Johnson & Johnson has announced receipt of a further action from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) regarding the re-examination of US Patent No. 6,284,471 (‘471) relating to Remicade (infliximab) in which the PTO maintained its rejection of the patent. Based on the receipt of the PTO’s action, the company's subsidiary, Janssen Biotech, Inc., will have until June 12 to file a notice of appeal to the PTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board and plans to do so.

Currently, the ‘471 patent expires in September 2018. Patent ‘471 remains a valid and enforceable patent as it undergoes reexamination at the PTO. “Janssen Biotech will continue to defend its intellectual property rights, and if necessary, will pursue all available appeals,” said the company in a statement.

Source: Johnson & Johnson