While Bristol Myers ($BMY) proposed acquisition of Celgene’s ($CELG) remains in question by activists questioning Revlimid®’s pending patent cliff, a new patent angle emerges.  A Credit Suisse analyst recently identified a patent owned by Novartis ($NVS) that could purportedly act as a “roadblock” to Celgene’s MS drug ozanimod.  Is this true?

We previously blogged about Dr. Reddy’s IPRs filed against MDS patents covering Celgene’s Revlimid®.  Those IPRs attracted considerable attention because they were, for better or worse, one of the few data-points within the Revlimid® patent skirmishes we are guaranteed to see before the Bristol transaction closes.  The Lotus IPR attacking one of Celgene’s multiple myeloma patent is another datapoint.  The PTAB’s decision on whether to institute the IPR is due March 18.  How much does Lotus IPR really matter?

Last week, we wrote about milestones to watch for in Celgene’s ($CELG) Revlimid® patent landscape in 2019 that could potentially impact the Bristol Myers ($BMY) transaction.  One data-point that investors were anticipating were institution decisions in three petitions for inter partes review (IPRs) filed by Dr. Reddy’s.  This week, the PTAB denied institution of all three IPRs.  How will those decisions read-through to the overall Revlimid® patent landscape?

Since announcing the pending acquisition of Celgene ($CELG) by Bristol Myers ($BMY), investors have focused upon the patent-cases involving Revlimid®.  There are multiple cases and petitions for inter partes review (IPRs) at various stages of resolution.  The key question among investors is whether there will be any key milestones in those cases--especially during 2019 before the Bristol acquisition closes—that will clarify exactly when any of the pending generics will enter.  In this post, we identify three potential milestones to watch for from the Revlimid® patent landscape in 2019. 

Celgene ($CELG) has announced plans to be acquired by Bristol Meyers Squibb ($BMY).  A settlement conference is scheduled in the Hatch-Waxman patent case between Celgene and Dr. Reddy’s on January 10, 2019.  Now that Bristol Meyers is at the table, will the parties be able to reach a settlement that couldn’t be reached before?

On August 3, Dr. Reddy’s filed three petitions for inter partes review (IPR) against three patents owned by Celgene and listed in the Orange Book for Revlimid®.  Does this indicate that Celgene and Dr. Reddy’s are close to a settlement?  If not, what are the take-aways?

On June 5, 2018, the Federal Circuit will hear oral argument on Kite Pharma’s ($GILD) appeal of its IPR loss related to Sloan-Kettering’s and Juno Therapeutic’s ($CELG) CAR-T patent.  What issues will it be important to listen for in the panel’s questions?

In a slightly new wrinkle in Celgene’s recent Revlimid® saga, Celgene ($CELG) has commenced another suit against Dr. Reddy’s ($RDY).  (This is the third patent lawsuit connected to Dr. Reddy’s proposed generic for Revlimid®.)  In the most recent suit, Celgene asserts five new patents (the ‘720, ‘977, ‘784, ‘866 and ‘531).  The suit was commenced on April 13, 2018 in the federal court in New Jersey, where the other Revlimid® suits are currently pending.  What’s this suit all about?