throbber
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`_________________________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`_________________________________
`
`
`RIMFROST AS
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`AKER BIOMARINE ANTARCTIC AS
`Patent Owner.
`
`____________________________
`
`Case IPR2018-01730
`
`U.S Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`_______________________
`
`
`
`PATENT OWNER’S REPLY TO PETITIONER’S OPPOSITION
`TO MOTION TO AMEND CLAIMS
`
`
`
`
`
`Mail Stop Patent Board
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 
`
`I. 
`
`II. 
`
`The contingent amended claims are not obvious .................................. 2 
`Catchpole does not teach the claimed ether phospholipid
`A. 
`range or how to achieve it ..................................................................... 2 
`Enzymotec does not provide the claimed ether
`B. 
`phospholipid range ...................................................................... 8 
`The cited references do not teach or suggest the 100 to
`C. 
`700 mg/kg astaxanthin ester range ...................................................... 10 
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ......................................................................... i 
`
`
`
`1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`I.
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`Introduction
`Petitioner asserts that contingent amended claims 21-29 are obvious as
`
`follows:
`
`Ground 1. Claims 21 and 24-27 are obvious over Catchpole, Sampalis II,
`
`NKO and Randolph;
`
`Ground 2. Claims 22-23, 25, and 28-29 are obvious over Catchpole,
`
`Enzymotec, Sampalis II, NKO and Randolph; and
`
`Ground 3. Claims 21-29 are obvious over Catchpole, Enzymotec,
`
`Sampalis II, NKO and Randolph.
`
`It is undisputed that none of the references teach krill oil compositions
`
`containing from 6% to 10% ether phospholipids as claimed. Faced with this
`
`deficiency, Petitioner makes two main arguments. With respect to Grounds 1 and
`
`2, Petitioner alleges that Catchpole teaches that extraction conditions can be
`
`changed to achieve the claimed range 6-10% ether phospholipids. Petitioner’s
`
`Opposition to MTA (“Oppo.”) at 5, 6-8, 16-17. With respect to Ground 3,
`
`Petitioner alleges the ether phospholipid percentage obtained in Catchpole can be
`
`used to calculate the ether phospholipid content of the Enzymotec Grade B krill oil
`
`which would then be within the claimed 6-10% range. Oppo. at 9, 24-25. As
`
`shown below, the data in Catchpole does not support these arguments and
`
`establishes that 1) there is a missing element with respect to the claimed ether
`
`
`
`1
`
`

`

`
`phospholipid range because the combined references do not teach each element of
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`the claims and 2) there is no reasonable expectation of success in obtaining a krill
`
`oil with from 6-10% ether phospholipids. Furthermore, with respect to all three
`
`proposed Grounds, a POSITA would not combine the references cited to provide
`
`the astaxanthin ester range (i.e., NKO, Sampalis II and Randolph) to arrive at the
`
`claimed range of from 100 to 700 mg/kg astaxanthin esters.
`
`II. The contingent amended claims are not obvious
`
`A. Catchpole does not teach the claimed ether phospholipid range or how
`to achieve it
`Grounds 1 and 2 both rely on Catchpole for the 6 to 10% ether phospholipid
`
`limitation. It is undisputed that Catchpole contains a single example of a krill oil
`
`that contains 4.8% ether phospholipids. There is a missing element because
`
`Catchpole does not disclose the claimed ether phospholipid range for a krill oil. As
`
`indicated by the Board in the Institution Decision, there is no basis to conclude that
`
`the broader ranges mentioned in Catchpole apply to krill oil as opposed to the
`
`virtually unlimited number of source materials identified in Catchpole. Institution
`
`Decision at 11-12.
`
`Furthermore, Petitioner’s arguments that a POSITA could manipulate
`
`extraction conditions to arrive at the claimed range of ether phospholipids are
`
`based on hindsight and undercut by the data in Catchpole which demonstrates that
`2
`
`
`
`

`

`
`there is no reasonable expectation of success for arriving at the 6-10% ether
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`phospholipid range based on the combined references. Specifically, Petitioner
`
`argues that “a POSITA desiring an extract with 6% to 10% ether phospholipids
`
`would have selected one of the three marine animals, such as krill, in Example 18
`
`and applied Catchpole’s recited extraction methodology.” Oppo. at 5. According
`
`to Petitioner, increasing the solvent concentration to at least 20% will increase the
`
`percentage of extracted phospholipids. Opp. at 5.
`
`As a preliminary matter, the “three marine animals” in Catchpole are Hoki
`
`head lipid extract (Example 12, Ex. 1009 at 20), green-lipped mussel lipid extract
`
`(Example 17, Ex. 1009 at 23), and freeze-dried krill powder (Example 18, Ex.
`
`1009 at 24). The Hoki head example utilized 31% ethanol in the second extraction
`
`step and produced an extract containing 1.6% ether phospholipids. Id. at 21, Table
`
`11). The green-lipped mussel example used 30.5% ethanol in the second extraction
`
`step and produced an extract containing 0.9% ether phospholipids. Id. at 23, Table
`
`15. The krill example used 11% ethanol in the second extraction step and produced
`
`an extract containing 4.8% ether phospholipids. Id. at 24, Table 16.
`
`Without the benefit of hindsight, viewing this data as a whole indicates to a
`
`POSITA that there is no reasonable expectation of success in arriving at the
`
`claimed ether phospholipid range from the three marine animals exemplified in
`
`Catchpole. In fact, while the Hoki head example used 31% ethanol and a feed
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`
`material with higher starting levels of PC and AAPC as compared to the krill feed
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`material, the resulting extract had lower levels of PC and AAPC as can be seen by
`
`comparing Tables 11 (Hoki head extract) and 16 (Krill extract) from Catchpole.
`
`These data certainly cast doubt on whether increasing the ethanol co-solvent to
`
`above 20% in the krill extraction would actually increase the amount ether
`
`phospholipids. See Ex. 2025 (Hoem Decl.) ¶¶6-7.
`
`Relying on Examples 7 and 8 of Catchpole, Petitioner further argues that
`
`“extraction conditions (i.e., duration, temperature, pressure, solvents and solvent
`
`concentration) could be varied depending upon the desired extract composition and
`
`purity.” Oppo. at 7. Notably, Petitioner does not cite the teaching in Catchpole that
`
`in addition to those factors, feed material and feed preparation also affect the
`
`“operation of the process.” See Ex. 1009 at 11, lines 11-12.
`
`Examples 7 and 8 describe extractions from “dairy lipid extract B” using
`
`either 10% or 30% ethanol in the second step following a first step using neat CO2
`
`to extract neutral lipids. Ex. 1009 at 18-19. The amount of phosphatidylcholine
`
`extracted with 30% ethanol in Example 8 (22.5%, Table 8) was greater than that
`
`obtained with 10% ethanol in Example 7 (4.5%, Table 7). In contrast, Example 10
`
`describes a similar extraction on a different source material, egg yolk lecithin,
`
`using 25% ethanol in the second extraction step following a first step using neat
`
`CO2 to extract neutral lipids. Ex. 1009 at 19-20. The feed material contained
`
`
`
`4
`
`

`

`
`56.4% phosphatidylcholine while the extract contained using 25% ethanol
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`contained 43.5% phosphatidylcholine. Ex. 1009 at 20, Table 9. Thus, in direct
`
`contrast to Example 8, the percentage amount of phosphatidylcholine in the 25%
`
`ethanol extract actually decreased as compared to the feed material. See Ex. 2025
`
`(Hoem Decl.) ¶¶4-5.
`
`This data, especially when considered in conjunction with the Hoki head and
`
`green-lipped mussel examples, clearly indicates to a POSITA that the effect of
`
`increasing the co-solvent concentration does not necessarily increase the weight
`
`percentage of phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine and ether phospholipids
`
`in extracts. Instead, this data demonstrates to a POSITA that the effect of changing
`
`extraction conditions such as co-solvent percentage with respect to a feed material
`
`is unpredictable. See Ex. 2025 (Hoem Decl.) ¶¶4-7. The only way that a POSITA
`
`would arrive at the conclusion that the claimed ether phospholipid range could be
`
`achieved by changing conditions such as co-solvent concentration is via hindsight.
`
`The hindsight bias of Petitioner is confirmed by its inappropriate reliance on data
`
`from the ‘752 patent itself for results obtained with a 23% ethanol co-solvent.
`
`Oppo. at 5.
`
`Petitioner further argues that the Board’s conclusions in the ‘295 IPR Final
`
`Written Decision are pertinent to the amended claims. Oppo. at 5-6. However, the
`
`Board’s finding relied in part on the fact that the specific example (Example 18)
`
`
`
`5
`
`

`

`
`provided in Catchpole taught an ether phospholipid content (4.8%) that was
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`adjacent to the range claimed in that case (5-8% ether phospholipids). Here, the
`
`range is not adjacent. Increasing the 4.8% ether phospholipid content observed in
`
`Example 18 of Catchpole to 6 to 10% as required by the amended claims would
`
`require an increase of 1.2 weight% or an overall increase of 20% in relative terms
`
`(i.e., an ether phospholipid content of 6% represents a 20% increase over an ether
`
`phospholipid content of 4.8%).
`
`Grounds 1 and 2 both rely on Catchpole for the ether phospholipid range of
`
`6-10%. Oppo. at 16-17. As discussed above, a POSITA would conclude that there
`
`is no reasonable expectation of success in arriving at the claimed ether
`
`phospholipid range of from 6 to 10% based on Catchpole in combination with the
`
`other references. Specifically, the data in Catchpole demonstrate that the amount of
`
`ether phospholipids actually obtained in extracts from marine animals such as krill
`
`varied from 0.9% in green-lipped mussel extract to 4.8% in krill extracts. The
`
`green-lipped mussel extract was obtained with a 30.5% ethanol extraction step
`
`while the krill extract was obtained with an 11% ethanol extraction step. The data
`
`in Catchpole further shows that when a 25% ethanol extraction step was used on
`
`egg lecithin, the amount of phosphatidylcholine in the extract was lower than in the
`
`feed material. These data demonstrate that the impact of different extraction
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`
`conditions on different starting materials in unpredictable. See Ex. 2025 (Hoem
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`Decl.) ¶¶4-7, 15.
`
`Petitioner’s hindsight bias is further demonstrated by statements in Dr.
`
`Tallon’s Reply Declaration (Ex. 1086). Dr. Tallon states that using 3% ethanol in
`
`place of neat CO2 would increase neutral lipid extraction in step 1 and thus
`
`increase ether phospholipid content in Extract 2. Example 9 indicates that
`
`conducting a first step with 3% ethanol resulted in extraction of 90% neutral lipids.
`
`However, Dr. Tallon admitted that step 1 of Example 18 (krill) removed 88% of
`
`neutral lipids. Tallon Depo., Ex. 2026 at 26:5-22. It is not believable that the 2%
`
`difference would have a meaningful impact on ether phospholipid content of
`
`Extract 2. See Ex. 2025 (Hoem Decl.) ¶¶12-14. It is hindsight to use the types of
`
`calculations used by Dr. Tallon to goal seek particular claimed ranges and ignore
`
`calculation that do not support his position.
`
`Finally, the data in Catchpole is seriously flawed. As detailed by Dr. Hoem
`
`examples in Catchpole (see, e.g., Examples 11 and 12) disclose that the ethanol co-
`
`solvent extract and residue material contained more PC and AAPC on a weight
`
`basis than the feed material. See Ex. 2025 (Hoem Decl.) ¶¶8-11. This is not
`
`possible and indicates systemic problems with either data analysis or reporting. In
`
`fact, during cross examination, Dr. Tallon confirmed that increasing the mass of
`
`phospholipids in the extract as compared to the feed material is impossible. Tallon
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`
`Depo, Ex. 2026, 21:22-22:4; 23:7-22. As a result, a POSITA would not trust any of
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`the results reported in Catchpole. Id. at 11.
`
`In summary, when the data in Catchpole is considered as a whole, there
`
`would be no motivation to combine the references and no reasonable expectation
`
`of success in arriving at the claimed krill oil extract based on the combined
`
`referenced in Grounds 1 and 2.
`
`B.
`
`Enzymotec does not provide the claimed ether phospholipid range
`In Ground 3, Petitioner apparently argues that Enzymotec provides the 6-
`
`10% ether phospholipid range. Oppo. at 24-25. Petitioner relies on Dr. Tallon’s
`
`opinion that Ezymotec’s Grade B krill extract contained from 8 – 9.7% ether
`
`phospholipids and “satisfies the proposed ether phospholipid claim limitation.” Id.
`
`At its heart, this is an inherency argument. The use of inherency in an obviousness
`
`context “must be carefully circumscribed.” PAR Pharm. Inc. v. TWI Pharms., Inc.,
`
`773 F.3d 1186, 1195 (Fed Cir. 2014). To support a conclusion that a property is
`
`inherent, it must be shown that the property is necessarily present. In re Robertson,
`
`169 F.3d 743, 745 (Fed. Cir. 1999).
`
`Applying these holdings to this case, Petitioner must show that the claimed
`
`range of 6-10% ether phospholipids was necessarily present in the Enzymotec
`
`Grade B krill extract. Petitioner has fallen fall short of this standard. First,
`
`Catchpole expressly teaches that its extraction method resulted in a krill extract
`
`
`
`8
`
`

`

`
`that was “highly enriched” for alkylacylphosphatidylcholine (“AAPC”). Ex. 1009
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`at 24; see also Ex. 2001 (Hoem Decl.) ¶132. There is no evidence that the
`
`extraction methods used by Enzymotec, if they were known, would result in
`
`similar concentration of AAPC. See Motion to Amend (“MTA”) at 16; Ex. 2001
`
`¶132. As a result, there is no basis for a POSITA to conclude that the ether
`
`phospholipid levels observed in Catchpole Extract 2 could be used estimate the
`
`ether phospholipid levels of the Enzymotec Grade B krill lecithin. Ex. 2001 (Hoem
`
`Decl.) ¶¶133. The evidence of record certainly does not establish that Enzymotec
`
`Grade B krill extract necessarily contained from 6-10% ether phospholipids.
`
`Petitioner appears to further rely on the argument that “extraction conditions
`
`could be modified as taught by Catchpole to change the composition and purity of
`
`the resulting extract.” Oppo. at 9. This argument is the same as discussed above in
`
`Section II.a. with respect to Examples 8 and 9 of Catchpole. As established above,
`
`other examples in Catchpole demonstrate that utilizing from 20 to 30% ethanol co-
`
`solvent in the second extraction step either result in extracts with very low levels of
`
`ether phospholipids (see Examples 12 and 17 of Catchpole) or can actually
`
`decrease the amount of phosphatidylcholine as compared to the feed material (see
`
`Example 10 of Catchpole). Ex. 2025 (Hoem Decl.) ¶¶4-7, 15. These data
`
`demonstrate the unpredictability of how different extraction conditions will impact
`
`phospholipid extraction from different feed materials. Id. Thus, Ground 3 fails
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`
`because the combined references do not provide a reasonable expectation of
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`success in achieving a krill oil with from 6-10% ether phospholipids and because
`
`the claimed range of ether phospholipids is not necessarily present in the
`
`Enzymotec Grade B krill extract.
`
`The cited references do not teach or suggest the 100 to 700 mg/kg
`C.
`astaxanthin ester range
`
`In each of the three asserted Grounds, Petitioner relies on NKO, Randolph
`
`and Sampalis II to provide the claim limitation of from 100 to 700 mg/kg
`
`astaxanthin esters.1 With respect to NKO, the Board has already found that NKO
`
`does not provide the claimed range of 100 to 700 mg/kg astaxanthin esters.
`
`IPR2018-00295, Paper 35 at 66-67. References cited by Petitioner clearly establish
`
`that NKO contained greater than 1500 mg/kg astaxanthin esters. Ex. 2025, ¶16; see
`
`Ex. 1070, 1071 and 1075, p. 0010. Moreover, obviousness cannot be predicated on
`
`what is not known at the time an invention is made, even if the inherency of a
`
`certain feature is later established. See, In re Newell, 891 F.2d 899, 901 (Fed. Cir.
`
`1989). The alleged admission was not known to a POSITA. There can be no
`
`
`1 Patent Owner notes that a Request for Rehearing is pending in IPR2018-00295 in
`
`regard to the contingent motion to amend claims with respect to the astaxanthin
`
`ester limitation and that collateral estoppel may apply depending on the outcome.
`
`
`
`10
`
`

`

`
`motivation to combine the astaxanthin ester ranges from Patent Owner’s own
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`specification with the other cited references, let alone for achieving the ranges of
`
`each of the claimed components.
`
`
`
`Randolph also does not provide the astaxanthin ester range as discussed in
`
`detail by Dr. Hoem. Ex. 2025, ¶¶17-19. First, the passages relied on by Petitioner
`
`teach that a composition can contain any amount of astaxanthin, not that krill oil
`
`can contain any amount of astaxanthin. Id. The compositions of Randolph can
`
`contain more than 25 ingredients, one of which can be krill oil, and further indicate
`
`that astaxanthin can come other sources. Id., see Ex. 1013 at [0021]. The krill oil
`
`content in listed in [0040] of Randolph (i.e., 300 mg and about 3000 mg of a krill
`
`oil ingredient) is not related to the astaxanthin content of the composition as a
`
`whole listed in [0044] Randolph (i.e., 0.5 mg and about 50 mg of an astaxanthin
`
`ingredient). Id. Second, even assuming those ranges can be combined, Dr.
`
`Tallon’s calculations cherry pick the high end of the first range (3000 mg krill oil)
`
`and the low end of second range (0.5 mg astaxanthin) in order to arrive at the
`
`claimed range. A POSITA would not combine the ranges in this manner. Ex.
`
`2025, ¶15.
`
`
`
`Finally, as detailed by Dr. Hoem, a POSITA would not derive the claimed
`
`astaxanthin ester range from Sampalis II. Ex. 2025, ¶¶20-22. First, the first
`
`passage relied on by Petitioner at l. 1-7, p. 0032 of Sampalis II refers to the content
`
`
`
`11
`
`

`

`
`of antioxidants in general and states that they can be present at levels greater than
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`20 or 200 mg/ml. This passage does not state that astaxanthin is present at those
`
`levels. Second, the astaxanthin values listed in Table 5 of Sampalis II would be
`
`discredited by a POSITA. Ex. 2025, ¶21. Table 5 lists both canthaxanthin and
`
`flavonoids as being present in the krill extract. A POSITA would recognize that
`
`this is impossible because as disclosed in Grynbaum, which has been cited by
`
`Petitioner in these proceedings, the only carotenoid present in krill is astaxanthin.
`
`Ex. 1039 at 0008. This would indicate to a POSITA that however those values
`
`were determined, they cannot be trusted because of the inclusion of compounds
`
`that cannot be present in a krill extract. Ex. 2025, ¶21. Third, Sampalis II
`
`discloses that the claimed product is NKO and discloses the same production
`
`process as used in the NKO GRAS submission (Ex. 1075) which would be
`
`understood to provide at least 1500 mg/kg astaxanthin esters. Id. at ¶¶16, 22.
`
`
`
`It is respectfully submitted that the contingent amended claims are
`
`
`
`
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`
`
`
`
`By: /David A. Casimir/
`
`
`patentable.
`
`Dated: October 18, 2019
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`12
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`IPR2018-01730
`U.S. Patent No. 9,072,752
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`The undersigned hereby certifies that on this 18th day of October 2019, a
`
`
`copy of the foregoing PATENT OWNER’S REPLY TO PETITIONER’S
`
`OPPOSITION TO MOTION TO AMEND CLAIMS, Exhibit List and
`
`Exhibits 2025 and 2026 were served in their entirety electronically (as consented
`
`to by Petitioner) to the attorneys of record as follows:
`
`
`James F. Harrington
`
`Reg. No. 44,741
`
`Hoffmann & Baron, LLP
`jfhdocket@hbiplaw.com
`
`
`
`Ronald J. Baron
`
`
`Reg. No. 29,281
`Hoffman & Baron, LLP
`rjbdocket@hbiplaw.com
`
`453ipr@hbiplaw.com
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Michael I. Chakansky
`Reg. No. 31,600
`Hoffman & Baron, LLP
`micdocket@hbiplaw.com
`
`John T. Gallagher
`Reg. No. 35,516
`Hoffman & Baron, LLP
`jtgdocket@hbiplaw.com
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`By: /David A. Casimir/
`David A. Casimir, Ph.D.
`Registration No. 42,395
`Counsel for Patent Owner
`CASIMIR JONES, S.C.
`2275 Deming Way
`Suite 310
`Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
`(608) 662-1277
`
`i
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

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