitor.” The patent application resulting in the ’556
`
`patent was filed on September 11, 2000. (Exh. 1004, [22].) A claim chart
`
`attached as Exhibit 1022 shows the relevant disclosures from the ’556 patent for
`
`each of the limitations in claims 1-6 and 13-15 of the ’636 patent. The claim chart
`
`alternatively shows the ’556 patent renders claims 1-6 and 13-15 obvious in view
`
`of Chandramouli or in view of the ’225 patent It is my opinion that a POSA would
`
`have been motivated to make the formulations claimed in the ’636 patent from the
`
`disclosure in the ’556 patent and would have had a reasonable expectation of
`
`success.
`
`A.
`
`All Of The Limitations Of Independent Claim 1 Of The ’636
`Patent Are Disclosed In The ’556 Patent
`
`36.
`
`The
`
`’556 patent
`
`teaches a combination
`
`tablet containing
`
`therapeutically effective amounts of naproxen (Exh. 1004, 5:60-63) and
`
`-16-
`
`

`
`esomeprazole (id., 6:53-56) for reducing
`
`the risk of NSAID-associated
`
`gastroduodenal injury. (Id. [57].) Thus, the ’556 patent not only provides a
`
`motivation to create a single combination tablet containing naproxen and
`
`esomeprazole but explicitly discloses one.
`
`37.
`
`The ’556 patent also teaches the use of pH-dependent and
`
`independent coatings designed to release each drug in a separate portion of the GI
`
`tract. (Id., 12:14-31 (“It is also possible and preferable to formulate compositions
`
`which release a portion of the dose [. . .] in one desired area of the GI tract, e.g.
`
`the stomach, and release the remainder of the dose [. . .] in another area of the GI
`
`tract, e.g. the small intestine.”)) The patent additionally discloses a number of
`
`embodiments in which one drug is encapsulated and further surrounded by the
`
`second drug. (Id., 11:65-12:7.) Although the patent preferably discloses that the
`
`PPI is coated by a pH-dependent layer while the NSAID is coated by a pH-
`
`independent layer, a person of skill in the art would have understood that this
`
`composition would release the PPI after the NSAID.
`
`38. As discussed above, a POSA would have preferred to release the PPI
`
`prior to the NSAID because it was known that PPIs act in an earlier portion of the
`
`GI tract than NSAIDs. Although the ’556 patent generally discloses embodiments
`
`in which the PPI is enteric-coated, a POSA would have understood the ’556 patent
`
`does not require an enteric coating. The specification states that it is preferable,
`
`-17-
`
`

`
`but not necessary to coat the PPI, and in no way suggests a non-enteric coated PPI
`
`would lack bioavailability. (Id., 7:15-20; 8: 18-24.) A POSA would have been
`
`motivated by the ’556 patent alone to use the patent’s teachings to design a
`
`combination tablet comprising a PPI and an NSAID that releases esomeprazole in
`
`the stomach and naproxen later, in the small intestine.
`
`B.
`
`The Further Limitations of Dependent Claims 2-4 and 13-15 of
`the ’636 Patent are Disclosed in the ’556 Patent
`
`39. Claim 2 requires a single core comprising naproxen. As described
`
`above, the ’556 patent teaches an embodiment in which naproxen is present in a
`
`core. Further, a POSA would have understood that any embodiments describing
`
`esomeprazole in a core could have been interchangeable with naproxen.
`
`40.
`
`Claims 3 and 4 describe well-known dosages of naproxen and
`
`esomeprazole. Given that both naproxen and esomeprazole were well known at
`
`the time, a POSA would have understood the disclosure in the ’556 patent of
`
`therapeutically effective amounts of naproxen and esomeprazole to include the
`
`amounts claimed in claims 3 and 4 of the ’636 patent. Both compounds and their
`
`approved doses were known a

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket