Anthony M. Insogna

Insogna has been the lead legal strategist for Idenix Pharmaceuticals LLC in its global patent dispute with Gilead Sciences Inc. over hepatitis C drugs.

In a major win for Insogna’s client, Idenix secured a $2.54 billion patent infringement federal jury verdict against Gilead last December as part of the ongoing legal feud. Idenix Pharmaceuticals LLC v. Gilead Sciences Inc., 13-CV01987 (D. Del., filed Dec. 1, 2013).

“It was a significant victory in a multi-year, multi-jurisdictional battle between the two companies,” said Insogna, a partner at Jones Day.

Insogna also has helped AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. successfully fend off patent challenges involving the world’s top-selling drug, Humira.

Coherus Biosciences Inc.’s inter partes review petition before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board was denied after AbbVie’s preliminary response. Coherus Biosciences Inc. v. AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd., IPR2016-01018 (PTAB, Nov. 7, 2016).

Coherus is seeking to develop and commercialize a biosimilar version of Humira, as are many other companies, Insogna said.

“My past experience with patent interferences and patent prosecution, coupled with my litigation experience, makes IPRs very interesting and helps the team with handling these types of matters,” he said.

Insogna successfully represented Celgene Corp. in a patent infringement case brought by Andrulis Pharmaceuticals Corp. regarding cancer-treating drugs.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit last year affirmed a trial court judge’s decision in Celgene’s favor. Andrulis Pharmaceuticals Corp. v. Celgene Corp., 15-1962 (Fed. Cir., July 14, 2016).

Insogna has handled patent work for Celgene for 20-plus years.

He has represented Idenix, which was acquired by Merck & Co. in August 2014, for more than a decade.

“One of the things I pride myself on is partnering with clients for the long term,” Insogna said.

He is also chair of Jones Day’s global intellectual property practice group.

The practice has thrived due to strong collaboration and having experts stationed worldwide, said Insogna.

— Lyle Moran