throbber
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`APOTEX CORP.,
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.,
`Patent Owner.
`
`Case IPR2013-00428
`U.S. Patent No. 8,268,299 B2
`
`DECLARATION OF HENRY GRABOWSKI, Ph.D.
`
`1
`
`Exhibit 1037
`ARGENTUM
`
`000001
`
`

`

`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`
`II.
`
`III.
`
`Introduction ...................................................................................................... 3
`A. Qualifications ........................................................................................ 3
`B. Assignment ............................................................................................ 5
`C.
`Summary of Opinions ........................................................................... 9
`TRAVATAN Z® Is a Commercial Success ................................................... 11
`
`The Glaucoma Market and Ophthalmic Prostaglandin Analogs ........ 11
`A.
`Indicators of Commercial Success ...................................................... 14
`B.
`Factors Underlying the Commercial Success of TRAVATAN Z® ............... 18
`TRAVATAN Z®’s Patented Features ................................................. 18
`A.
`B. Alcon’s Promotion of TRAVATAN Z® Is Comparable to That of
`Other Branded Ophthalmic Prostaglandin Analogs ...................................... 22
`1.
`Marketing and Promotional Activities in the Pharmaceutical
`Industry ................................................................................................ 22
`The Extent of Promotional Activities for TRAVATAN Z® ..... 23
`2.
`
`2
`
`000002
`
`

`

`I, Henry Grabowski, hereby declare as follows:
`
`Introduction
`
`I am over the age of eighteen (18) and otherwise competent to make this
`
`I.
`
`1.
`
`declaration.
`
`2.
`
`I understand that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has granted Apotex
`
`Corp.’s (“Apotex”) petition to institute this Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) regarding
`
`claims 1–28 of United States Patent No. 8,268,299 (the “’299 patent”) on
`
`obviousness grounds.
`
`A. Qualifications
`I am currently Professor Emeritus of Economics and the Director of the
`
`3.
`
`Program in Pharmaceuticals and Health Economics at Duke University. I received
`
`my Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics from Lehigh University in
`
`1962. In 1967, I obtained a doctorate in economics from Princeton University.
`
`My academic and research specialties are in the pharmaceutical industry—health
`
`economics, economics of innovation, and government regulation.
`
`4.
`
`I have studied the economics of the pharmaceutical industry over much of
`
`my career, and I have published numerous articles and books on this industry. I
`
`created a graduate course at Duke on economics and policy issues in the
`
`pharmaceutical industry. Under a series of grants from the National Science
`
`Foundation, I have examined the economics of pharmaceutical research and
`
`3
`
`000003
`
`

`

`development (“R&D”) and the effect of various government policy actions on drug
`
`innovation. I have testified several times before Congressional committees in the
`
`United States on pharmaceutical industry issues. For example, since 1994, I have
`
`testified on issues involving effective patent life and generic competition in
`
`pharmaceuticals, generic biologics, the Clinton Administration’s health reform
`
`legislation, and the federal government’s policy toward children’s vaccines.
`
`5.
`
`I have been an advisor and consultant to the National Academy of Sciences,
`
`Institute of Medicine, Federal Trade Commission, General Accounting Office, and
`
`Office of Technology Assessment. I have also held visiting scholar appointments
`
`at the International Institute of Management in Berlin, Germany, Health Care
`
`Financing Administration in Washington, D.C., the Office of Health Economics in
`
`London, and the Centre for Medicines Research in London. Until its acquisition
`
`by Gilead Sciences in 2003, I served on the Board of Directors of Triangle
`
`Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a development-stage company that specialized in antiviral
`
`drug therapies.
`
`6.
`
`I have done extensive research on the economics of competition in the
`
`pharmaceutical industry, including the role of patents and the importance of R&D.
`
`I have also performed several studies on pharmaceutical R&D costs and profits.
`
` The Congressional Budget Office has used my work in this regard to analyze the
`
`effects of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act (“Hatch-
`
`4
`
`000004
`
`

`

`Waxman Act”) on R&D returns and to analyze the proposed changes associated
`
`with the Health Security Act of 1993.
`
`7.
`
`Exhibit AL 2008 is a copy of my curriculum vitae, which includes a more
`
`detailed description of my education and professional experience, as well as a list
`
`of my publications from the last forty years.
`
`B. Assignment
`I have been retained by Williams & Connolly LLP on behalf of Alcon
`
`8.
`
`Research, Ltd. (“Alcon”) to serve as an expert witness in this action.
`
`9.
`
`In particular, I have been asked to opine on whether Alcon’s drug,
`
`TRAVATAN Z®, is a commercial success, and if so, to address the factors
`
`underlying its commercial success, including whether there is a nexus between its
`
`commercial success and the features of the claimed invention. I have also been
`
`asked to opine on whether Alcon’s promotional expenditures on TRAVATAN Z®
`
`are in line with that of other competing products.
`
`10.
`
`In connection with the opinions and conclusions contained within this
`
`declaration, listed below are the documents that I have reviewed and considered or
`
`created (based on data from IMS Health and Encuity Research, which I understand
`
`are being provided to Apotex) in connection with the opinions and conclusions
`
`contained within this declaration. I have also relied on my training, my years of
`
`
`
`5
`
`000005
`
`

`

`experience as an economist, my regular review and knowledge of the economic
`
`literature, and presentations at academic and industry conferences.
`
`Paper or
`Exhibit No. Description
`Apotex’s Petitions for Inter Partes Review in IPR2013-00428,
`2
`-00429, and -00430
`
`7 (in 00428
`and 00429);
`8 (in 00430)
`
`8 (in 00428
`and 00429);
`9 (in 00430)
`2009
`
`2021
`
`2022
`
`2023
`
`2024
`
`2025
`
`2026
`
`2027
`
`
`
`Alcon’s Preliminary Responses to Apotex’s Petitions for Inter
`Partes Review in IPR2013-00428, -00429, and -00430
`
`Institution Decisions in IPR2013-00428, -00429, and -00430
`
`
`
`Declaration of Richard K. Parrish, II, M.D.
`Azoulay, P., 2002, “Do Pharmaceutical Sales Respond to Scientific
`Evidence?” Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Vol.
`11, No. 4, pp. 551–594
`Berndt, E. R., et al., 1995, “Information, Marketing, and Pricing in
`the U.S. Antiulcer Drug Market,” The American Economic Review,
`Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 100–105
`Berndt, E. R., 2001, “The U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry: Why
`Major Growth in Times of Cost Containment?” Health Affairs,
`Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 100–114
`Berndt, E. R., 2002, “Pharmaceuticals in U.S. Health Care:
`Determinants of Quantity and Price,” Journal of Economic
`Perspectives, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 45–66
`Berndt, E. R., et al., 2002, “An Analysis of the Diffusion of New
`Antidepressants: Variety, Quality, and Marketing Efforts,” The
`Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, Vol. 5, pp. 3–19
`Coscelli, A. and M. Shum, 2004, “An Empirical Model of Learning
`and Patient Spillovers in New Drug Entry,” Journal of
`Econometrics, Vol. 122, pp. 213–246
`Iizuka, T., 2004, “What Explains the Use of Direct-to-Consumer
`Advertising of Prescription Drugs?” The Journal of Industrial
`6
`
`000006
`
`

`

`Economics, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 349–379
`Leffler, K. B., 1981, “Persuasion or Information? The Economics
`of Prescription Drug Advertising,” Journal of Law and Economics,
`Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 45–74
`Schmalensee, R., 1982, “Product Differentiation Advantages of
`Pioneering Brands,” The American Economic Review, Vol. 72, No.
`3, pp. 349–365
`Venkataraman, S. and S. Stremersch, 2007, “The Debate on
`Influencing Doctors’ Decisions: Are Drug Characteristics the
`Missing Link?” Management Science, Vol. 53, No. 11, pp. 1688–
`1701
`Prostaglandin Analogs Drug Information
`TRAVATAN Z® Wholesale Dollar Sales
`TRAVATAN Z® and Other Prostaglandin Analog Drugs Wholesale
`Dollar Sales Market Share
`TRAVATAN Z® Total Prescriptions
`TRAVATAN® Total Prescriptions
`TRAVATAN Z® and Other Prostaglandin Analog Drugs Total
`Prescriptions Market Share
`TRAVATAN Z® New Prescriptions
`TRAVATAN Z® and Other Prostaglandin Analog Drugs New
`Prescriptions Market Share
`TRAVATAN Z® and Other Prostaglandin Analog Drugs Share of
`Voice Including Retail Value of Samples
`TRAVATAN Z® and Other Prostaglandin Analog Drugs Share of
`Voice Excluding Retail Value of Samples
`TRAVATAN Z®, TRAVATAN®, and LUMIGAN® Promotional
`Spending to Wholesale Dollar Sales Ratio Excluding Retail Value
`of Samples
`TRAVATAN Z®, TRAVATAN®, and LUMIGAN® Promotional
`Spending Excluding Retail Value of Samples
`IMS Bibliography
`
`7
`
`2028
`
`2029
`
`2030
`
`2031
`2032
`
`2033
`
`2034
`2035
`
`2036
`
`2037
`
`2038
`
`2039
`
`2040
`
`2041
`
`2042
`
`2043
`
`
`
`000007
`
`

`

`Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Form 10-K, 2012
`Data from IMS Health (being produced to Apotex)
`Data from Encuity Research (being produced to Apotex)
`
`“Encuity Research” available at www.encuity.com
`
`“Home – IMS Health” available at www.imshealth.com
`
`2044
`N/A
`N/A
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`
`11. Exhibits AL 2032 through AL 2038 contain summaries of voluminous data
`
`concerning sales, units, and prescriptions from IMS Health.1 I understand that the
`
`data underlying these exhibits will be produced to Apotex. IMS Health is a leading
`
`provider of information on the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. IMS
`
`Health data are relied upon extensively by pharmaceutical industry professionals,
`
`government agencies, and researchers to determine drug sales, prescriptions, and
`
`promotional expenditures.2
`
`12. Exhibits AL 2039 through AL 2042 contain a summary of voluminous data
`
`from Encuity Research (and, with respect to Exhibit AL 2041, IMS Health). I
`
`understand that the data underlying these exhibits will be produced to Apotex.
`
`1 See www.imshealth.com.
`
`2 See Exhibit AL 2043.
`
`(http://www.imshealth.com/deployedfiles/ims/Global/Content/Insights/Researchers
`
`/IMS_bibliography.pdf).
`
`
`
`8
`
`000008
`
`

`

`Pharmaceutical industry professionals and researchers routinely rely on Encuity
`
`Research data to determine promotional activity.3
`
`13.
`
`I am being compensated for my time and services at my regular hourly rate
`
`of $800. I will also be reimbursed for my expenses. I also receive periodic
`
`compensation from Cornerstone Research, the firm that has assisted me on this
`
`matter and with which I have a longstanding relationship. Neither my
`
`compensation in this matter nor my compensation from Cornerstone Research is in
`
`any way contingent or based on the content of my opinion or the outcome of this or
`
`any other matter.
`
`C.
`Summary of Opinions
`14. Based on my research and analyses summarized in this declaration, I
`
`conclude that TRAVATAN Z® has achieved commercial success in the United
`
`States. I also conclude that there is a nexus between the commercial success of
`
`TRAVATAN Z® and its characteristics that embody inventions claimed by the
`
`patent at issue.
`
`15. The success of TRAVATAN Z® is demonstrated by its levels of and growth
`
`in dollar sales, prescriptions, and market share in the United States. Since its
`
`launch in 2006 through 2013, TRAVATAN Z® has been prescribed over 17
`
`
`3 See www.encuity.com.
`
`
`
`9
`
`000009
`
`

`

`million times in the United States. Over this same time period, the cumulative
`
`dollar sales of TRAVATAN Z® were over $2 billion. The success of TRAVATAN
`
`Z® is further evidenced by the fact that it is one of the best-selling and most-
`
`prescribed drugs in its therapeutic category despite having to compete with
`
`alternative treatment options, including generics.
`
`16.
`
`I understand that the claims of the aforementioned ’299 patent at issue here
`
`describe self-preserved aqueous compositions, and in particular, cover
`
`compositions with a preservative system that is used by TRAVATAN Z® but not
`
`by any competing drugs. The commercial success of TRAVATAN Z® is explained
`
`by what I understand to be the benefits of the claimed compositions with this
`
`preservative system as compared with other drug formulations that use
`
`conventional preservatives and are thus more likely to lead to ocular surface
`
`damage. This is demonstrated by the fact that TRAVATAN Z® has outperformed
`
`its predecessor drug, TRAVATAN®, which I understand was not self-preserved
`
`and did not use the claimed invention. This is further demonstrated by the fact that
`
`TRAVATAN Z® has continued to be a commercial success despite the availability
`
`of other therapeutic alternatives, which I understand are similarly efficacious and
`
`at least some of which are at lower cost, but are also not self-preserved and do not
`
`use the claimed invention. Based on this and other evidence, it is my opinion that
`
`10
`
`000010
`
`

`

`there is a nexus between the commercial success of TRAVATAN Z® and the
`
`claimed invention.
`
`17.
`
`In determining that there is a nexus between TRAVATAN Z®’s commercial
`
`success and the claimed invention, I have also evaluated whether the drug’s
`
`commercial success could be attributed to other factors, such as excessive
`
`promotion. In my opinion, TRAVATAN Z®’s commercial success has not been
`
`the result of excessive promotion. The extent of marketing expenditures for
`
`TRAVATAN Z® is consistent with that of other competing products, especially
`
`considering that TRAVATAN Z® was launched in a crowded market where other
`
`available treatment options had been promoted for many years prior to
`
`TRAVATAN Z®’s launch.
`
`II.
`
`18.
`
`TRAVATAN Z® Is a Commercial Success
`A. The Glaucoma Market and Ophthalmic Prostaglandin Analogs
`I have reviewed the declaration of Dr. Richard Parrish and rely on his
`
`opinions herein. Based on my review of his declaration, I understand that open-
`
`angle glaucoma is a disease characterized by chronic, progressive damage to the
`
`optic nerve, usually associated with elevated intra-ocular pressure (“IOP”). I
`
`further understand that the most common type of medication used to treat
`
`glaucoma patients with elevated IOP are a class of drugs known as prostaglandin
`
`analogs (“PGAs”). My understanding from Dr. Parrish is that although other, non-
`
`
`
`11
`
`000011
`
`

`

`PGA treatments are available for the long-term treatment of glaucoma, they are not
`
`comparable to PGAs.
`
`19. According to Dr. Parrish, the PGAs available in 2006 in the United States
`
`included TRAVATAN® (travoprost), XALATAN® (latanoprost), and LUMIGAN®
`
`0.01% (bimatoprost). Today, XALATAN® and LUMIGAN® are available in the
`
`United States, along with TRAVATAN Z®, ZIOPTAN™ (tafluprost), and a generic
`
`version of XALATAN® (latanoprost). In addition, I understand from counsel that
`
`a generic version of TRAVATAN® became available in 2013. Exhibit AL 2031
`
`summarizes the various prostaglandin analogs on the market.4
`
`20. Based on my review of Dr. Parrish’s declaration, I understand that
`
`TRAVATAN Z®’s predecessor, TRAVATAN®, and the other prostaglandin
`
`analogs currently on the market—specifically XALATAN®, LUMIGAN®, and
`
`4 Based on Dr. Parrish’s declaration, it is my understanding that ZIOPTAN™ is
`
`not a comparable drug to the other prostaglandin analogs. I further understand that
`
`RESCULA is a prostanoid, and while it has some characteristics which are similar
`
`to prostaglandin analogs, it is not technically a prostaglandin analog. In this
`
`declaration, I have considered all the drugs listed in Exhibit AL 2031, including
`
`ZIOPTAN™ and RESCULA. However, excluding these two drugs from my
`
`analysis would not affect my conclusions.
`
`12
`
`000012
`
`

`

`generic latanoprost—are similar in efficacy at treating IOP as compared to
`
`TRAVATAN Z®. I further understand that except for TRAVATAN Z®, all of
`
`these drugs contain benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as a preservative.5
`
`21. According to Dr. Parrish, the long-term use of BAK exacerbates the
`
`symptoms associated with various forms of ocular surface disease (OSD). I
`
`understand that OSD is a significant concern among clinicians, and that for patients
`
`with OSD symptoms, the use of ophthalmic formulations without BAK is
`
`preferred. I understand that because TRAVATAN Z® does not contain BAK, it has
`
`a less toxic effect on the ocular surface, leading to decreased incidence of
`
`symptoms of OSD among patients taking TRAVATAN Z® in comparison to other
`
`prostaglandin analogs. Per Dr. Parrish, I understand that even though
`
`TRAVATAN Z® is more expensive than some other medical treatment options, it
`
`is a first-line treatment for glaucoma patients with symptoms of OSD because it
`
`has reduced potential for exacerbation of those symptoms.
`
`
`5 I understand from counsel that the absence of BAK from TRAVATAN Z®’s
`
`formulation is a result of its use of the claimed invention.
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`000013
`
`

`

`B.
`Indicators of Commercial Success
`22. There are several indicators that can be used to determine whether a product
`
`has achieved commercial success. The indicators for the success of a patented
`
`drug product include levels of, and growth trends in, dollar sales and prescriptions
`
`of the product, as well as its performance relative to other competing products
`
`(typically measured in terms of share of sales or prescriptions). A product does not
`
`have to satisfy all of these indicators to be considered commercially successful.
`
`Rather, each indicator can demonstrate the commercial success of the product,
`
`either alone or in conjunction with other indicators.
`
`23. My analyses below demonstrate that TRAVATAN Z® is a commercially
`
`successful drug. Since its launch in 2006 through 2013, TRAVATAN Z® has been
`
`prescribed over 17 million times in the United States. Over this same time period,
`
`the cumulative dollar sales of TRAVATAN Z® were over $2 billion.
`
`24. Exhibit AL 2032 graphs annual U.S. wholesale dollar sales for TRAVATAN
`
`Z®. TRAVATAN Z® achieved sales of over $3 million from its launch in October
`
`2006 through the end of that calendar year, and reached sales of almost $65 million
`
`in 2007, its first full calendar year on the market. TRAVATAN Z®’s sales
`
`generally increased over the following years, achieving peak sales of over $495
`
`million in 2011. Sales in 2013 were over $440 million, representing an
`
`approximately 6.8 fold increase over the sales in 2007. This strong sales
`
`
`
`14
`
`000014
`
`

`

`performance has occurred even while TRAVATAN Z® was a late entrant, and in
`
`light of competition from XALATAN®, LUMIGAN®, TRAVATAN®, and later
`
`generic latanoprost (a generic version of XALATAN®).
`
`25. As shown in Exhibit AL 2031, XALATAN® was the first prostaglandin
`
`analog that launched in 1996. Subsequently, TRAVATAN® and LUMIGAN®
`
`were launched in 2001. Thus, even as a late entrant, TRAVATAN Z® achieved
`
`strong sales performance following its launch in 2006.
`
`26. Academic literature suggests that products can often enjoy first-mover
`
`advantages. First-mover advantage is a phenomenon whereby the company that
`
`first enters a market has an advantage over competition that enters subsequently.6
`
`Several factors are responsible for creating first-mover advantages for
`
`pharmaceutical products, including their nature as so-called “experience goods”
`
`and brand loyalty. With “experience goods,” the quality of the consumer
`
`experience on an individual level cannot be determined until the individual has
`
`tried the product. In the case of pharmaceuticals, the experiences of both the
`
`physicians and the patients are important. For experience goods (including
`
`pharmaceuticals), consumers incur search costs to acquire information about the
`
`quality of a product and will incur additional costs if they switch to other products.
`
`
`6 See, for example, AL 2022, 104; AL 2025, 4; AL 2029, 360.
`
`
`
`15
`
`000015
`
`

`

`Consumers may also develop brand loyalty to the first mover’s products and
`
`become less accepting of alternatives. Moreover, the first mover has the
`
`opportunity to obtain high market share levels, and for experience goods the first
`
`mover can gain and keep consumer preference. If the consumer experiences the
`
`first mover’s product, then the consumer often grows comfortable with that
`
`product, which may become the product of choice and give the first mover a strong
`
`presence in the market. This garners good will with consumers, leading to
`
`economic and psychological circumstances that make it difficult for a subsequent
`
`mover to gain market share. As a result, later entrants usually are disadvantaged
`
`relative to the first entrant.
`
`27.
`
`In addition, one would expect that managed care organizations and
`
`pharmacy benefit managers have strong incentives to use generics, as they will
`
`typically be much less expensive alternatives. As such, it is notable that
`
`TRAVATAN Z®’s strong sales performance continued even after generic
`
`latanoprost (a generic version of first mover XALATAN®) launched in 2011.
`
`28. Exhibit AL 2033 illustrates the market share of prostaglandin analog drugs
`
`by wholesale dollar sales. TRAVATAN Z® realized a market share of over 6% in
`
`2007, the first full calendar year it was on the market. TRAVATAN Z®’s market
`
`share has since substantially grown to over 12% in 2008, and to almost 24% in
`
`
`
`16
`
`000016
`
`

`

`2010. TRAVATAN Z® has maintained over a 40% share in each of the past three
`
`years, following the introduction of generic latanoprost in 2011.
`
`29. The commercial success of TRAVATAN Z® is further evident from an
`
`analysis of the number of prescriptions dispensed, shown in Exhibit AL 2034.
`
`Over 630,000 total prescriptions of TRAVATAN Z® were dispensed in 2007, the
`
`first full calendar year that TRAVATAN Z® was on the market. The total number
`
`of prescriptions of TRAVATAN Z® increased to almost 1.4 million in 2008, and to
`
`over 3.8 million in 2011. Over 3 million total prescriptions continued to be
`
`dispensed in each of the years 2012 and 2013.
`
`30. Exhibit AL 2036 illustrates the market share of prostaglandin analog drugs
`
`by total prescriptions dispensed. In 2007, the first full calendar year TRAVATAN
`
`Z® was on the market, TRAVATAN Z® accounted for a share of almost 5% of total
`
`prescriptions of prostaglandin analog drugs. TRAVATAN Z®’s share then grew to
`
`over 10% in 2008, to almost 27% in 2011, and has maintained a share of almost
`
`22% in 2012 and almost 19% in 2013. Between 2011 and 2013 cumulatively,
`
`TRAVATAN Z® was the most-prescribed branded drug of all PGAs, and was the
`
`second-most prescribed drug of all PGAs overall, behind only generic latanoprost.
`
`31. Exhibits AL 2037 and AL 2038 analogously show the number of new
`
`prescriptions dispensed of TRAVATAN Z® and the market share of prostaglandin
`
`analog drugs by new prescriptions dispensed. A similar story emerges here too,
`
`
`
`17
`
`000017
`
`

`

`providing further evidence of the commercial success of TRAVATAN Z®. Over
`
`326,000 new prescriptions of TRAVATAN Z® were dispensed in 2007, increasing
`
`to almost 562,000 new prescriptions in 2008, and to over 787,000 new
`
`prescriptions in 2009. The number of new prescriptions dispensed from 2010 to
`
`2013 has exceeded over 1 million in each of these years. As a result, TRAVATAN
`
`Z® accounted for approximately 8% of new prescriptions of prostaglandin analog
`
`drugs in 2007, increasing to about 13% in 2008, to over 25% in 2011, and has
`
`maintained a share of over 22% in 2012 and almost 20% in 2013.
`
`32. The above evidence describing TRAVATAN Z®’s sales and prescriptions
`
`since its launch, and its performance relative to other competing products, supports
`
`the conclusion that TRAVATAN Z® has been a commercially successful drug.
`
`III. Factors Underlying the Commercial Success of TRAVATAN Z®
`A. TRAVATAN Z®’s Patented Features
`I understand that a patent can be found invalid if the invention described in
`
`33.
`
`the patent would have been considered “obvious” to the person of ordinary skill in
`
`the art based upon what was already known at the time of the invention. I also
`
`understand that the commercial success of a patented product is one type of
`
`evidence that can support a showing that the patented invention is not “obvious,”
`
`provided there is a “nexus” between the invention and its commercial success.
`
`
`
`18
`
`000018
`
`

`

`34.
`
`In my opinion, TRAVATAN Z®’s commercial success is attributable to its
`
`use of the preservative system in the claimed invention, which allows it to avoid
`
`using the preservative BAK. This is consistent with the trends in the sales and
`
`prescriptions of TRAVATAN Z® in comparison to TRAVATAN®, as well as its
`
`continued performance even in the presence of multiple alternative treatment
`
`options, including generics.
`
`35. TRAVATAN Z® has outperformed TRAVATAN®, both in terms of total
`
`prescriptions and in wholesale dollar market share. TRAVATAN® was introduced
`
`to the market in 2001. Five years later, in 2006 (the year in which TRAVATAN
`
`Z® was introduced), TRAVATAN® was prescribed approximately 2.2 million
`
`times and had roughly an 18% market share of total prescriptions and a 20%
`
`market share of wholesale dollar sales of the PGA market, as shown in Exhibits
`
`AL 2033, AL 2035, and AL 2036. In contrast, total prescriptions of TRAVATAN
`
`Z® reached approximately the same level in only three years and continued to
`
`increase thereafter. In 2011, the year generic latanoprost entered the market,
`
`TRAVATAN Z® was prescribed over 3.8 million times and had achieved nearly a
`
`27% market share of total prescriptions and over a 40% market share of wholesale
`
`dollar sales of the PGA market (as shown in Exhibits AL 2033, AL 2034, and AL
`
`2036). The more rapid adoption by the marketplace of TRAVATAN Z® than
`
`TRAVATAN®, and the significant improvement in prescriptions and market share,
`
`
`
`19
`
`000019
`
`

`

`is indicative both of its commercial success and the perceived advantages of its
`
`formulation relative to competing prostaglandin drugs.
`
`36. Moreover, while many patients undoubtedly switched from TRAVATAN®
`
`to TRAVATAN Z®, TRAVATAN Z®’s commercial success is not solely
`
`attributable to this phenomenon. If the commercial success of TRAVATAN Z®
`
`were attributable merely to switches from TRAVATAN®, one would expect that
`
`the size of increases in TRAVATAN Z® prescriptions would match the size of
`
`decreases in TRAVATAN® prescriptions over the same time period. That is not
`
`the case. For example, although prescriptions of TRAVATAN Z® increased by
`
`over 611,000 from 2006 to 2007, as shown in Exhibit AL 2034, the total number of
`
`prescriptions dispensed for TRAVATAN® decreased by only about 207,000 from
`
`2006 to 2007, as shown in Exhibit AL 2035. Indeed, the total number of
`
`prescriptions of TRAVATAN Z® increased by over 2.9 million from 2006 to 2010,
`
`a number more than twice as large as the decrease in TRAVATAN® prescriptions
`
`over the same period (as shown in Exhibits AL 2034 and AL 2035).7 Accordingly,
`
`
`7 I understand that TRAVATAN® was discontinued in the United States in 2010.
`
`However, a generic version of TRAVATAN® became available in April 2013. If
`
`TRAVATAN Z®’s commercial success were attributable solely to switches from
`
`TRAVATAN®, then one would expect a percentage of TRAVATAN Z® patients to
`
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`000020
`
`

`

`the full extent of TRAVATAN Z®’s commercial success cannot be explained by
`
`switches from TRAVATAN® alone.
`
`37.
`
`In addition, TRAVATAN Z® has continued to be a commercial success in
`
`the face of competition from generics. After the introduction of generic
`
`latanoprost in 2011, TRAVATAN Z® was still prescribed more than 3 million
`
`times, and maintained its over 40% market share of wholesale dollar sales of the
`
`PGA market, in both 2012 and 2013, as shown in Exhibits AL 2033 and AL 2034.
`
`38. The fact that TRAVATAN Z® has outperformed TRAVATAN®, in the face
`
`of generic competition that TRAVATAN® never faced, suggests that TRAVATAN
`
`Z® has one or more beneficial attributes that other available PGAs do not. Given
`
`that TRAVATAN Z®’s competitors are similarly efficacious, TRAVATAN Z®’s
`
`continued commercial success appears to result from its preservation without
`
`BAK, which I understand is a result of the fact that TRAVATAN Z® uses the
`
`claimed invention. Accordingly, it is my opinion that TRAVATAN Z®’s
`
`
`switch “back” to generic TRAVATAN® once it became available. That did not
`
`take place, however. Rather, generic TRAVATAN® had a miniscule share of the
`
`PGA marketplace in 2013, as shown in Exhibit 2036. This further supports the
`
`conclusion that TRAVATAN Z®’s commercial success is not attributable solely to
`
`switches from TRAVATAN®.
`
`
`
`21
`
`000021
`
`

`

`outperformance of TRAVATAN®, and its continued performance in the face of
`
`generic competition, indicates that there is a nexus between the claimed invention
`
`and TRAVATAN Z®’s commercial success.
`
`B. Alcon’s Promotion of TRAVATAN Z® Is Comparable to That of
`Other Branded Ophthalmic Prostaglandin Analogs
`
`1. Marketing and Promotional Activities in the
`Pharmaceutical Industry
`39. Marketing can be an important tool for the dissemination of information on
`
`pharmaceutical products. Without it, pharmaceutical manufacturers would not be
`
`able to make physicians aware of new medicines and their attributes. They would
`
`also find it difficult to prompt patients to ask their doctors about the availability of
`
`treatments as well as the risks and benefits of different medications. If physicians
`
`are unaware of the benefits that a product offers, they will not prescribe it.
`
`Marketing activities are, therefore, often necessary to introduce a drug to the
`
`market. The informational role of pharmaceutical advertising is supported by
`
`academic literature in health economics.8
`
`40. However, continued use of the drug cannot be driven by marketing alone.
`
`As described previously, pharmaceutical products are “experience goods,” i.e.,
`
`
`8 See, for example, AL 2021, 551–594; AL 2025, 3–19; AL 2027, 349–379; AL
`
`2028, 45–74; AL 2030, 1688–1701.
`
`
`
`22
`
`000022
`
`

`

`products whose quality is revealed over time.9 Physicians may lack full knowledge
`
`of the drug’s attributes until they (or someone whose professional opinion they
`
`trust) have prescribed it to several patients and observed the drug’s efficacy, side
`
`effects, and convenience. If, over time, patients and physicians do not have
`
`positive outcomes with a drug, sales will not be sustained. Ultimately, whether a
`
`product is successful in the long run is dictated by the attributes of the product.
`
`The Extent of Promotional Activities for TRAVATAN Z®
`2.
`I have analyzed the extent of promotional activities for TRAVATAN Z® and
`
`41.
`
`those of other competing products when relevant. I find that TRAVATAN Z®’s
`
`commercial success has not been the result of excessive promotion.
`
`42. One way to evaluate whether marketing efforts for TRAVATAN Z® are
`
`excessive is to analyze the amount spent on marketing the drug relative to the total
`
`marketing spend for all prostaglandin analogs. This ratio is known as the drug’s
`
`share of voice in the market. In the case of prostaglandin analogs, the data indicate
`
`that very little is spent marketing drugs directly to consumers. Rather, the vast
`
`majority of marketing is directed towards other constituencies, such as prescribers.
`
`9 See, for example, AL 2021, 551–594; AL 2023, 100–114; AL 2024, 45–66; AL
`
`2026, 213–246.
`
`23
`
`000023
`
`

`

`43. As shown in Exhibit AL 2040, in 2007, the first full year that TRAVATAN
`
`Z® was on the market, TRAVATAN Z®’s share of voice (excluding cost of
`
`samples10) was approximately 34%, while that of XALATAN® was approximately
`
`33% and of LUMIGAN® was approximately 27%. The share of voice for each of
`
`TRAVATAN Z®, LUMIGAN®, and XALATAN® was between 24% and 38%
`
`from 2007 through 2010. Thus, the extent of promotional 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