Sandoz and Teva were successful in invalidating BMS’s patent and SPC relating to the compound apixaban, a blockbuster anticoagulant drug used for treating thromboembolic disorders. Meade J, whose judgment is available here, considered at length the law of plausibility including the recent Court of Appeal decision in Fibrogen v Akebia [2021] EWCA Civ 1279.

Sandoz was represented by Michael Tappin QC leading Stuart Baran and Alice Hart, instructed by Bristows. Teva was represented by Justin Turner QC leading Thomas Lunt, instructed by Pinsent Masons.