JUVE Comment

Michael Best’s team has a strong market image for oppositions at the EPO involving pharma, biotech and chemicals patents. Regular clients including Hexal and Ratiopharm place a great deal of trust in the pure patent attorney boutique. The latter hired the firm in the high-stakes suit against Amgen over drug cinacalcet.

Working with external lawyers, the patent attorneys litigate for regular clients in infringement proceedings, for example for Hexal against Eli Lilly regarding chemotherapy drug pemetrexed in cooperation with Taylor Wessing.

When it comes to filing and oppositions, the firm boasts a loyal client base in Germany, the US and Japan. The team is sturdy following a reinforcement last year.

Strengths

Pharma, biotech and chemistry patents; pharma litigation for generics manufacturers.

Recommended individuals

Günter Keller (“very good expertise in biotech, experienced litigator”, competitor), Michael Best (“stands out, excellent”, competitor)

Team

6 patent attorneys

Specialties

Prosecution and litigation for generics manufacturers.

Clients

Litigation: Hexal (claimant) against Eli Lilly in revocation over cancer drug pemetrexed; Hexal (claimant) against Bayer in revocation suit/EPO opposition over anticoagulant Xarelto; Ratiopharm (claimant) against Intermun in revocation suit/EPO opposition over medication for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Pirfenidone; Ratiopharm (claimant) against Amgen in revocation suit/EPO opposition over adrenal gland cancer drug cinacalcet; Teva (claimant) against Bayer in revocation suit/EPO opposition over cancer drug sorafenib; Solvay (claimant) against Neo in revocation suit over catalytic converters (all public knowledge). Prosecution: filing and oppositions for Cooper Standard, Dr. Falk Pharma, Eastman Chemical Company, Hain Lifescience, Hetero, Microgen, Solvay, Tillotts Pharma, Westlake Longview, the universities of Freiburg, Würzburg, Tokyo and Kyushu; EPO oppositions for Stada.