[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 52579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14743]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Inv. No. 337-TA-568]


In the Matter of Certain Products and Pharmaceutical Compositions 
Containing Recombinant Human Erythropoietin; Notice of Commission 
Decision Not To Review an Initial Determination Granting Respondents' 
Motion for Summary Determination That There is No Violation of Section 
337

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade 
Commission has determined not to review the initial determination 
(``ID'') issued by the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') 
granting respondents'' motion for summary determination that there is 
no violation of section 337 in the above-captioned investigation. The 
investigation is terminated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christal A. Sheppard, Esq., Office of 
the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 708-2301. Copies of non-
confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation are 
or will be available for inspection during official business hours 
(8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20436, telephone (202) 205-2000. General information concerning the 
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server 
(http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be 
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm. Hearing-impaired persons are advised 
that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the 
Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 12, 2006, the Commission instituted 
an investigation under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. 
1337, based on a complaint filed by Amgen, Inc. (``Amgen'') of Thousand 
Oaks, California. 71 FR 27742 (May 12, 2006). The complaint asserted a 
violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. 1337, in 
the importation into the United States, sale for importation, or sale 
within the United States after importation of certain products and 
pharmaceutical compositions containing recombinant human erythropoietin 
by reason of infringement of claims 1 and 2 of U.S. Patent No. 
5,441,868, claims 3, 4, 5, and 11 of U.S. Patent No. 5,547,933, claims 
4-9 of U.S. Patent No. 5,618,698, claims 4 and 6 of U.S. Patent No. 
5,621,080, claim 7 of U.S. Patent No. 5,756,349, and claim 1 of U.S. 
Patent No. 5,955,422. The notice of investigation named Roche Holding 
Ltd. of Basel, Switzerland, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd. of Basel, 
Switzerland, Roche Diagnostics GmbH of Mannheim, Germany, and Hoffman 
La Roche, Inc. of Nutley, New Jersey (collectively, ``Roche'') as 
respondents.
    On May 19, 2006, Roche moved for summary determination of no 
violation of section 337, stating that its activities fell within the 
safe harbor created by 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(1) which provides that ``[i]t 
shall not be an act of infringement to make, use, offer to sell, or 
sell within the United States or import into the United States a 
patented invention . . . solely for uses reasonably related to the 
development and submission of information under a Federal law which 
regulates the manufacture, use, or sale of drugs or veterinary 
biological products.'' Amgen opposed the motion. The Commission 
investigative attorney (``IA'') supported the motion. On July 7, 2006, 
the ALJ issued an ID (Order No. 6) granting Roche's motion. Amgen filed 
a petition for review of the ID. Respondents and the IA filed 
oppositions to the petition for review. Amgen also filed a motion for 
leave to reply to the oppositions to its petition for review.
    Having considered the petition for review, the oppositions thereto, 
and the relevant portions of the record, the Commission has determined 
not to review the ID and to deny Amgen's motion for leave.
    This action is taken under the authority of section 337 of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, and section 210.42(h) 
of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.42(h).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: August 31, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E6-14743 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P