BRIEF—California Court rules in favor of Plexxikon in patent dispute with Novartis

The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued an order sustaining a jury verdict in favor of Plexxikon (the US subsidiary of Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo) on its claim that the US unit of Swiss pharma giant Novartis’ BRAF inhibitor Tafinlar (dabrafenib) infringes Plexxikon's US Patents 9,469,640 and 9,844.539.

The case was filed by Plexxikon in August 2017.

The order directs Novartis to pay $177.8 million in damages and a 9% royalty on US sales of Tafinlar® until the expiration of the patents of Plexxikon.

The Court reversed the jury’s finding of willful infringement by Novartis.

Any impact on Daiichi Sankyo’s consolidated financials for fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, is currently being evaluated and will be announced as soon as possible.