Maia H Harris

Maia H Harris

September 16, 2024 | Law.com

Federal Circuit Decision Clarifies Obviousness-Type Double Patenting and Patent Term Adjustments In 'Allergan v. MSN Laboratories'

On August 13, the Federal Circuit issued a precedential ruling that reversed the District of Delaware's application of the Federal Circuit precedent in In re: Cellect to invalidate a claim in an earlier-filed parent application over admittedly patentably indistinct claims in later-filed (and earlier-expired) child patents. This decision has resolved some substantial questions about the application of obviousness-type double patenting that had been raised by last year's In re Cellect decision.

By Maia H. Harris and Emma C. Mann

7 minute read