Idenix Files Patent Infringement, Interference Lawsuits Against Gilead

(RTTNews) - Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IDIX) said Monday that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court in Boston, Massachusetts and a separate patent infringement and interference lawsuit in the United States District Court in Wilmington, Delaware against Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD).

The Massachusetts infringement lawsuit alleges that Gilead infringes two U.S. patents co-owned by Idenix that cover methods of treating the hepatitis C virus using 2'-methyl nucleosides. In that lawsuit, Idenix is seeking a declaration that Gilead's imminent distribution, importation, use, sale or offer to sell drugs containing sofosbuvir, a 2'-methyl nucleoside compound, infringes Idenix's patents.

The Delaware infringement and interference lawsuit alleges that Gilead infringes a separate U.S. patent co-owned by Idenix that covers methods of treating the hepatitis C virus using 2'-methyl-2'-fluoro nucleosides. Idenix is seeking a declaration that Gilead's imminent distribution, importation, use, sale or offer to sell drugs containing sofosbuvir infringes the Idenix ' patent. Additionally, the Delaware lawsuit asserts a claim for interfering patents between the Idenix patent and a U.S. patent owned by a Gilead subsidiary, Gilead Pharmasset LLC. Idenix is seeking to have the Gilead patent declared invalid.