Todd Hughes, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit. June 19, 2013. Federal Circuit Judge Todd Hughes. (Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM)

It doesn't sound as if Amgen Inc. is going to win its long-running patent battle with Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. over cholesterol-busting antibodies.

But it does sound as if at least one judge at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is starting to question the court's rules for enabling biotechnology genus claims.