throbber
Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 1 of 12 PageID #: 1
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
`
`VANDA PHARMACEUTICALS INC.,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`
`APOTEX INC. and APOTEX CORP.,
`
`Defendants.
`
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`
`C.A. No. _______________
`
`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
`
`Plaintiff Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Vanda”) for its Complaint against
`
`Defendants Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp. (“Apotex”) alleges as follows:
`
`I.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`1.
`
`Plaintiff Vanda is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of
`
`business at 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 300E, Washington, DC 20037. Vanda is a
`
`pharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of new
`
`medicines to address unmet medical needs, including Hetlioz® (tasimelteon oral capsules), for the
`
`treatment of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (“Non-24”).
`
`2.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex Inc. is a Canadian corporation with its
`
`principal place of business at 150 Signet Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9L 1T9, Canada.
`
`3.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex Corp. is a corporation organized and
`
`existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business at 2400 North
`
`Commerce Parkway, Suite 400, Weston, Florida 33326.
`
`4.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex Corp. is a subsidiary of Apotex Inc.
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 2 of 12 PageID #: 2
`
`5.
`
`On information and belief Apotex Corp. is the designated U.S. agent for
`
`Apotex Inc. in accordance with 21 C.F.R. § 314.50(a) in connection with Abbreviated New Drug
`
`Application No. 211607 (the “Apotex ANDA”).
`
`6.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex Corp. is a generic pharmaceutical
`
`company that distributes and sells generic pharmaceutical products in the State of Delaware and
`
`throughout the United States that are manufactured by Apotex Inc. (Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp.
`
`are collectively referred to herein as “Apotex” unless otherwise specified).
`
`II.
`
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`
`7.
`
`This is an action arising under the patent laws of the United States (Title 35,
`
`U.S. Code, §§ 100, et seq.) based upon Apotex’s infringement of one or more claims of Vanda’s
`
`U.S. Patent No. 10,829,465 (“the ’465 patent”), which, in relevant part, generally relates to
`
`compositions comprising purified tasimelteon.
`
`8.
`
`Vanda is the holder of approved New Drug Application No. 205677 for
`
`Hetlioz® (tasimelteon) capsules, 20 mg, which was approved by the Food and Drug
`
`Administration (“FDA”) on January 31, 2014, for the treatment of Non-24 a circadian rhythm
`
`sleep disorder.
`
`9.
`
`10.
`
`Tasimelteon is the active ingredient in Hetlioz®.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex filed its ANDA under § 505(j) of the
`
`Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the “FFDCA”), to obtain approval to commercially
`
`manufacture and sell generic tasimelteon capsules in its 20 mg strength for the treatment of Non-
`
`24 (“Apotex’s ANDA Product”).
`
`11.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex made and included in its ANDA a
`
`certification under 21 U.S.C. § 355(j)(2)(A)(vii)(IV) (“Paragraph IV Certification”) that, in its
`
`2
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 3 of 12 PageID #: 3
`
`opinion and to the best of its knowledge, the ’465 patent is invalid, unenforceable, and/or that
`
`certain claims will not be infringed by Apotex’s ANDA Product.
`
`12.
`
`Vanda received written notice of Apotex’s ANDA and Paragraph IV
`
`Certification as to the ’465 patent on January 14, 2021 (“Notice Letter”), along with an enclosed
`
`statement of Apotex’s alleged factual and legal bases for stating that the ’465 patent is invalid,
`
`unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by Apotex’s ANDA Product (“Detailed Statement”).
`
`13.
`
`Apotex’s Detailed Statement does not provide any factual bases or other
`
`statements alleging that the ’465 patent is unenforceable.
`
`14.
`
`This action is being commenced within 45 days of receipt of Apotex’s
`
`Notice Letter.
`
`15.
`
`Apotex has infringed one or more claims of the ’465 patent under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 271(e)(2)(A) by virtue of the filing of the Apotex ANDA with a Paragraph IV Certification and
`
`seeking FDA approval of the Apotex ANDA prior to the expiration of the ’465 patent or any
`
`extensions thereof.
`
`16.
`
`Apotex has infringed one or more claims of the ’465 patent under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 271(e)(2)(A) by virtue of the filing of the Apotex ANDA seeking FDA approval to commercially
`
`manufacture, use, offer for sale, sell, distribute in, or import into the United States generic
`
`tasimelteon for the treatment of Non-24 prior to the expiration of the ’465 patent or any extensions
`
`thereof.
`
`III.
`
`JURISDICTION
`
`17.
`
`This action arises under
`
`the patent
`
`laws of
`
`the United States,
`
`35 U.S.C. §§ 100, et seq., and this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over Vanda’s patent
`
`infringement claims under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a), 2201, and 2202.
`
`3
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 4 of 12 PageID #: 4
`
`18.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Apotex Corp. because Apotex
`
`Corp. is incorporated in the State of Delaware.
`
`19.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex’s registered agent for service of process
`
`is Corporate Creations Network Inc., with an address at 3411 Silverside Road #104, Tatnall
`
`Building, Wilmington, Delaware 19810.
`
`20.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Apotex Inc. under Fed. R. Civ. P.
`
`4(k) because, on information and belief, Apotex Inc. is organized under the laws of Canada.
`
`21.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Apotex Inc. because at least one
`
`of the provisions under Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 3104, is satisfied. On information and belief,
`
`Apotex satisfies at least § 3104(c)(1) (“[t]ransacts any business or performs any character of work
`
`or service in the State), § 3104(c)(2) (“[c]ontracts to supply services or things in this State”), §
`
`3104(c)(3) (“[c]auses tortious injury in the State by an act or omission in this State), and §
`
`3104(c)(4) (“[c]auses tortious injury in the State or outside of the State by an act or omission
`
`outside the State if the person regularly does or solicits business, engages in any other persistent
`
`course of conduct in the State or derives substantial revenue from services, or things used or
`
`consumed in the State”).
`
`22.
`
`This Court also has personal jurisdiction over Apotex Inc. because this suit
`
`arises out of and relates to Apotex Inc.’s activities, in concert with Apotex Corp., that are, and will
`
`be, directed to Delaware. On information and belief, following any FDA approval of the Apotex
`
`ANDA, Apotex Inc., in concert with Apotex Corp., will market and sell Apotex’s ANDA Product
`
`that is the subject of the infringement claims in this action in the State of Delaware and throughout
`
`the United States, including in this Judicial District.
`
`4
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 5 of 12 PageID #: 5
`
`23.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex Inc., directly and through its
`
`subsidiaries, affiliates, or agents, including Apotex Corp., is in the business of manufacturing
`
`generic pharmaceuticals that it distributes or has distributed in the State of Delaware and
`
`throughout the United States.
`
`24.
`
`Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp., acting in concert, have committed, or aided,
`
`abetted, contributed to, and/or participated in the commission of acts of patent infringement that
`
`will lead to foreseeable harm and injury to Vanda, which manufactures Hetlioz® for sale and use
`
`throughout the United States, including in this Judicial District. On information and belief, and as
`
`indicated by the Notice Letter, Apotex prepared and filed ANDA No. 211607 with the intention
`
`of seeking to market generic tasimelteon nationwide, including within this Judicial District.
`
`25.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex plans to market and sell generic
`
`tasimelteon in the State of Delaware, list generic tasimelteon on the State of Delaware’s
`
`prescription drug formulary, and seek Medicaid reimbursement for sales of Apotex’s ANDA
`
`Product in the State of Delaware, either directly or through one or more of Apotex’s wholly owned
`
`subsidiaries, agents, and/or alter egos.
`
`26.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex knows and intends that its proposed
`
`generic tasimelteon product will be distributed and sold in Delaware and will thereby displace
`
`sales of Hetlioz®, causing injury to Vanda. Apotex intends to take advantage of its established
`
`channels of distribution in Delaware for the sale of Apotex’s ANDA Product.
`
`IV.
`
`VENUE
`
`27.
`
`Venue is proper in this Judicial District under 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b) with
`
`regard to Apotex Corp., because, upon information and belief, Apotex Corp. resides in the State
`
`of Delaware and therefore Apotex’s ANDA submission is sufficiently related to this District.
`
`5
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 6 of 12 PageID #: 6
`
`28.
`
`Venue is proper in this Judicial District under 28 U.S.C. § 1391 and
`
`§ 1400(b) with regard to Apotex Inc., because, upon information and belief, Apotex Inc. is
`
`incorporated in Canada and may be sued in any judicial district in the United States in which
`
`Apotex Inc. is subject to the Court’s personal jurisdiction.
`
`V.
`
`THE PATENT-IN-SUIT
`
`(U.S. PATENT NO. 10,829,465)
`
`29.
`
`30.
`
`tasimelteon.
`
`The allegations above are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`The ’465 patent covers, generally, compositions comprising purified
`
`31.
`
`As explained in the ’465 patent, “in the synthesis of tasimelteon there are
`
`certain impurities that can be formed as both by-products and degradation products, and that these
`
`impurities can be controlled or reduced to non-detectable or acceptably detectable levels.”
`
`32.
`
`Vanda is the owner of all rights, title, and interest in the ’465 patent, entitled
`
`“Highly Purified Pharmaceutical Grade Tasimelteon.” The USPTO duly and legally issued the
`
`’465 patent on November 10, 2020, to Deepak Phadke, Natalie M. Platt, and Ravi K.
`
`Pandrapragada as inventors, which was assigned to Vanda. A true and correct copy of the ’465
`
`patent is attached to this Complaint as Exhibit A.
`
`33.
`
`The ’465 patent generally claims compositions comprising purified
`
`tasimelteon.
`
`VI.
`
`COUNT I
`
`(INFRINGEMENT OF THE ’465 PATENT)
`
`34.
`
`The allegations above are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`6
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 7 of 12 PageID #: 7
`
`35.
`
`Apotex filed the Apotex ANDA under § 505(j) of the FFDCA to obtain
`
`approval to commercially manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sell generic tasimelteon for the
`
`treatment of Non-24 before the expiration of the ’465 patent and any extensions thereof.
`
`36.
`
`Apotex’s Notice Letter states that Apotex filed the ANDA seeking approval
`
`to manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sell generic tasimelteon in its 20 mg strength for the treatment
`
`of Non-24 before the expiration of the ’465 patent. The Notice Letter represents that an
`
`Amendment to Apotex’s ANDA was submitted with a Paragraph IV Certification that the ’465
`
`patent purportedly is invalid, unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by the commercial
`
`manufacture, use, or sale of Apotex’s ANDA Product.
`
`37.
`
`The ’465 patent is listed in FDA’s Approved Drug Products with
`
`Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations for Hetlioz® in its 20 mg strength.
`
`38.
`
`39.
`
`thereof.
`
`Apotex thus has actual knowledge of the ’465 patent.
`
`Vanda has the right to enforce the ’465 patent and sue for infringement
`
`40.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex has made and will continue to make
`
`substantial and meaningful preparations to import into the United States and/or offer to sell, sell,
`
`and/or use within the United States products which are patented by the ’465 patent.
`
`41.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex’s preparations include, but are not
`
`limited to, the development of Apotex’s ANDA Product, systematically attempting to meet the
`
`applicable regulatory requirements for approval of Apotex’s ANDA Product, and engaging in
`
`litigation to manufacture, offer to sell, sell, use, and/or import Apotex’s ANDA Product prior to
`
`the expiration of the ’465 patent.
`
`7
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 8 of 12 PageID #: 8
`
`42.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex intends to use a composition claimed in
`
`the ’465 patent in Apotex’s ANDA Product.
`
`43.
`
`On information and belief, the tasimelteon composition in Apotex’s ANDA
`
`Product is not materially changed by subsequent process.
`
`44.
`
`On information and belief, a tasimelteon composition of the ’465 patent is
`
`an essential part of Apotex’s ANDA Product.
`
`45.
`
`On information and belief, a tasimelteon composition of the ’465 patent in
`
`Apotex’s ANDA Product is not a trivial or non-essential component of another product.
`
`46.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex’s ANDA Product is covered by one or
`
`more claims of the ’465 patent.
`
`47.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex’s ANDA Product is not a staple article
`
`of commerce and has no substantial uses that do not infringe at least claim 1 of the ’465 patent.
`
`48.
`
`Apotex has
`
`infringed and will
`
`infringe
`
`the ’465 patent under
`
`35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(A) by virtue of its submission of the Apotex ANDA, and any amendments
`
`and/or supplements thereto, to FDA seeking to obtain approval for generic tasimelteon covered by
`
`one or more claims of the ’465 patent, prior to the expiration of the ’465 patent.
`
`49.
`
`The commercial manufacture, use, offer to sell, sale, distribution, or
`
`importation of products under the Apotex ANDA would infringe directly or contribute to or induce
`
`the infringement of one or more claims of the ’465 patent, including at least claim 1 under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 271(a), (b), (c), and/or (g).
`
`50.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex will induce others to infringe and/or
`
`contribute to the infringement of at least claim 1 of the ’465 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) and/or
`
`(c) by, among other things, actively and knowingly aiding and abetting others to infringe,
`
`8
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 9 of 12 PageID #: 9
`
`including, but not limited to the manufacturer of Apotex’s ANDA products, or its Active
`
`Pharmaceutical Ingredient (“API”), or other subsequence purchasers, distributors, or users thereof,
`
`which manufacture constitutes direct infringement of at least claim 1 of the ’465 patent.
`
`51.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex will induce others to infringe and/or
`
`contribute to the infringement of at least claim 1 of the ’465 patent under § 271(b) and/or (c) by
`
`making, using, selling, offering to sell, and/or importing Apotex’s ANDA Product and/or the API
`
`thereof.
`
`52.
`
`On information and belief, subsequent purchasers, distributors or users
`
`thereof will also directly infringe at least claim 1 of the ’465 patent.
`
`53.
`
`On information and belief Apotex will infringe at least claim 1 of the ’465
`
`patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(g) by importing, selling, offering to sell, or using Apotex’s ANDA
`
`Product or the API for Apotex’s ANDA Product.
`
`54.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex’s ANDA Product and/or the API for
`
`Apotex’s ANDA Product is not materially changed by subsequent process.
`
`55.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex’s ANDA Product and the API for
`
`Apotex’s ANDA Product are not a trivial or non-essential component of another product.
`
`56.
`
`Vanda seeks entry of an order requiring that Apotex amend its Paragraph
`
`IV Certification
`
`in
`
`the Apotex ANDA
`
`to a certification pursuant
`
`to 21 U.S.C.
`
`§ 355(j)(2)(A)(vii)(III)
`
`(“Paragraph
`
`III Certification”)
`
`as provided
`
`in 21 C.F.R.
`
`§ 314.94(a)(12)(viii)(A).
`
`57.
`
`Vanda seeks entry of an order declaring that Apotex has infringed the ’465
`
`patent by virtue of submitting its ANDA pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(A).
`
`9
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 10 of 12 PageID #: 10
`
`58.
`
`Vanda seeks entry of an order pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(4), including
`
`an order of this Court that the effective date of any FDA approval of the Apotex ANDA be a date
`
`that is not earlier than the expiration of the ’465 patent or any later expiration of exclusivity for
`
`the ’465 patent to which Vanda becomes entitled.
`
`59.
`
`Vanda will be irreparably harmed if Apotex is not enjoined from infringing
`
`or actively inducing or contributing to infringement of one or more claims of the ’465 patent.
`
`Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 283, Vanda is entitled to a permanent injunction against further
`
`infringement. Vanda does not have an adequate remedy at law.
`
`60.
`
`On information and belief, Apotex’s statement of the factual and legal bases
`
`for its opinion regarding the invalidity and noninfringement of the ’465 patent is devoid of an
`
`objective good faith basis in either the facts or the law. This case is exceptional and Vanda is
`
`entitled to attorneys’ fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285.
`
`61.
`
`To the extent Apotex commercializes its product, Vanda will also be
`
`entitled to damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284.
`
`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`
`WHEREFORE, Vanda respectfully requests that this Court enter judgment in its
`
`favor against Apotex and grant the following relief:
`
`A.
`
`an adjudication that Apotex has infringed directly, contributed to, or
`
`induced the infringement of one or more claims of the ’465 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(A)
`
`by submitting to FDA the Apotex ANDA to obtain approval for the commercial manufacture, use,
`
`offer for sale, sale, distribution in, or importation into the United States of generic tasimelteon for
`
`the treatment of Non-24 before the expiration of the ’465 patent;
`
`B.
`
`a declaration that Apotex will infringe directly, contribute to, or induce the
`
`infringement of one or more claims of the ’465 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a), (b), (c) and/or (g)
`
`10
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 11 of 12 PageID #: 11
`
`if it markets, manufactures, uses, offers for sale, sells, distributes in, or imports into the United
`
`States generic tasimelteon for the treatment of Non-24 before the expiration of the ’465 patent;
`
`C.
`
`an order requiring that Apotex amend its Paragraph IV Certification to a
`
`Paragraph III Certification as provided in 21 C.F.R. § 314.94(a)(12)(viii)(A);
`
`D.
`
`an order pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(4)(A) providing that the effective
`
`date of any FDA approval of the Apotex ANDA for generic tasimelteon be a date that is not earlier
`
`than the date of the expiration of the ’465 patent or any later period of exclusivity to which Vanda
`
`is or may become entitled;
`
`E.
`
`a permanent injunction enjoining Apotex, its officers, agents, servants,
`
`employees, attorneys, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, and those persons in active concert or
`
`participation with any of them from infringing the ’465 patent, or contributing to or inducing
`
`anyone to do the same, including the manufacture, use, offer to sell, sale, distribution, or
`
`importation of any current or future versions of the product described in the Apotex ANDA;
`
`F.
`
`an order enjoining Apotex, its officers, agents, servants, employees,
`
`attorneys, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, and those persons in active concert or participation
`
`with any of them from infringing the ’465 patent, or contributing to or inducing anyone to do the
`
`same, including the manufacture, use, offer to sell, sale, distribution, or importation of any current
`
`or future versions of the product described in the Apotex ANDA;
`
`G.
`
`an assessment of pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and costs against
`
`Apotex, together with an award of such interest and costs, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 284;
`
`H.
`
`an award to Vanda of its attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with this
`
`lawsuit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285; and
`
`I.
`
`such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper.
`
`11
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00282-UNA Document 1 Filed 02/24/21 Page 12 of 12 PageID #: 12
`
`MORRIS, NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP
`
`/s/ Derek J. Fahnestock
`
`Karen Jacobs (#2881)
`Derek J. Fahnestock (#4705)
`1201 North Market Street
`P.O. Box 1347
`Wilmington, DE 19899
`(302) 658-9200
`kjacobs@morrisnichols.com
`dfahnestock@morrisnichols.com
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
`
`OF COUNSEL:
`
`Nicholas Groombridge
`Eric Alan Stone
`Josephine Young
`Daniel J. Klein
`Jennifer Rea Deneault
`Michael F. Milea
`PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON
`& GARRISON LLP
`1285 Avenue of the Americas
`New York, NY 10019
`(212) 373-3000
`
`February 24, 2021
`
`12
`
`

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket