Question
From: (Redacted)
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2013 3:15 PM
To: Verne, B. Michael; Walsh, Kathryn
Subject: Pharma license question
Hi Mike and Kate,
I have a question regarding a scenario we discussed over a year ago, and wanted to check to see what impact the new rules have on the previous conclusion that no filing would be required.
The scenario is this:
1. Subject to the right retained in 2. below, Company X will receive from Company Y an exclusive license under YIP to "make, use and sell" the products in the US for a specific indication within a therapeutic area.
2. Company Y will retain the right to manufacture in the US for third parties who are selling the products outside the US for the same indication.
In the new rules, the term "limited manufacturing rights" is defined as rights "retained by the patent holder solely to provide the recipient of the patent rights with product(s) covered by the patent" (italics mine). In the above scenario, the licensor would be retaining rights to manufacture the products for someone other than the recipient of the patent rights, though only products for sale outside of the US.
Would the retention of these manufacturing rights go beyond "limited manufacturing rights" and thus render the transaction non-reportable (as it was prior to these new rules)?