Alteogen will be able to protect its technology that converts intravenous injections into a subcutaneous formulation. On the 18th, according to the biotech industry, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office dismissed without instituting proceedings the petition for patent invalidation filed by Halozyme against Alteogen.
Alteogen holds the "hyaluronidase ALT-B4" technology that can convert IV chemotherapy into a subcutaneous injection. It breaks down the hyaluronic acid layer in subcutaneous tissue to create space for the drug to quickly permeate. This was applied to Merck's Keytruda.
Halozyme, a rival of Merck, filed a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Dec. last year to invalidate Alteogen's patent on the hyaluronidase manufacturing method, but the institution of review was recently denied. A company official said, "The patent office judged that Halozyme failed to demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing."
Alteogen says it has gained the upper hand in its patent dispute with Halozyme. Earlier, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board invalidated part of Halozyme's key patent. Chief Executive Jeon Tae-yeon of Alteogen said, "We are confident in our patents," adding, "We will supply ALT-B4 stably to meet our partner's development and commercialization timelines."