BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Senators call for investigation into Allergan's patent transfer to tribe

September 29, 2017 9:40 PM UTC

Four U.S. senators sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 27 calling for an investigation into the patent deal between Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN) and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, saying that the deal exploits "sovereign immunity at the expense of patients."

On Sept. 8, Allergan transferred ownership of six patents covering dry eye drug Restasis cyclosporine to the tribe in an effort to shield the patents from inter partes review challenges. The tribe then filed a motion with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) seeking dismissal of IPR petitions against the patents, citing sovereign immunity (see BioCentury, Sept. 22)...