A U.S. group is trying to block patents in five countries for Gilead Sciences Inc’s costly hepatitis C drug Sovaldi, in a bid to give almost 60 million afflicted people access to cheaper generic versions, according to Reuters.
In Argentina, Brazil, China, Russia and Ukraine, challenges have been filed against Gilead’s patents or patent applications, the New York-based Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge, or I-MAK, said on Wednesday. In all the countries except China, the group is working with local activist groups.
I-MAK said more than 59 million people in those countries have hepatitis C. Reuters Reports.
Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines in areas of unmet medical nee in North America, South America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. The company’s products comprise Stribild, Complera/Eviplera, Atripla, Truvada, Viread, Emtriva, Tybost, and Vitekta for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in adults; and Harvoni, Sovaldi, Viread, and Hepsera products for the treatment of liver disease.
Shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), declined -1.04% to $101.35, during its last trading session.
On April 29, Johnson & Johnson declared receipt of a further action from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) regarding the reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 6,284,471 (‘471) regarding REMICADE® (infliximab) in which the PTO maintained its rejection of the patent. Based on the receipt of today’s action, the company’s partner, Janssen Biotech, Inc., will have until June 12 to file a notice of appeal to the PTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board and plans to do so.
Presently the ‘471 patent expires in September 2018. Patent ‘471 remains a valid and enforceable patent as it undergoes reexamination at the PTO. Janssen Biotech will continue to defend its intellectual property rights, and if necessary, will pursue all accessible appeals.
Johnson & Johnson, together with its auxiliaries, researches and develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the health care field worldwide. It operates in three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices.
At the end of Friday’s trade, Shares of Weyerhaeuser Co. (NYSE:WY), gained 0.46% to $32.73.
Weyerhaeuser, declared that its board of directors declared a dividend of $0.29 per share on the Common Stock of the company, payable in cash on June 19, 2015, to holders of record of such common shares at the close of business on June 5, 2015. Additionally, the company’s board of directors has declared a dividend of $0.7969 per share on the company’s 6.375% Mandatory Convertible Preference Shares, Series A, which will be payable in cash on July 1, 2015, to holders of record of such mandatory convertible preference shares at the close of business on June 15, 2015.
Weyerhaeuser Co. is a real estate investment trust. It primarily invests in United States. The firm operates under four business segments, timberlands, wood products, cellulose fibers and real estate. It owns timberlands primarily in the U.S and has long-term licenses in Canada.
Finally, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), ended its last trade with 0.50% gain, and closed at $74.42.
The Kroger, declared a robust program involving events and customer engagement that will honor these heroes all summer.
More than two million Americans serve on active duty or in the reserves recently, counting many Kroger family of stores associates. Kroger has partnered with the USO through “Honoring Our Heroes,” a multi-faceted program designed to show Kroger’s deep gratitude to our active duty troops and our nation’s 23 million veterans.
Kroger’s customers and associates have enthusiastically supported the endeavor: Together, Kroger’s annual campaign has raised more than $11.9 million since 2010 to support USO programs, which represents the largest cumulative gift to the USO in its nearly 75 year history.
The Kroger Co., together with its auxiliaries, operates as a retailer in the United States and internationally. It also manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets. The company operates retail food and drug stores, multi-department stores, jewelry stores, and convenience stores.
Source: http://www.wsnewspublishers.com/
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