其中,治療骨質疏鬆症的藥物使用量之顯而易見性更鮮有人探討,因此,本文藉由Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. v. Apotex Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2014) 案件[1]來探討骨質疏鬆症治療藥物使用量的顯而易見性。
圖片來源 : shutterstock、達志影像
案件背景
本案被告奧貝泰克(Apotex)藥廠因為向食品藥物管理局 (FDA) 提出了Boniva®(成分為ibandronate) 的學名藥許可之簡易新藥上市程序(ANDA),原告Hoffmann-La Roche藥廠於是向美國紐澤西州 (the District of New Jersey) 的地方法院提出專利侵權訴訟,主張被告奧貝泰克藥廠侵害了系爭專利的申請專利範圍,奧貝泰克藥廠則主張原告Hoffmann-La Roche藥廠的專利顯而易見,地方法院經過判決後認定系爭專利因為顯而易見而無效,被告奧貝泰克藥廠不侵害系爭專利。原告Hoffmann-La Roche藥廠不服地方法院的判決,所以提出上訴。
1. A method for treating or inhibiting postmenopausal osteoporosis in a postmenopausal woman in need of treatment or inhibition of postmenopausal osteoporosis by administration of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of ibandronic acid, comprising: (a) commencing the administration of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of ibandronic acid by orally administering to the postmenopausal woman, on a single day, a first dose in the form of a tablet, wherein the tablet comprises an amount of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of ibandronic acid that is equivalent to about 150 mg of ibandronic acid; and (b) continuing the administration by orally administering, once monthly on a single day, a tablet comprising an amount of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of ibandronic acid that is equivalent to about 150 mg of ibandronic acid.