Jury Rules Roche Infringes Amgen’s Patents

A jury in the U.S. Federal District Court in Boston has ruled that Roche’s anti-anemia drug MIRCERA infringes 11 Amgen patent claims. Officials at Thousand Oaks-based Amgen said that they are pleased with the jury’s verdict and that they don’t believe the Roche drug provides any clinical benefit over its anemia treatment drugs. Amgen will now seek an injunction to prevent Switzerland-based Roche from commercializing the product in the United States in violation of Amgen’s affirmed patent rights. The injunction hearing is scheduled for Nov. 15.