throbber
Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`
`Date: May 19, 2022
`Case: Regeneron -v- Novartis (PTAB)
`
`Planet Depos
`Phone: 888.433.3767
`Email: transcripts@planetdepos.com
`www.planetdepos.com
`
`WORLDWIDE COURT REPORTING & LITIGATION TECHNOLOGY
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.001
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`
`1
`
`1 (1 to 4)
`
`3
`
`A P P E A R A N C E S (cont'd):
`
`ON BEHALF OF PATENT OWNERS:
`
` DANIEL MARGOLIS, ESQUIRE
`
` ALLEN & OVERY LLP
`
` 1221 Avenue of the Americas
`
` New York, NY 10020
`
` 212.610.6375
`
` daniel.margolis@allenovery.com
`
` L S O P R E S E N T:
`
` A
`
`0
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
`
` UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
` BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`-------------------------------- x
`
`REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., :
`
` Petitioner : Case No.
`
` vs : IPR2021-00816
`
`NOVARTIS PHARMA AG, NOVARTIS :
`
`TECHNOLOGY LLC, NOVARTIS : Patent No.
`
`PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION, : 9,220,631
`
`0
`
` Patent Owners :
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
`
`11
`
`-------------------------------- x
`
`11
`
` HAROLD RODRIGUEZ, A/V Technician
`
`12
`
`
`
`12
`
` JAMES EVAN, ESQUIRE, Regeneron
`
`13
`
` Oral deposition of
`
`13
`
` ANDREW GEISOR, ESQUIRE, Regeneron
`
`14
`
` JOEL M. COHEN
`
`15
`
`
`
`16
`
` VIA VIDEO/TELECONFERENCE
`
`17
`
` THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022
`
`18
`
` 10:06 a.m. EASTERN TIME
`
`19
`
`
`
`20
`
`Job No.: 448286
`
`21
`
`Pages: 1 - 128
`
`22
`
`Reported by: Lisa V. Feissner, RDR, CRR, CLR
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`4
`
` C O N T E N T S
`
`EXAMINATION OF JOEL M. COHEN PAGE
`
` By Mr. Margolis 5
`
`
`
`
`
` E X H I B I T S
`
` (Attached to transcript)
`
`DEPOSITION EXHIBIT PAGE
`
`(None marked.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
`
`0
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`A P P E A R A N C E S:
`
`ON BEHALF OF PETITIONER:
`
` CHRISTOPHER M. PEPE, ESQUIRE
`
` NATALIE C. KENNEDY, ESQUIRE (NY office)
`
` MATTHEW D. SIEGER, ESQUIRE
`
` ISHA AGARWAL, ESQUIRE
`
` WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
`
` 2001 M Street, NW
`
` Washington, D.C. 20036
`
`0
`
` 202.682.7153
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
`
`11
`
` christopher.pepe@weil.com
`
`12
`
` natalie.kennedy@weil.com
`
`13
`
` matthew.sieger@weil.com
`
`14
`
` isha.agarwal@weil.com
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PLANET DEPOS
`888.433.3767 | WWW.PLANETDEPOS.COM
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.002
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`5
`
`2 (5 to 8)
`
`7
`
`prefilled syringes?
` A No, none of the cases involved prefilled
`syringes.
` Q Okay. Did any of those cases involve
`Parylene C?
` A No, none of the cases I supported
`Gradient expert witnesses involved Parylene C.
` Q Did any of those cases involve silicone
`oil?
` A No, none of the cases involved silicone
`oil.
` Q Did any of those cases involve syringes
`of any kind?
` A No. While my supporting of expert
`witness work at Gradient did not involve Parylene C,
`prefilled syringes, silicone oil, in other contexts,
`my professional activities have involved prefilled
`syringes, toxicological risk assessment of prefilled
`syringes, and the materials and various components
`of those syringes.
` So while in the expert testimony support
`work, it has -- they have not addressed those items,
`8
`but in other contexts, as a principal at Gradient, I
`have conducted toxicological risk assessments on
`those, on prefilled syringes.
` Q Okay. But you've never acted as an
`expert witness or in support of an expert witness in
`a case involving syringes or prefilled syringes or
`Parylene C or silicone oil; is that correct?
` A That is correct. I've never been
`involved as an expert witness or supported an expert
`witness on those matters. However, in other
`0
`contexts, I have conducted toxicological risk
`11
`assessments on prefilled syringes.
`12
` Q And you mentioned that you worked on one
`13
`other litigation prior to this one as an expert
`14
`witness yourself?
`15
` A That is correct.
`16
` Q Okay. And did that case involve either
`17
`syringes or Parylene C or silicone oil?
`18
` A No. That case did not involve syringes
`19
`or silicone oil.
`20
` Q Okay. Was that a patent litigation?
`21
` A It was not a patent litigation. There
`22
`PLANET DEPOS
`888.433.3767 | WWW.PLANETDEPOS.COM
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
` P R O C E E D I N G S
` JOEL M. COHEN,
`having been first duly sworn, was examined and
`testified as follows:
` EXAMINATION
`BY MR. MARGOLIS:
` Q Good morning. How are you?
` A I'm good this morning.
` Q Is it Dr. Cohen?
` A Either is fine, Dr., Mr., no preference.
` Q Okay. And would you just mind please
`stating your name for the record.
` A Joel Cohen.
` Q And Dr. Cohen, have you ever been deposed
`before?
` A I've never been deposed, but I've been
`retained as an expert witness and submitted expert
`reports.
` Q Okay. In approximately how many cases?
` A Including this case today?
` Q Yes.
` A That would be two cases.
`
`6
`
` Q Okay. So one other case, you've
`submitted an expert report in?
` A That's correct, as the expert. In
`addition, I've supported a number of other experts
`in their expert testimony and expert reports.
` Q Okay. So what do you mean by that?
` A At the direction of the expert witness,
`have done research and evaluated materials to
`contribute to that expert's understanding of the
`case.
` Q Got it, okay.
` And how many times have you been involved
`in a litigation in that capacity?
` A A number of times. Over the past eight
`years at my career at Gradient, on the order of 20
`to 30 different projects.
` Q Okay. And was that always working under
`other Gradient employees?
` A Yes. I was supporting Gradient expert
`witnesses.
` Q Got it, okay.
` And did any of those cases involve
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.003
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`9
`was a complaint that a consumer product had caused a
`skin irritation hazard, and I was evaluating the
`likelihood that the consumer product could have
`posed that risk to the consumer.
` Q And what was the product?
` A I'm not at liberty to say.
` Q Okay. Can you tell me who you were
`representing?
` A I was not -- I was representing the
`defendant in that instance.
` Q Okay.
` A So that would have been --
` Q Go ahead.
` A Oh, so the retailer that was selling the
`consumer product to the consumer. That was who I
`was representing.
` Q Okay. And can you tell me who that
`retailer was?
` A No, I'm not at liberty to say.
` Q Okay. Was it any of the parties involved
`in this case? And by that I mean either Regeneron
`or Novartis.
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`3 (9 to 12)
`
`11
`
`and don't have a lot of understanding of -- or
`really any understanding of what that project
`involved.
` Q Okay. Did it involve syringes?
` A Not that I'm aware.
` Q I think I asked this, but I'll ask it
`again just to make sure.
` Have you ever worked with Novartis
`before?
` A No, I've never worked with Novartis.
` Q Okay. And to your knowledge, has
`Gradient ever worked with Novartis before?
` A To my knowledge, I don't believe so, no.
` Q And so you submitted a declaration in
`this case, and is that Exhibit 1108? And if you
`like, I can pull that up for you.
` A Yes, that's -- Exhibit 1108 is my
`declaration.
` Q And when were you first contacted to work
`on this case?
` A I was first contacted about this case
`maybe winter 2022.
`
`10
` A No. It was none of the parties involved
` Q Winter of 2022. So earlier this year?
`in this case today.
` A That's correct.
` Q Okay. Was it a pharmaceutical company?
` Q Like January, around?
` A No, it was not a pharmaceutical company.
` A Around then, yes.
` Q Okay. And is that case still ongoing?
` Q Okay. And who contacted you?
` A No. That case resolved.
` A Chris Pepe.
` Q Okay. So this is -- sorry.
` Q And were you provided any materials?
` Did you end up testifying in any capacity
` A At that time --
`in that case, either at trial or by deposition?
` MR. PEPE: I'll just object and caution
` A No, I was not deposed in that case. It
`you not to divulge the substance of any of our
`0
`was -- the expert report was enough to resolve the
`communications.
`11
`matter.
` But you can answer that question yes or
`12
` Q Okay. And in this case, you've submitted
`no.
`13
`a declaration on behalf of Regeneron, correct?
` A At that time, I was more asked about my
`14
` A Yes, that is correct.
`experience in expert testimony and extractables and
`15
` Q And prior to this case, had you ever done
`leachables, things of that nature, as more about my
`16
`any work with Regeneron?
`qualifications.
`17
` A No, I've not worked with Regeneron prior
` Q Okay. And at what point in time -- well,
`18
`to this case.
`at some point in time, you were asked to provide a
`19
` Q Okay. Had Gradient worked with Regeneron
`declaration by Regeneron, right?
`20
`prior to this case?
` A Yes, that's correct.
`21
` A Yes, I believe so, but I was not involved
` Q Okay. And when was that?
`22
`PLANET DEPOS
`888.433.3767 | WWW.PLANETDEPOS.COM
`
`1234567891
`
`12
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.004
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`13
` A Late winter 2022. So February, March,
`around that time.
` Q Okay. And what did you understand the
`subject matter of your declaration would be?
` MR. PEPE: I'm going to object and just
`caution you not to divulge the substance of any
`communications we had. But to the extent you can
`answer the question without doing that, you can
`answer.
` A As indicated in paragraph 2 of my
`declaration that defines the scope of my analysis
`and opinions, that's been my understanding of my
`role in this case.
` Q Okay. And what did you do in order to
`prepare your declaration? Well, let me take that in
`pieces. I'll strike that question.
` Did you review materials in order to
`prepare your declaration?
` A The materials I reviewed for preparing my
`declaration are all cited within the declaration,
`included as exhibits.
` Q You didn't review anything other than the
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`4 (13 to 16)
`
`15
`
`case, had you -- were you familiar with any of the
`documents that you rely on in your declaration?
` A So Exhibits 2042 and 2181 are the ISO
`10993-1 standard. That, I'm familiar with and have
`been familiar with this prior to this project.
` Q Were you familiar with any of the other
`exhibits cited in your declaration prior to your
`involvement in this case?
` A No, I was not familiar with the other
`exhibits provided or cited in my declaration.
` Q Okay. So you weren't familiar, prior to
`your involvement with this case, with the Chang
`article that's Exhibit 2030?
` A No, I had not seen that article prior to
`this case.
` Q Okay. And you had not seen the Kaminska
`article, Exhibit 2031, prior to this case?
` A Correct, I had not seen that article
`either.
` (Reporter interruption.)
` Q Dr. Cohen, prior to your involvement in
`this case, you had not seen either of these SCS
`
`16
`exhibits cited in your declaration in order to
`documents, Exhibits 1074, 1075, about Parylene C; is
`prepare your declaration?
`that correct?
` A That is correct. I didn't review
` A That's correct.
`anything that was not cited in my declaration in
` Q You currently work at Gradient; is that
`preparing the declaration.
`right?
` Q Okay. Did you talk to anyone other than
` A Yes, I currently work at Gradient.
`counsel in preparing your declaration?
` Q And could you just describe what Gradient
` A No.
`is, what field they operate in.
` Q You didn't have anybody helping you out
` A So Gradient is a scientific consulting
`like you would have helped out somebody else in one
`firm with a number of practice areas. My practice
`0
`of those cases you were mentioning before?
`area is what's described as the product stewardship
`11
` A No. No one helped me write the
`area supporting toxicological risk assessment,
`12
`declaration.
`consulting services for a variety of products.
`13
` Q Okay. And you didn't do any independent
` And my practice area focuses on medical
`14
`searching for additional documents beyond the
`device toxicological risk assessment and
`15
`exhibits cited in your declaration; is that correct?
`pharmaceutical toxicological risk assessment, among
`16
` A That's correct, I did not.
`others things. But that's one of the practice areas
`17
` Q And the documents that you do cite in
`that the consulting firm at large focuses on.
`18
`your declaration, they were all provided to you by
` Q Okay. Is one of the areas Gradient is
`19
`counsel; is that right?
`involved in providing expert witness support in
`20
` A Yes, that is correct.
`litigations?
`21
` Q Okay. Prior to your involvement in this
` A Gradient principals do offer expert
`22
`PLANET DEPOS
`888.433.3767 | WWW.PLANETDEPOS.COM
`
`1234567891
`
`14
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.005
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`17
`
`5 (17 to 20)
`
`19
`assessment. So my graduate training and then my
`entire professional career at Gradient applied
`toxicological risk assessments for a variety of
`contexts.
` Q Okay. So what was it, then, that goes
`back five or six years? That was something
`different than what you started doing at that point
`in time? I might have misunderstood your answer.
` A For the past five or six years, the
`majority of my time is spent on medical devices
`and/or pharmaceutical toxicological risk
`assessments, whereas prior to that, I was
`risk-assessing consumer products.
` My graduate research, I was looking at
`other engineered nanomaterials in a variety of other
`types of consumer products.
` So the principles of toxicology and risk
`assessment, I was applying, but not within the
`regulatory framework of, for example, the 10993
`series or other sorts of products. So that was what
`the timeline referred to.
` Q Okay. Thank you.
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`witness support in litigation. I've personally
`provided expert reports in litigation matters. So
`yes.
` Q Okay. And approximately what percentage
`of Gradient's work is expert-witness-type work as
`opposed to general consulting?
` A I can't speak for the company at large.
`I can speak for my personal practice where it
`comprises maybe 5 percent, 10 percent at most of my
`total business.
` Q Okay. But you don't know, for Gradient
`generally, what those percentages would be?
` A No, no, I don't.
` Q Okay. And what is your position at
`Gradient?
` A I'm a principal, part owner of the
`company.
` Q And I think you touched on this in one of
`your previous answers, but generally speaking, what
`are your responsibilities?
` A So my key practice areas involve
`toxicological risk assessment of various products,
`18
`consumer products as well as medical devices and
` Just so I'm clear, then, prior to 2016,
`pharmaceutical products.
`you had not been involved in toxicological risk
` My toxicological risk assessment reports
`assessments of medical devices; is that right?
` A That's fair to say.
`are included in either the development of these
`products for internal understanding or for
` Q Okay. And of the medical devices you've
`submission to regulators, be it the FDA, notified
`worked on in the course of your career, how many
`bodies in the EU, or other jurisdictions, for review
`different types of medical devices have you been
`and hopefully for acceptance and release to market
`involved with?
`so these products can be used in hospitals and
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` A I've supported the development, via my
`clinics.
`0
`toxicological risk assessments, of a wide variety of
` Q And for how long have you been involved
`11
`devices, including dialysis equipment, orthopedic
`in these toxicological assessments of medical
`12
`implants, cardiac implants, surgical instruments,
`devices?
`13
`ventilator-type devices with breathing gas pathway
` A Five to six years.
`14
`exposure or treatment sort of operations. So a wide
` Q Okay. So going back to about 2016? Is
`15
`and varied array.
`that about right?
`16
` A That's correct.
` Q Got it.
`17
` And have you supported the toxicological
` Q Okay. So prior to 2016, had you
`18
`risk assessment of syringes at any point in time?
`conducted any toxicological risk assessments?
`19
` A Yes, actually, toxicological risk
` A Yes. The nature of my work at Gradient
`20
`assessment for a prefilled syringe product very
`prior to that, as well as my doctoral research,
`21
`recently conducted. I was also hired to do another
`involved toxicological hazard assessment and risk
`22
`PLANET DEPOS
`888.433.3767 | WWW.PLANETDEPOS.COM
`
`20
`
`1234567891
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.006
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`21
`one, another risk assessment on a prefilled syringe
`product just this past month. So yes.
` Q Okay. So how many, throughout the course
`of your career, risk assessments have you conducted
`on syringes of any kind?
` A So that would be the one -- the two risk
`assessments on syringes, the one that's already
`completed and the one that is ongoing.
` But to more broadly answer your question,
`high-risk devices with direct tissue contact for --
`with the potential for permanent sort of exposures
`duration, these are what are considered the highest
`risk medical devices, I've completed risk
`assessments on upwards of a hundred different
`devices of that nature, which apply similar risk
`assessment principles in light of the high-risk
`scenario and high risks that could be posed to
`patients.
` Q Okay. So you'd agree that a prefilled
`syringe for intravitreal injection of a VEGF
`antagonist would qualify as a high-risk medical
`device, right?
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
` Q And would you understand that prefilled
`syringe for intravitreal injection of a VEGF
`antagonist to be a high-risk medical device?
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` A Again, it would depend on the treatment
`duration. That would also impact the risk
`classification, whether it was a one-time injection
`or injections that occurred over the course of many
`years, over ten years, for example. That would
`impact the risk classification.
` But the nature of the syringe being
`intravitreal injection would put it in a higher risk
`category than perhaps a Band-Aid or something else
`of that nature.
` Q Do you have an understanding of for how
`long or over what time period the prefilled syringes
`involved in this case would be administered?
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` A That was not a focus of my review. My
`opinions are, as stated in paragraph 2 of my
`declaration, focused on responding to claims made in
`Dr. Dillberger's declaration. And the treatment
`
`6 (21 to 24)
`
`23
`
`22
`
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` A The other thing to consider would be the
`treatment duration, how many treatments would be
`required, would it be a routine treatment over the
`course of a decade, or is it a one-time treatment.
`So the nature of the treatment would also impact the
`risk classification.
` Q Okay. So the prefilled syringes involved
`in this case, do you have an understanding of what
`they are?
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` A Could you please clarify the question?
` Q Sure. You've read the patent at issue in
`this case, right?
` A Yes, that's correct.
` Q And you've reviewed the claims of the
`patent, correct?
` A Yes, that's correct.
` Q And you understand that those claims are
`directed, generally speaking, to a prefilled syringe
`for intravitreal injection of a VEGF antagonist?
` A Yes, that's correct.
`
`24
`regimen was not ever raised as an issue of concern,
`so my review did not focus on those matters.
` Q Okay. So you didn't undertake to
`determine whether or not the prefilled syringes
`containing VEGF antagonists for intravitreal
`injection involved in this case would have been
`understood to be in a high-risk category or not; is
`that correct?
` MR. PEPE: Objection to form.
` A For my declaration and the opinions
`0
`therein, it was not relevant because the end points
`11
`that were considered, the toxicological hazard end
`12
`points, would have been the same regardless of this
`13
`classification.
`14
` Q Okay. So you mentioned that you've
`15
`worked in total on two syringes, not counting this
`16
`case, right?
`17
` (Reporter interruption.)
`18
` A That is correct.
`19
` Q And when was the first time that you
`20
`became involved with a syringe project?
`21
` A Summer of 2022 -- sorry -- 2021, summer
`22
`PLANET DEPOS
`888.433.3767 | WWW.PLANETDEPOS.COM
`
`1234567891
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.007
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`25
`
`7 (25 to 28)
`
`27
`
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` Q I'll strike that.
` Did either of those prefilled syringes
`include Parylene C as a component?
` A No, neither syringe included Parylene C,
`to my knowledge. However, there were various
`coatings on the rubber stoppers of the syringe that
`did impact the toxicological risk assessment.
` Q What types of coatings?
` A Again, I'm not at liberty to say due to
`those confidentiality agreements.
` Q Were they coatings that had been used in
`prior prefilled syringes?
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` A They were common coatings that are
`commonly used in prefilled syringes.
` Q Okay.
` A And outside the context of those risk
`assessments, I have risk-assessed novel materials
`for use in high-risk medical device classifications.
` So for -- yeah, so to the question as to
`whether I've risk-assessed novel materials without a
`28
`long clinical history of safe use, I have submitted
`toxicological risk assessments in those cases for
`other medical devices other than prefilled syringes.
` Q But the prefilled syringes you've worked
`on did not contain any novel components; is that
`right?
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` A Can you define "novel components"?
` Q By "novel components," I mean components
`that had not been used in an analogous way in a
`0
`prior device.
`11
` A I'm not sure I'm at liberty to say that.
`12
` Q Okay. But neither of the prefilled
`13
`syringes you worked on included Parylene C; is that
`14
`correct?
`15
` A That is correct. They didn't contain
`16
`Parylene C. But they did contain polymeric coatings
`17
`on the rubber stopper that required toxicological
`18
`risk assessment.
`19
` Q Okay. And those polymeric coatings on
`20
`the rubber stopper were commonly used in the
`21
`prefilled syringe industry; is that right?
`22
`PLANET DEPOS
`888.433.3767 | WWW.PLANETDEPOS.COM
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
`of 2021.
` Q Okay. So prior to the summer of 2021,
`you had never conducted a toxicological risk
`assessment for a syringe, right?
` A That's correct.
` Q Okay.
` A But I had conducted toxicological risk
`assessment of what I'm classifying as high-risk
`devices with direct systemic or direct tissue
`exposure for chronic exposure durations.
` So the principles of conducting those
`toxicological risk assessments and safety
`assessments would go the same for an intravitreal
`injection as for, for example, dialysis equipment
`that would be used for over ten years, three days a
`week, in direct contact with patients' blood.
` So the principles of toxicological risk
`assessment for those two scenarios would be similar
`to a certain extent, and that extent is what is
`discussed in my declaration.
` Q Okay. And the two syringes you've worked
`on, were they both prefilled syringes?
`
`26
`
` A Yes, that is correct.
` Q Okay. And what were they prefilled with?
` A They are prefilled with drug
`formulations. I'm not at liberty to say what the
`drug formulations were due to confidentiality
`agreements with the ultimate clients there. But
`different -- one was a biologic material, I can say.
`The other was a small molecule drug product.
` Q Was the biologic material a VEGF
`antagonist?
` A No, it was not. It was a protein-based
`material.
` Q Okay.
` A But not a VEGF antagonist.
` Q Did either of the -- well, let me ask
`this first.
` So you've completed one of those
`evaluations, and the other one is still ongoing; is
`that right?
` A Yes, that is correct.
` Q Okay. And did either of those prefilled
`syringes include Parylene C as an ingredient?
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.008
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`29
` A Yes, the coatings on the rubber stopper
`were commonly used. Not for my clients, though.
`But yes, commonly used.
` Q Okay. And did either of the prefilled
`syringes you worked on include silicone oil?
` A Yes, silicone oil was a component of the
`prefilled syringes that I assessed.
` Q Okay. And did you assess the
`toxicological impact or the potential for a
`toxicological impact of silicone oil?
` A Yes. I risk-assessed the toxicological
`risks associated with potential extractible
`components of the silicone oil and leachable
`components.
` Q And were either of the prefilled syringes
`that you worked on intended for intravitreal
`administration?
` A They were intended for subcutaneous
`administration.
` Q Okay. And what is silicone oil?
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` Q Well, let me ask it this way.
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`silicone oil was not a part of my assessment.
` Q So you don't know whether it served the
`function of a lubricant in those prefilled syringes?
` A It might have.
` Q But you don't know one way or the other?
` A It likely did, but I don't know. It
`wasn't a part of my assessment.
` Q Okay. Do you have an understanding of
`the chemical structure of silicone oil?
` A It's my understanding it's a mixture of
`poly(dimethylsiloxane), various chain length
`molecular weight. It's a mixture. It has various
`physical chemical properties that make it an
`excellent lubricant, including its hydrophobicity,
`which means that it repels water, so it's able to
`remain adherent to surfaces. And I'm also aware of
`its toxicological hazard properties.
` Q And what are its toxicological hazard
`properties?
` A It's relatively unreactive, rapidly
`cleared from the body, relatively tolerated in
`various tissues.
`
`8 (29 to 32)
`
`31
`
`1234567891
`
`30
`
` You said that you conducted a risk
` Q Silicone oil, it's not an elastomer,
`assessment of these prefilled syringes that included
`right?
` A So an elastomer being sort of rubber
`silicone oil, and part of that involved analyzing
`types of materials, silicone oil is not that.
`potential extractible and leachable components from
`the silicone oil, right?
` Q In your declaration, you provided a copy
` A Yes, that's correct.
`of your CV; is that correct?
` A Yes, that's correct.
` Q Okay. And in the course of that work,
`did you develop any understanding of the chemical or
` Q And that begins on page 1108.027; is that
`physical properties of silicone oil?
`right?
` A Yes, potential biological reactivity or
` A Yes, that's correct.
`0
`lack thereof was a part of my risk assessment.
` Q Okay. And did you prepare this copy of
`11
` Q Okay. And is silicone oil a liquid or a
`your CV?
`12
` A Yes. This is my CV.
`solid? I'll start there.
`13
` A Silicone oil is a liquid.
` Q And did you prepare it personally?
`14
` A It was prepared at my direction.
` Q Okay. And what was the purpose of
`15
`silicone oil in the prefilled syringes that you were
` Q By whom?
`16
` A By Gradient staff.
`analyzing?
`17
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` Q Okay. And have you reviewed it to ensure
`18
` A That was not an area of my review. All I
`its accuracy?
`19
`knew is that it was a material of composition in the
` A Yes, I have.
`20
`syringe, and I was risk-assessing the extractible,
` Q And is it accurate?
`21
`leachable chemical data. So the application of the
` A Yes, it's accurate.
`22
`PLANET DEPOS
`888.433.3767 | WWW.PLANETDEPOS.COM
`
`32
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
`Novartis Exhibit 2340.009
`Regeneron v. Novartis, IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`Transcript of Joel M. Cohen
`Conducted on May 19, 2022
`33
`
`1234567891
`
`0
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`
` Q Okay. And is it up to date? Is it
`current?
` A It was up to date as of the date listed
`here, which I believe is February 23rd, 2022.
` Q Okay. Is there anything that you would
`add to it today to make it more reflective of your
`current experience?
` A Well, for example, that other prefilled
`syringe risk assessment I was contracted to begin is
`not described in the CV.
` Q Okay. But other than that, it's
`generally still accurate today?
` A For the purposes of this, yes, it's fine.
` Q Okay. So, for example, you list a number
`of papers that you've published beginning on
`page 1108.030.
` Do you see that?
` A Yes, I see that.
` Q Okay. And are these publications up to
`date?
` A Yes, that's up to date.
` Q And same, turning to the couple pages
`
`9 (33 to 36)
`
`35
`
`prefilled syringes?
` MR. PEPE: Object to form.
` A I want to give a precise answer. So I'm
`just taking a closer look at some of the listings.
` It's safe to say that none of the
`publications specifically focus on prefilled
`syringes.
` Q Okay. Do any of the publications or
`presentations focus on syringes generally?
` A To the extent that publications and
`presentations discussing toxicological risk
`assessment of extractables and leachables, deriving
`acceptable daily exposures or permissible daily
`exposure levels for pharmaceuticals, such as those I
`presented at the American College of Toxicology
`conference as well the Society of Toxicology
`conference, those, while not directly and explicitly
`related to prefilled syringes, they -- the methods
`described would be applied to risk-assessing a
`prefilled syringe.
` Q So maybe let me ask it a little more
`specifically, then.
`
`34
`
`36
`
`later, page 33, you have a number of presentations
` Do any of the publications or
`listed.
`presentations that you've given focus specifically
`

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