MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

YOUNG, Chief Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

This patent infringement action concerns patents held by Amgen, Inc. ("Amgen"), relating to the manufacture of a recombinant (genetically engineered) DNA product, known as epoietin alfa, that is similar to natural erythropoietin ("EPO"), a hormone that stimulates production of red blood cells, and is useful in, among other things, treating patients who need of blood transfusions and suffer from blood composition disorders such as hemophilia, anemia, and sickle cell disease. This product and this case are not new to the public or to this Court. The case began brewing in 1997, when Amgen filed a declaratory judgment in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Defendants Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. and Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. (collectively "HMR/TKT") claiming that three of its patents were infringed by HMR/TKT's human EPO product, "HMR 4396," produced from the R223 cell line grown in culture. See Amgen, Inc. v. Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc., 3 F. Supp. 2d 104, 106 (D. Mass. 1998). In 1999, Amgen amended the complaint to include two other patents. Amgen, Inc. v. Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc., 126 F. Supp. 2d 69, 96-98 (D. Mass. 2001) ("Amgen I"). A lengthy jury-waived trial ensued. It commenced in May 2000 and lasted twenty-three days over the course of four months. Id. at 78. Not surprisingly, HMR/TKT appealed this Court's decision, Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d 69. In Amgen Inc. v. Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc., 314 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2003) ("Amgen II"), the Federal Circuit affirmed a majority of this Court's findings and rulings but vacated and remanded a few issues to this Court. Id. at 1358. This memorandum and order addresses those issues on remand, some of which have already been decided by the Court and announced to the parties, thus requiring only a brief review.

II. BACKGROUND: PROCEDURAL AND SUBSTANTIVE HISTORY

A. The Patents at Issue

There were originally five patents at issue in this case. Only four, however, remain on remand. The patents and claims now at issue are: Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 5,955,422 (issued Sept. 21, 1999) ("`422 patent"); Claims 2-4 of U.S. Patent No. 5,621,080 (issued Apr. 15, 1997) ("`080 patent"); Claims 4-9 of U.S. Patent No. 5,618,698 (issued Apr. 8, 1997) ("`698 patent"); and Claims 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of U.S. Patent No. 5,756,349 (issued May 26, 1998) ("`349 patent"). Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 79; Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1320.

Although the patents vary, they all share a common disclosure and identical specifications. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 79. For ease of reference, the Court cites to the specification found in the `933 patent, which is identical to the specification of the patents in dispute on remand. `933 Patent, Ex. 1.

B. The Technology

As Amgen I set out the basics of the underlying technology in detail, only a brief summary is provided here. EPO is a naturally occurring hormone that controls erythropoiesis, the production of red blood cells in bone marrow. `933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 5: 39-67. Erythropoiesis occurs continuously to offset cell destruction. Id. It enables a sufficient (but not excessive) amount of red blood cells to be available in the blood to provide tissue oxygenation. Id. Hemoglobin is the protein in the red blood cells that actually transports the oxygen. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 98. The amount of hemoglobin correlates to the amount of oxygen. Id. Hematocrit, which indicates the relative proportion of red blood cells to the total volume of blood, measures the ability of the blood to supply oxygen to the body.Id. Thus, generally an increase or decrease in hematocrit equates with an increase or decrease in the ability to supply oxygen to the body. Id. Under normal conditions, a person has a hematocrit of about forty-five to fifty, which means forty-five to fifty percent of the blood is made up of red blood cells.Id.

EPO is produced in the kidney and liver. Therefore, patients with chronic renal failure lack normal levels of EPO and suffer from anemia. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1321. Introduction of additional EPO into the patient's body can increase a patient's hematocrit level and sustain it at or near normal levels. Id. In other words, the blood is able to provide a steady supply of sufficient oxygen to the tissues. Id.; Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 99.

Early attempts to obtain EPO from plasma or urine proved unsuccessful because the body only produces human EPO in very small amounts, `933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 5: 54-58, and the techniques were very complicated and resulted in the collection of very small amounts of impure and unstable amounts of EPO,id. at col. 6: 60-65. Amgen is recognized as the pioneer in the production of a therapeutically effective amount of EPO via recombinant EPO ("rEPO") techniques. See, e.g., Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: A Comprehensive Desk Reference 108 (Robert A. Meyers ed., VCH Publishers 1995).

Dr. Fu-Kuen Lin ("Lin"), the named inventor of all the patents in issue, isolated and characterized DNA sequences encoding EPO from humans and monkeys. `933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 13: 50-53. Lin determined the DNA sequence of human EPO and its predicted amino acid sequence. `933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 10: 65-11: 2. Lin then produced large amounts of EPO by using recombinant DNA technology. Id. at col. 14: 23-29. In the patent specification, many methods of producing EPO are described. EPOGEN® is produced by the method described in Example 10, wherein human EPO is produced by introducing exogenous DNA into host Chinese hamster ovary ("CHO") cells.Id. at col. 25: 30-29: 7. The rEPO that is produced has the same or similar amino acid sequences or primary structural conformation as that of naturally-occurring EPO. Id. at col. 29: 1-7. As a result, it possesses one or more the biological properties of naturally-occurring EPO but differs from natural EPO in its "glycosylation," that is, it has a different average carbohydrate composition. Id. at col. 10: 35-41.

HMR/TKT, in producing its human erythropoietin, HMR 4396 (also called Gene-Activated EPO "GA-EPO"), also uses recombinant technology. HMR/TKT, however, does not use a host cell from a non-human species but manipulates the ordinarily unexpressed human EPO gene where it naturally resides. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 102. In that way, the human EPO DNA material is endogenous to the human cell. Id. After introducing a promoter sequence, human EPO is expressed in a human rather than a hamster cell. Id. C. The Federal Circuit's Decision

A brief review of the key rulings and findings that were affirmed and remanded on appeal follows:

1. Claim Construction

a. Affirmed

The Federal Circuit upheld all of the Court's claim constructions. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1320. Specifically, the Federal Circuit upheld this Court's construction that Amgen's claims do not limit the invention to using only exogenous DNA (as opposed to endogenous DNA). Id. at 1327. It also upheld this Court's determinations that (1) non-naturally occurring means "`not occurring in nature'"; (2) vertebrates are anything with "`a segmented bony or cartilaginous spinal cord' which obviously includes humans"; and (3) humans are a subset of mammals and mammals are a subset of vertebrates. Id. at 1327-28 (quotingAmgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 85, 90-91). To that end, the Federal Circuit agreed that the specification indicates that the invention uses human DNA in human host cells in culture. Id.

The Federal Circuit also upheld the Court's determination that claim 1 of the `422 patent, claims 2, 3, and 4 of the `080 patent, and claims 1, 3, 4, and 6 of the `349 patent are product claims (not process claims) and thus are not restricted or defined by any method of production or any particular source, other than what is specifically excluded. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1329-30.

b. Remanded

Although all the terms that this Court construed in Amgen I under the principles of Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 517 U.S. 370, 116 S.Ct. 1384, 134 L.Ed.2d 577 (1996), were upheld, the Federal Circuit remanded to this Court the construction of the term "therapeutically effective." Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1354. This phrase was not considered by the Court to be in dispute during the first trial. In its written analysis, however, this Court interpreted the term. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 112;see also id. at 99. While interpreting a term to provide context for the discussion is proper when the term is not in dispute, the Federal Circuit determined that the term "therapeutically effective" actually was in dispute "because it is central to whether Goldwasser is properly considered prior art." Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1353. Therefore, it remanded so this Court could construe "therapeutically effective" pursuant toMarkman. Id. at 1358. Since claim construction is matter of law, Markman, 517 U.S. at 386; but see Arthur R. Miller, The Pretrial Rush to Judgment: Are the "Litigation Explosion," "Liability Crisis," and Efficiency Clichés Eroding Our Day in Court and Jury Trial Commitments?, 78 N.Y.U. L.Rev. 982, 1087 (2003). (criticizing the decision in Markman), the Federal Circuit could have proceeded to construe the phrase itself. Where a word or phrase has not been first construed in the district court, the Federal Circuit follows the courteous and prudential path of first seeking claim construction below. Hon. Pauline Newman, Remarks at the American Law Inst.-Am. Bar Assoc. Panel on the Trial of a Patent Case (Sept. 18, 2003).

2. Infringement

a. Affirmed

The Federal Circuit affirmed this Court's ruling on summary judgment that claim 1 of the `422 patent is literally infringed.Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1348. It also affirmed this Court's ruling that the `080 patent is not literally infringed by HMR/TKT's HMR 4396, id. at 1344-45, but that claims 1, 3, 4, and 6 of the `349 patent are literally infringed by it, id. at 1351-52.

b. Remanded

(1) The `080 Patent

After finding that HMR 4396 did not literally infringe claims 2, 3, and 4 of the `080 patent because HMR 4396 comprised only 165 amino acids, Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 99-101, this Court held that HMR 4396 performed substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result as the EPO glycoprotein of claims 2 and 3 of the `080 patent, id. at 133. Therefore, it ruled that Amgen's `080 patent was infringed by HMR/TKT's product under the doctrine of equivalents. Id.

In response to HMR/TKT's argument that Amgen should be estopped from arguing equivalent infringement, this Court ruled that prosecution history estoppel did not apply because Amgen did not add the "mature amino acid sequence of Figure 6" limitation "in an attempt to overcome a rejection [or] to avoid prior art," but, instead, to "demonstrate that `same invention' type double patenting did not apply," — that is, to distinguish the `080 patent from the `933 patent. Id. at 134-35.

The Federal Circuit agreed that the amendment was made for this purpose but made clear that under Festo Corp. v. Shoketsu Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki, 535 U.S. 722, 731 (2002) ("Festo II"), "`a narrowing amendment to satisfy any requirement of the Patent Act may give rise to an estoppel.'" Amgen II, 314 F. 3d at 1345 (quoting Festo II, 535 U.S. at 736) (emphasis added). Therefore, it held that the presumption of prosecution history estoppel applied. Id. at 1345. The Federal Circuit then vacated this Court's finding of equivalent infringement and remanded for an analysis based on the "narrow ways of rebutting the Supreme Court's presumption of estoppel" outlined in Festo II. Id. at 1345.

(2) The `698 Patent

On appeal, the Federal Circuit vacated and remanded this Court's ruling regarding infringement of the `698 patent because this Court had compared the accused device to the preferred or commercial embodiments of the patent instead of to the properly construed claims themselves. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1347. Therefore, it remanded to this Court the question whether claims 4-9 of the `698 patent are infringed. Id.

(3) The `349 patent

3. Inequitable Conduct

The Court's determination that HMR/TKT had not proven by clear and convincing evidence that the `933, `080, `349 and `422 patents were unenforceable due to inequitable conduct was affirmed on appeal. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1357-58.

4. Written Description, Definiteness, and Enablement

a. Affirmed

The Federal Circuit affirmed this Court's rulings that the `422, `080, and `349 patents are adequately described and enabled. Id. at 1337. In so ruling, the Federal Circuit explained that this Court "carefully considered these issues, finding in the end that HMR/TKT had not met its clear and convincing burden of proof." Id. Because the Federal Circuit found "no clear error in these factual determinations," and the parties did not allege any legal error, it reasoned that it would "not disturb [this Court's] holding that the asserted patents are not invalid for failure to meet the enablement requirement of § 112 ¶ 1." Id.

As mentioned in an earlier footnote, see note 3, supra, this Court held and the Federal Circuit affirmed that the `933 patent (specifically the claims requiring "glycosylation which differs") was invalid for indefiniteness under section 112.Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. at 156-57. Therefore, the `933 patent is not at issue on remand.

5. Anticipation and Obviousness

a. Affirmed

The Court's ruling that the asserted claims of the `080, `349, and `933 patents are not anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102 by the Sugimoto reference was affirmed by the Federal Circuit. Id. at 1320, 1356. In affirming, however, the Federal Circuit made clear that the Court's determination that Sugimoto was not enabled was an error, though harmless, because the Court put the burden of proving enablement of Sugimoto on HMR/TKT when the burden of proving non-enablement should have been put on Amgen.Id. at 1356.

b. Remanded

The Federal Circuit remanded, however, the Court's findings that Sugimoto does not anticipate claim 1 of the `422 `patent stating that the "district court should consider whether claim 1 of the `422 patent is novel over Sugimoto in light of the court's new definition of `therapeutically effective'" and be "mindful of the principle that source limitations cannot impart novelty to old compositions." Id. at 1356. Additionally, the Federal Circuit remanded this Court's finding that the `422, `080, and `349 patents were not obvious in light of Sugimoto because this Court based its decision, in part, on the fact that it concluded that Sugimoto was not enabled. Id. at 1357. The Federal Circuit explained that under section 103, a reference need not be enabled to qualify as prior art. Id.

In Amgen I, this Court found that the asserted claims of the `080, `422 and `349 patents were not anticipated or rendered obvious by the Goldwasser reference. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d 112-17. The Federal Circuit remanded these findings for further proceedings given that "therapeutically effective" was not construed in accordance with Markman. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1354. As mentioned above, it directed the Court to construe the term and determine whether Goldwasser invalidates any of the asserted patents under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a) or § 103. in light of the Court's construction. Id. at 1354.

D. Procedural and Substantive History Since Amgen II

The Federal Circuit's decision issued on January 6, 2003. This Court received the action on remand on March 13, 2003 [Doc. No. 653], and it held a status conference on April 16, 2003 [Doc. No. 657]. On May 16, 2003, Amgen moved for: (1) judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(c) that claims 2-4 of the `080 patent were infringed under the doctrine of equivalents [Doc. No. 659]; (2) summary judgment of infringement of claims 4-9 of the `698 patent [Doc. No. 663]; (3) judgment pursuant to Rule 52(c) that claim 1 of the `422 patent and claim 4 of the `080 patent are valid [Doc. No. 670]; and (4) judgment pursuant to Rule 52(c) that claims 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of the `349 patent are valid and that claim 7 of the `349 patent is infringed [Doc. No. 674]. HMR/TKT simultaneously moved for: (1) judgment that Amgen is estopped from asserting infringement of the `080 patent pursuant to the doctrine of equivalents [Doc. No. 678]; (2) judgment that claim 1 of the `422 patent is invalid as anticipated [Doc. No. 682]; (3) judgment pursuant to Rule 52(c) that the asserted process claims of the `698 patent and `349 patents are not infringed [Doc. No. 686]; and (4) judgment that the `422, `080, and `349 claims are invalid for obviousness [Doc. No. 690].

The memoranda in support of and in opposition to these motions raised additional issues that are reviewed in this opinion. They are described briefly below.

In its opposition to Amgen's renewed motion for summary judgment of infringement of the `698 patent, HMR/TKT argued, among other things, that Amgen's proposed construction of the words "DNA encoding" found in claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent is incorrect. HMR/TKT's Mem. in Opp'n re `698 [Doc. No. 700] at 7-8. Second, HMR/TKT argued that in claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent, Amgen set forth a step-plus-function claim in referring to the "steps of . . . growing, under suitable nutrient conditions" and that an assessment of whether HMR/TKT infringed this aspect of the claim must focus on a comparison between HMR/TKT's process for growing and the process for growing described by Amgen in the specification. Id. at 9. Finally, HMR/TKT argued that even if there is literal infringement here, it can justifiably invoke the defense of the reverse doctrine of equivalents. Id. at 13.

With regard to claim 7 of the `349 patent, HMR/TKT made four "new" arguments, two of which are very similar to those made in conjunction with the `698 patent. First, HMR/TKT contended that its process does not infringe claim 7 of the `349 patent when considered in light of its proposed claim construction of "DNA encoding." HMR/TKT's Mem. in Support re `698/`349 [Doc. No. 687] at 8-9. Second, HMR/TKT argued that its process does not infringe claim 7 of the `349 patent because claim 7 is a stepplus-function limitation; and, as such, HMR/TKT's process does not literally infringe the "step of culturing" found in claim 7 because it does not involve the culturing procedures set forth in Amgen's specification. Id. at 12-15. Third, HMR/TKT claimed that its process does not infringe the process claim under the reverse doctrine of equivalents. Id. at 15-18. Fourth and lastly, HMR/TKT argued that if the Court construes the term "DNA encoding" as Amgen urges, then the validity of the asserted claim of the `349 patent is called into question. Id. at 12.

Amgen, in response, did not dispute that "DNA encoding" needs to be construed by the Court. See, e.g., Amgen's Reply re `698 [Doc. No. 731] at 6-10. It did, however, assert that HMR/TKT should not be allowed to make its "new" arguments relating to step-plus-function and the reverse doctrine of equivalents given the procedural posture of the case. See, e.g., id. at 10-15.

On July 29, 2003, this Court held a Markman hearing regarding those terms in dispute and in need of construction and considered other pending motions, including motions for summary judgment. At the end of the Markman portion of the hearing, the Court tentatively construed the terms "DNA encoding" and "therapeutically effective," providing two constructions for the latter, one being an alternate. 7/29/03 Hr'g Tr. at 55: 1-56: 23. It then continued to hear argument. At the end of the day, the Court noted that it would determine whether the asserted claims of the `698 and `349 patents were step-plus-function claims at a later date. Id. at 176: 1-10. It then continued the motion hearing to July 31, 2003. Id. at 176: 11-15.

During a hearing two days later, the Court retracted the alternative construction and reiterated its primary "working construction," retaining its right to revise it after a more careful review of the claims, specification, and prosecution history. 7/31/03 Hr'g Tr. at 87: 5-88: 7. Additionally, it ruled that claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent and claim 7 of the `349 patent were not step-plus-function claims pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 112. Id. at 88: 8-89: 9. It then denied Amgen's motion for summary judgment of infringement of the `698 patent, citing Arthur Miller's recent article, The Pretrial Rush to Judgment. Id. at 89: 23-90: 25; see Miller, supra. The Court took everything else under advisement and set the final pretrial conference for September 18, 2003. Id. at 91: 25-92: 2.

On August 5, 2003, the Court entered an order regarding the pending motions. [Doc. No. 740]. It denied HMR/TKT's motions for summary judgment with respect to the validity of the asserted claims of the `422, `080 and `349 patents. Order of 8/5/03 at 1. It denied in part and allowed in part Amgen's motions, under Rule 52(c), for judgment that claim 1 of the `422 patent and claim 4 of the `080 patent are valid and that claims 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of the `349 patent are valid. Id. Because HMR/TKT did not dispute that the `080 and `349 patents are not anticipated by Goldwasser and that the `349 patent is not rendered obvious by Goldwasser, the Court allowed Amgen's motions with respect to these matters.Id. at 1-2. Specifically, the Court held that claim 4 of the `080 patent is not anticipated by Goldwasser and that claims 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of the `349 patent are not anticipated or rendered obvious by Goldwasser. Id. at 2. Because Amgen did not have the opportunity to rebut HMR/TKT's remaining validity arguments concerning the `422, `080, and `349 patents during trial in 2000, the Court stated that Amgen would have that opportunity at the October trial. Id.

On September 18, 2003, the Court held a final pretrial conference. After explaining that this case will not "turn into a patent version of Penelope's robe," in other words, that the Court and the parties were "not going to unravel anything [that the Court has] woven thus far which has not been unraveled by a higher court," the Court made the following findings and rulings. First, it ruled that it would hear and take evidence on the reverse doctrine of equivalents as it related to the `698 patent and that HMR/TKT could address other patent defenses. 9/18/03 Final Pretrial Conf. Tr. at 6: 4-16. Second, it ruled that Amgen had met its burden (outlined in Festo II) of proving that the prosecution history does not estop it from arguing equivalent infringement with regard to the `080 patent and it affirmed its earlier finding that HMR/TKT infringes claims 2-4 of the `080 patent. Id. at 7: 17-8: 5. It explained that it would issue a full opinion at a later date but that it might have to revisit the Festo issue due to the rapidly developing law in that area.Id. at 7: 19-25. The Court then turned to the `349 patent and explained that it would allow Amgen to put on rebuttal evidence as to the matter of obviousness and Sugimoto only and it made clear that the Court would not accept other evidence from HMR/TKT regarding the `349 patent. Id. at 8: 12-19, 16: 5-6 ("As far as evidence goes, `349 is in the can and I'm done with it."). The Court then issued a revised claim construction of "therapeutically effective" based on a more thorough analysis of the claims, specification, and prosecution history. Id. at 9: 3-10: 25. The Court mentioned, however, that this revision may have made the third sentence of the construction unnecessary and, therefore, reserved its right to further consider the proper construction. Id. at 10: 21-25. It directed the parties to try the case based on the construction it had just issued along with a construction that eliminated the third sentence. Id. at 11: 1-5. The pretrial conference was continued until September 24, 2003. Id. at 30: 22-23.

During the further pretrial conference, the Court reviewed the issues to be tried and outlined the procedure for trial and the parameters for the introduction of evidence and expert testimony.See 9/24/03 Final Pretrial Conf. Tr. After the Court provided both parties with an opportunity to be heard on the subject, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(b)(1), the Court appointed Michele D. Beardslee as Special Master, beginning January 1, 2004, to assist the Court in research, analysis, and drafting of the forthcoming opinion. Order re Special Master [Doc. No. 801]; see also 11/07/03 Beardslee Aff. [Doc. No. 799]. The trial on remand was set to commence on October 7, 2003. 9/24/03 Final Pretrial Conf. Tr. at 40: 23.

On October 30, 2003, the Court issued an opinion supporting its ruling that Amgen had successfully rebutted the presumption of prosecution history estoppel as outlined in Festo II and, therefore, was not estopped from asserting equivalent infringement of the `080 patent. Amgen, Inc. v. Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc., 287 F. Supp. 2d 126 (D. Mass. 2003) ("Amgen III").

The remanded trial lasted nine days over the course of four and a half weeks. All the remaining issues — those remanded to the Court from the Federal Circuit and those raised by the parties in the course of this remanded trial — are addressed herein.

III. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION

As expounded in great detail in Amgen I, this Court strongly believes in the importance of construing patent claims without regard to the alleged infringement issues. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 80-81; MediaCom Corp. v. Rates Tech., Inc., 4 F. Supp. 2d 17, 21-24 (D. Mass. 1998); see also Anthony R. Zeuli Rachel Clark Hughey, Avoiding Patent Claim Construction Errors: Determining the Ordinary and Customary Meaning Before Reading the Written Description, Fed. Law., June 2004, at 29. One way to avoid conflating issues of fact and law and to ensure division between the fact finding and law explaining roles in a patent case is to hold the Markman hearing prior to and separate from the summary judgment motion hearing. Although (as mentioned above) this Court held the Markman hearing for the trial on remand on the same day as the summary judgment motions hearing, it kept the hearings independent of one another by separating the hearing into two parts. The first part dealt with claim construction. Then the Court held a recess, issued its preliminary constructions, and moved on to the summary judgment motions hearing.

The Court followed its usual procedure in conducting theMarkman hearing. The Court entertained oral argument from counsel for each party. Counsel referred the Court to the relevant portions of the patent, specification, and prosecution history. Demonstrative exhibits were presented and references were made to certain expert testimony, but extrinsic evidence was not admitted.

At the conclusion of the Markman portion of the hearing the Court interpreted "therapeutically effective" and "DNA encoding" — cautioning that they were "working constructions" — and held off deciding whether the asserted claims of the `349 and `698 patent were step-plus-function claims. The Court then announced during the July 31, 2003 hearing that it did not construe the asserted claims of the `349 and `698 patents as step-plus-function claims. During the pretrial conference on September 18, 2003, after the Court had engaged in a more careful review of the patents, specification, and prosecution history, the Court issued a revised claim construction for "therapeutically effective." The final claim constructions are reproduced and explained below.

A. "Therapeutically Effective"

1. Background

The term "therapeutically effective" is contained in claim 1 of the `422 patent and claim 4 of the `080 patent. As mentioned above, although this phrase was not construed during the first trial, in determining whether prior art anticipated the `422 and `080 patents, the Court interpreted the term to mean an increase in hematocrit:

Such evidence [of e.g., increased erythroid marrow stimulation] should be outweighed by the fact that the actual production of mature red blood cells was not achieved and, as a result, hematocrit levels were unchanged. Because an increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels is the true mark of therapeutic effectiveness, Dr. Goldwasser's study, which revealed only inchoate indicators of red blood cell production, falls far short of anticipating claims requiring a therapeutic amount of human EPO.

The Federal Circuit, in addition to remanding so that the Court could construe the term pursuant to Markman, provided some guidance. It agreed that the "endgame in the treatment of chronically anemic patients is to increase the hematocrit," but pointed out that the term should be construed in light of the specification. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1353. It stated, however, that the "specification appears to teach that results in addition to simply an increase in hematocrit can provide effective therapy." Id. (citing `933 Patent, col. 33: 19-31). It pointed out that Amgen was arguing that one skilled in the art would construe "therapeutically effective" as "increasing and maintaining the patient's hematocrit to normal or near normal levels," but that "the relevant question is not whether one of ordinary skill would so understand the term, but whether that term should be limited based upon the express disclosure in the specification." Id. at 1353-54 (citing CCS Fitness v.Brunswick Corp., 288 F.3d 1359, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2002) ("[A] claim term will not carry its ordinary meaning if the intrinsic evidence shows that the patentee distinguished that term from prior art on the basis of a particular embodiment, expressly disclaimed subject matter, or described a particular embodiment as important to the invention.")). The Federal Circuit stated that it appeared that the term "therapeutically effective" encompassed the list of effects described in the specification and noted that if the Court also held this to be true, then the Goldwasser study may indeed invalidate some of the claims at issue in this case under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a) or § 103. Id. at 1354 ("If the claim term `therapeutically effective' encompasses the patient responses described in the specification, as it appears to us it does, then the Goldwasser study may constitute invalidating prior art under § 102(a) or § 103 even if he did not achieve his intended result.") (emphasis added)). Therefore, it vacated this Court's determination that Goldwasser did not constitute prior art and ordered this Court to construe the term and thereafter determine whether Goldwasser invalidates any of the asserted patents. Id.

2. The Claims at Issue

The actual words of the claims are as follows:

`422 Claim 1 : A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of human erythropoietin and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, adjuvant or carrier, where insaid erythropoietin is purified from mammalian cells grown in culture.

`422 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 36-41 (emphasis added).

`080 Claim 4 : A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an erythropoietin glycoprotein product according to Claim 1, 2, or 3.

`080 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 51-53 (emphasis added).

3. Summary of the Parties' Arguments

Amgen urges adoption of the ordinary meaning of "therapeutically effective" given by those skilled in the art. Amgen's Mem. in Support re `422/`080 [Doc. No. 671] at 7. Specifically, it argues that (1) expert testimony shows that the ordinary meaning of "therapeutically effective" is "sufficient to produce a sustained increase in hematocrit," and that the term requires a therapeutic — not merely biological — effect; (2) the other effects listed in the specification, to which the Federal Circuit referred, are known biological effects of EPO, not the intended therapeutic effects; (3) the specification taken as a whole supports the plain meaning of "therapeutically effective," and that no special meaning was given to the term; (4) the prosecution history shows that Amgen specifically noted that its invention shares the same in vivo biological activity as naturally occurring human EPO, but differentiated its invention from prior art by pointing out that human recombinant EPO (unlike naturally-occurring human EPO) is not a viable, effective human therapeutic product; and (5) the doctrine of claim differentiation requires that this term have a different meaning than the recitation of EPO's biological activities. Id. at 8-17. In its reply memorandum, Amgen also argues that the dictionary definition of the term supports its asserted meaning. Amgen's Reply re `422/`080 [Doc. No. 730] at 5-6.

HMR/TKT, on the other hand, argues that the Federal Circuit made clear that it believed that the term "therapeutically effective" encompasses all of the effects set forth in the specification described. HMR/TKT's Mem. in Opp'n re `422/`080 [Doc. No. 702] at 5. Thus, it argues, the term encompasses those effects observed in the Goldwasser study. Id. at 6. Moreover, it asserts that Amgen is trying to import limitations from the specification to make the claims require an increase in the hematocrit levels when the claims contain no language indicating such a requirement and the specification language itself is actually inconsistent with such a requirement. HMR/TKT points to the same section of the specification as did the Federal Circuit did to make its point:

[T]o the extent that polypeptide products of the invention share the in vivo activity of natural EPO isolates they are conspicuously suitable for use in erythropoietin therapy procedures practiced on mammals, including humans, to develop any or all of the effects herefore attributed in vivo to EPO, e.g., stimulation of reticulocyte response, development of ferrokinetic effects . . . erythrocyte mass changes, stimulation of hemoglobin C syntheses . . . and, as indicated in Example 10, increasing hematocrit levels in mammals.

4. Discussion

While the Federal Circuit indeed mentioned that the term "therapeutically effective" appeared to encompass the biological effects listed within lines 19-31 of column 33, the Court notes that the Federal Circuit did not, in Amgen II, actually construe the term "therapeutically effective." See Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1324 (noting that the Federal Circuit considers claim construction "afresh" on appellate review); Bayer AG v.Biovail Corp., 279 F.3d 1340, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (noting that, notwithstanding its de novo review, "it would be premature for this court to engage in its own claim construction without . . . evidence of the meaning of the terms to one of skill in the art at the time of the invention"). On the contrary, the Federal Circuit remanded that task to this Court. To perform it properly, however, the Court must consider the prosecution history in addition to the claims and the specification — something that the Federal Circuit did not do. See Amgen II, 314 F.2d at 1324 ("To properly construe the claims, a court must examine the claims, the rest of the specification, and if in evidence, the prosecution history."); Vitronics Corp. v.Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996) ("[I]t is well-settled that, in interpreting an asserted claim, the court should look first to the intrinsic evidence of record, i.e., the patent itself, including the claims, the specification and, if in evidence, the prosecution history."); SRI Int'l v.Matsushita Elec. Corp. of Am., 775 F.2d 1107, 1118 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (noting that a claim is construed in light of its language, the specification, and the prosecution history). Moreover, the Court must begin by determining what the plain and ordinary meaning of "therapeutically effective" is in order to determine whether Amgen has become its own lexicographer. Intellectual Prop. Dev., Inc. v. UA-Columbia Cablevision of Westchester, Inc., 336 F.3d 1308, 1315 (Fed. Cir. 2003) ("Consulting the written description and prosecution history as a threshold step in the claim construction process, before any effort is made to discern the ordinary and customary meanings attributed to the words themselves, invites a violation of our precedent counseling against importing limitations into the claims." (quoting Texas Digital Systems, Inc. v. Telegenix, Inc., 308 F.3d 1193, 1204 (Fed. Cir. 2002)) (internal quotation marks omitted)).

a. The Plain and Ordinary Meaning

Generally, it is the plain and ordinary meaning of the words — as defined by one skilled in the relevant art — that governs.Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582; Erik Paul Belt, Federal Circuit Stresses Ordinary Meaning, Nat'l L.J., Sept. 22, 2003, at S1. Amgen argues that the plain and ordinary meaning of the term "therapeutically effective" is "sufficient to produce a sustained increase in hematocrit." HMR/TKT argues, on the other hand, that the plain and ordinary meaning of "therapeutically effective" is not so restricted. Interestingly, HMR/TKT never states what it believes the plain and ordinary meaning of the term to be — it only discusses the meaning of the term with reference to how it believes Amgen has so defined it in the specification and prosecution history.

Amgen, on the other hand, grounds its assertion of the plain and customary meaning of the disputed term upon expert testimony. This, however, is extrinsic evidence to which resort ought be had only "if necessary." Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1583 (quotingHormone Research Foundation, Inc. v. Genentech, Inc., 904 F.2d 1558, 1562 (Fed. Cir. 1990)). Therefore, the Court does not begin by considering this evidence. Instead, it turns first to the dictionary and to technical treatises to decipher the plain and ordinary meaning of "therapeutically effective." See id. at 1584 n. 6 (noting that judges are free to consult technical treatises and dictionaries in order to gain a better understanding of the claims and to interpret them, "so long as the dictionary definition does not contradict any definition found in or ascertained by a reading of the patent documents.").

The dictionary definition of "therapeutic" is "[h]aving healing or curative powers," or "[o]f or relating to the treatment of disease or disorders by remedial agents or methods." The American Heritage Dictionary 1260 (2d college ed. 1985);Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary 1223 (1984), attached as Tab X to Supp. App. [Doc. No. 735] to Amgen's Reply re `422/`080; see also Chamber's Technical Dictionary 844 (3d ed. 1961), attached as Tab W to Supp. App. to Amgen's Reply re `422/`080 ("Of, or pertaining to, the medical treatment of disease: remedial: curative"). The definition of therapeutics is "[t]he medical treatment of disease." The American Heritage Dictionary, supra, at 1260. The dictionary definition of "effective" is "[h]aving an intended or expected effect" or "[p]roducing or designed to produce the desired impression or response." Id. at 439.

Based on these definitions alone, one would surmise that a "therapeutically effective" amount is one that produces healing or curing as it relates to medical treatment of disease. This is, in essence, consistent with the definition that Amgen proposes. See Amgen's Mem. in Support re `422/`080 [Doc. No. 671] at 14 (arguing that the ordinary meaning is an amount sufficient to "cure or relieve a disease state" and "require[s] a meaningful benefit to the health of patients"). Amgen, however, goes further, asserting that the plain and ordinary meaning of "therapeutically effective amount," to one skilled in the art, taken in the context of this patent, is an amount that provides more than the biological effects of EPO and "produce[s] a sustained increase in hematocrit," because only this result provides a meaningful benefit to the health of patients suffering from anemia. Id. at 7-8, 14. Neither the claims, the specification, nor the prosecution history, however, demonstrate clearly that the plain and ordinary meaning of the term to one skilled in the art involves an increase in hematocrit. Therefore, the Court begins with the assumption that the plain and ordinary meaning of "therapeutically effective amount" is one in line with that found in the dictionaries and treatises noted above — i.e., one that heals or cures as it relates to medical treatment of disease.

The next step is to look to the claims, specification, and prosecution history to see if Amgen redefined the term in the file wrapper. In addition, the Court will look to these sources to determine whether the file wrapper indicates clearly the types of patients for which this product is "therapeutically effective" and thus infuses the term with real meaning. Indeed, this is the elephant in the room. Without tackling this question, the term "therapeutically effective" or "therapeutically effective amount" is vague and meaningless. The public must know upon reading the patent what disease state is cured or healed by the product. As the Federal Circuit pointed out, "indiscriminate reliance on definitions found in dictionaries can often produce absurd results. . . . One need not arbitrarily pick and choose from the various accepted definitions of a word to decide which meaning was intended. . . . The subject matter, the context, etc., will more often than not lead to the correct conclusion." Renishaw PLC v. Marposs Societa' per Azioni, 158 F.3d 1243, 1250 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (quoting Liebscher v.Boothroyd, 258 F.2d 948 C.C.P.A. 1958)) (first alteration in original). Thus, the Court, in addition to determining whether Amgen has expanded or confined the meaning of the disputed term, will look to the file wrapper to clarify this ambiguity.

b. The Claims

"The name of the game is the claim." Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 80 (quoting Giles S. Rich, Extent of Protection and Interpretation of Claims — American Perspectives, 21 Int'l Rev. Indus. Prop. Copyright L. 497, 499 (1990)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Thus, the first step in claim construction is to look to the plain and ordinary meaning of the words of the patent claim to determine the meaning of a term. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582; Bell Communications Research, Inc. v. Vitalink Communications Corp., 55 F.3d 615, 619-20 (Fed. Cir. 1995);Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1248 ("[T]he claim construction inquiry, therefore, begins and ends in all cases with the actual words of the claim. . . . [T]he resulting claim interpretation must, in the end, accord with the words chosen by the patentee to stake out the boundary of the claimed property.").

Do the claims redefine the plain and ordinary meaning of the terms used? Amgen asserts that the claims do not support HMR/TKT's argument that it has redefined the term to include the biological effects of EPO. Amgen asserts that because claim terms are construed to give each term meaning,Lantech, Inc. v. Keip Mach. Co., 32 F.3d 542, 546 (Fed. Cir. 1994), the patent claims themselves distinguish between biological and therapeutic effects. Amgen's Reply re `422/`080 at 10. To make its point, it refers to claims 4 and 2 of the `080 patent.

`080 Claim 4 : A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an erythropoietin glycoprotein product according to claim 1, 2, or 3.

`080 Claim 2 : An isolated erythropoietin glycoprotein having the in vivo biological activity of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells, wherein said erythropoietin glycoprotein comprises the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6 and is not isolated from human urine.

Amgen asserts that under the doctrine of claim differentiation, claim 4 of the `080 patent must not include any or all of the effects listed in the specification because otherwise claim 4 would be identical to that of claim 2. Specifically, it points out that claim 4 of the `080 patent requires "[a] pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount" of EPO according to claim 1, 2, or 3. Amgen's Mem. re `422/`080 at 15-16. It then asserts that the claim 2 requires the "in vivo biological activity of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells." Therefore, if "therapeutically effective" included the effects listed in the specification to which the Federal Circuit pointed, Amgen argues, it would include the in vivo biological activity cited by claims 1, 2, or 3 of the `080 patent and render claim 4 of the `080 patent superfluous. Id. at 16.

As HMR/TKT urges, however, this argument is flawed because claim 4 concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising a "therapeutically effective amount" of an EPO that happens to have the qualities described in claim 2. HMR/TKT's Opp's re `422/`080 at 22. HMR/TKT correctly points out that claim 2 recites an isolated EPO glycoprotein and therefore refers to biological effects whereas claim 4 recites a pharmaceutical composition and involves therapeutic effects. Id. at 21-22. Hence, claim 2 would not be rendered superfluous if this Court construed "therapeutically effective" to include the biological effects listed in the specification. Id. at 22.

Another equally flawed argument is that claim 4, by encompassing claim 2 (in referring to a "therapeutically effective" amount of the product claimed in claim 2), indicates that a "therapeutically effective amount" is one that does more than cause the in vivo biological activities described in claim 2. After a careful review of the technology and its history, it is clear that this is not a correct reading of the claims. This review relied on extrinsic evidence, as is permissible under Federal Circuit precedent. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1584 (noting that a court may resort to extrinsic evidence and expert testimony to help it understand the technology); Altiris, Inc. v. Symantex Corp., 318 F.3d 1363, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2003) ("In this regard, the expert testimony serves the permissible purposes of aiding our understanding of the technology and in helping us view the patent through the eyes of the skilled artisan.").

Before Amgen's invention, human EPO was known to elicit certain biological effects, but it was impossible to extract an efficient amount of it for use in treatment of patients with anemias and other low red blood cell disorders. Amgen invented a product, recombinant EPO, that had the same in vivo biological effects as natural EPO but differed in its carbohydrate composition and was capable of manufacture in quantities large enough to provide effective treatment.

With this understanding of the technology, it is clear that claims 2 and 4 of the `080 patent, by themselves, do not define "therapeutically effective" beyond its plain and ordinary meaning, nor do they indicate that a "therapeutically effective amount" of EPO is one that does more than elicit the biological effects noted in claim 2. Instead, claim 2 stakes out Amgen's novel recombinant EPO that has the same in vivo biological activities of natural EPO (causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells). Claim 4 sets out a pharmaceutical composition that has a novel amount of the EPO — an amount that can actually treat or cure patients. Notably, these claims do not indicate whether biological effects are themselves sufficient to treat or cure patients.

Similarly, the claims of the `422 patent do not define a "therapeutically effective amount" as one that does something above and beyond eliciting the biological effects of EPO listed in the specification.

The next question is whether the claims themselves indicate for what types of patients this product is "therapeutically effective." Amgen contends that its EPO is specifically designed for those suffering from anemias and thus only an increase in hematocrit is "therapeutically effective." Indeed, the record shows that Amgen's product can be used to increase levels of hematocrit, in other words, it can be used to "cure" or "relieve" the diseased state brought on by anemia. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 99 ("The therapeutic effectiveness or benefit of an erythropoietin preparation is shown by demonstrating a correction in anemia by increasing and maintaining the hematocrit of a patient to normal or near normal levels."). Dr. Erslev testified at the first trial that a sustained increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin is required to determine whether or not anemia has been corrected. Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1688: 14-1689: 4; Means Test., Trial Tr. at 1905: 17-20; 1910: 9-13. Dr. Erslev also testified that the other effects listed in the specification such as an increase in reticulocyte count or an increase in iron uptake cannot — each standing alone — correct anemia. Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1688: 14-1689: 4.

The problem with Amgen's argument, however, is that the claims that contain the disputed term do not themselves include a limitation directed to the specific clinical benefit of correcting anemia. Therefore, the plain and ordinary meaning of "therapeutically effective" cannot be limited to curing anemia, i.e., producing an increase in hematocrit levels based on the claims alone. The claim language simply does not allow for such a specific interpretation. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that claim 6 of the `080 patent (unlike claim 4) does indeed specify the type of treatment (kidney dialysis) for which the EPO should be used and calls out, in that context, that an effective amount is one that increases hematocrit:

`080 Claim 6 : A method for treating a kidney dialysis patient which comprises administering a pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 in an amount effective to increase the hematocrit level of said patient.

`080 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 57-60. Had Amgen used similar claim language in claim 4 — that is, had it referred specifically to anemia — then its argument would have merit. Based on the nonspecific language of claim 4, however, this argument fails.

In sum, the claim language supports only the plain and ordinary definition of "therapeutically effective" — an amount that produces a result that, in and of itself, helps to heal or cure. The language of the claims at issue does not delineate the type of disease for which the EPO is "therapeutically effective." Therefore, the Court must now turn to the specification and the prosecution history to determine whether Amgen has limited or altered the plain meaning of the term either by defining the term or specifying the disease states for which the product is intended.

c. The Specification

The second step in claim construction is to review the specification to determine whether the patentee has used terms in a manner inconsistent with the ordinary meaning or has become his own lexicographer. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582. In essence, "[t]he specification acts as a dictionary when it expressly defines terms used in the claims or when it defines terms by implication." Id. (noting that the specification is "the single best guide to the meaning of a disputed term"). The Federal Circuit has stated that "a claim must be read in view of the specification of which it is part," and therefore, a court can use the written description to define a term that is already in a claim limitation. Renishaw, 158 F. 3d at 1248; SciMed Life Sys., v. Advanced Cardiovascular Sys., 242 F.3d 1337, 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (noting that claims can be given a narrow construction in light of the written description and explaining that one reason to look to the specification is "to determine if the patentee has limited the scope of the claims" (quotingWatts v. XL Systems, Inc., 232 F.3d 877, 882 (Fed. Cir. 2000))).

The part of the specification to which the Federal Circuit inAgmen II pointed is as follows:

Similarly, to the extent that polypeptide products of the invention share the in vivo activity of natural EPO isolates they are conspicuously suitable for use in erythropoietin therapy procedures practiced on mammals, including humans, to develop any or all of the effects herefore attributed in vivo to EPO, e.g., stimulation of reticulocyte response, development of ferrokinetic effects (such as plasma iron turnover effects and marrow transit time effects), erythrocyte mass changes, stimulation of hemoglobin C synthesis (see, Eschbach, et al., supra) and, as indicated in Example 10, increasing hematocrit levels in mammals.

`933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 33: 19-31 (emphases added).

The Court begins by analyzing whether this section defines therapeutically effective to include the effects listed above. It is undisputed that this section declares that Amgen's recombinant EPO is similar to natural EPO in that it shares some of the same in vivo activity. Id. at col. 33: 19-22. "[T]o the extent" that it does so — to the extent that it is similar to natural EPO — Amgen's EPO are "conspicuously suitable for use in erythropoeitin therapy procedures" to develop any or all of the effects that were "herefore" (before) attributed in vivo to EPO, such as the stimulation of reticulocyte response, development of ferrokinectic effects, erythrocyte mass changes, and stimulation of hemoglobin C synthesis. What is unclear and disputed, however, is whether the section that begins with "and, as indicated in Example 10, increasing hematocrit levels in mammals" is part of the laundry list of effects previously attributed in vivo to EPO or a separate suitable use for the product. In other words, this portion of the specification can be interpreted one of the following two ways:

1) Amgen's EPO is "conspicuously suitable for use in erythropoietin therapy procedures practiced on mammals, including humans, to develop any or all of the effects herefore attributed in vivo to EPO, e.g., stimulation of reticulocyte response, . . . and, as indicated in Example 10, increasing hematocrit levels in mammals."

2) Amgen's EPO is "conspicuously suitable for" (a) "use in erythropoietin therapy procedures practiced on mammals, including humans, to develop any or all of the effects herefore attributed in vivo to EPO, e.g., stimulation of reticulocyte response, . . ." and, (b) "as indicated in Example 10, increasing hematocrit levels in mammals."

The former interpretation — a direct quote of the specification — suggests that an increase in hematocrit level was an effect previously attributed to natural EPO and that it, along with the biological effects, are a type of effective therapy. In other words, it includes "increasing the hematocrit levels" as one of the many effects of EPO that were previously identified and that are now produced by this product and useful in "erythropoietintherapy procedures." The problem with this reading is that the intrinsic evidence (the claims, the specification, and the prosecution history) and extrinsic evidence suggest that an increase in hematocrit levels was not previously attributed to natural EPO. In remarks following an amendment made during prosecution of the `080 patent, Amgen explained to the Patent and Trademark Office ("PTO") that Example 10 is novel in that it is the first therapeutic procedure ever practiced with EPO to demonstrate that EPO has the capacity to generate an increase in hematocrit in vivo. Amgen's `422/`080 App., Tab G (Ex. 2), at Tab 6, at 179. The extrinsic record also suggests that an increase in hematocrit was not previously attributed to natural EPO. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1583 ("Included within an analysis of the file history may be an examination of the prior art cited therein."). Therefore, the first reading implies a factually incorrect conclusion.

The latter interpretation — and the one that the Court adopts — suggests that an increase in hematocrit is independent or different from the in vivo effects previously attributed to natural EPO. In other words, in this section, Amgen calls out that its recombinant EPO can elicit "any or all" of the effects that natural EPO does — and more. Admittedly, the use of the words "therapy procedures" supports the interpretation that a "therapeutically effective amount" encompasses an amount that would result in the biological effects because it implies that the effects are a part of therapy. That being said, however, the way in which the increase in hematocrit is set off from the rest of the language suggests that this product elicits something in addition to what the prior art elicited, something more than the biological effects. Moreover, it makes clear that "any or all" only modifies those effects previously attributed to natural EPO — not the increase in hematocrit. Indeed, if the phrase "as indicated in Example 10, increasing hematocrit levels in mammals" were merely an item in the list of "any or all of the effects herefore attributed in vivo to EPO," then the words "in mammals" would be redundant. The list of items refers to "effects herefore attributed in vivo to EPO" for "use in erythropoietin therapy procedures practiced on mammals", so "increasing hematocrit levels in mammals" must be a second end for which Amgen's EPO is "conspicuously suitable."

This interpretation comports with the Court's understanding — developed over the course of two intensive trials — of what hematocrit actually measures. Hematocrit measures the ability of the blood to supply oxygen to the body. It indicates the relative proportion of red blood cells to the total volume of blood. By introducing additional EPO into the patient's body, a patient's hematocrit level can be increased to and sustained at or near normal levels. In other words, the blood is able to provide a steady supply of sufficient oxygen to the tissues. It is the Court's understanding that, in most cases, an increase in hematocrit is accompanied, if not preceded, by "any or all" of the biological effects listed in the specification. In other words, this portion of the specification explains what happens when a "therapeutically effective amount" of EPO is used — that is, it produces an increase in hematocrit — along with any or all of the biological affects previously attributed to natural EPO. As will be discussed below, this reading is further supported by other parts of the specification and the prosecution history.

Therefore, while this Court agrees with the Federal Circuit that therapeutic effectiveness "encompasses the patient responses described in the specification," this part of the specification does not indicate that these biological responses are sufficient or that Amgen "broadened" the plain meaning of the term "therapeutically effective" to encompass the elicitation of biological effects alone regardless of whether they heal or cure. Indeed, the term "therapeutically effective" is never even mentioned in this section of the specification. While guidance as to a claim term's meaning or a claim's scope need not be provided in explicit definitional format, SciMed Life Systems, 242 F.3d at 1344, to alter the plain and customary meaning of a term that is not ambiguous on its face, a patentee must do so clearly and deliberately. Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1249 (noting that when a patent applicant "has elected to be a lexicographer by providing an explicit definition in the specification for a claim term[,] . . . the definition selected by the patent applicant controls" as long as the patentee's lexicography is made "`with reasonable clarity, deliberateness, and precision'" (quoting In re Paulsen, 30 F.3d 1475, 1480 (Fed. Cir. 1994)));Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582; Altiris, 318 F.3d at 1370. Here, there is no "manifest exclusion or restriction, representing a clear disavowal of claim scope."Teleflex, Inc. v. Ficosa N. Am. Corp., 299 F.3d 1313, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2002). Thus, this portion of the specification does not redefine the plain and ordinary meaning of the term to include the biological effects regardless of whether they heal or cure. Likewise, this portion of the specification does not limit the term to an increase in hematocrit. While it makes clear that its product is useful because it can increase hematocrit, it does not redefine the term in question to equate only with an increase in hematocrit (or relate only to curing anemia).

Amgen points to a few other portions of the specification in support of its argument that while it did not alter the meaning of "therapeutically effective" to include the biological effects, it did limit the claimed therapy to patients suffering from anemia and anemia-like disorders and likewise limited the claim to an increase in hematocrit.

The first such passage is the one immediately following the portion of the specification cited by the Federal Circuit:

Included within the class of humans treatable with products of the invention are patients generally requiring blood transfusion and including trauma victims, surgical patients, renal disease patients including dialysis patients, and patients with a variety of blood composition affecting disorders, such as hemophilia, sickle cell disease, physiologic anemias, and the like.

`933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 33: 31-36 (emphasis added). As HMR/TKT correctly points out, this list of patients is obviously incomplete as it begins with the words "included within," which suggests that there are other types of patients for which the product is intended. HMR/TKT's Post-Hr'g Mem. [Doc. No. 747] at 4. While this is true, it still provides insight into the type of patients who may receive a therapeutic benefit from the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Therefore, while the specification does not actively limit the term to this class of patients, it provides guidance to the Court in defining the term. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582; Teleflex, Inc., 299 F.3d at 1325 ("The specification may assist in resolving ambiguity where the ordinary and customary meaning of the words used in the claims lack sufficient clarity to permit the scope of the claim to be ascertained from the words alone."). By listing the types of patients responding to treatment by the product, the specification implies that the term "therapeutically effective" amount was written with respect to these types or classes of patients. "The specification acts as a dictionary when it expressly defines terms used in the claims or when it defines terms by implication." Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582 (emphasis added). It does not, however, indicate that this invention is only for the treatment of anemia but instead for all the ailments listed. While this may not be an exhaustive list and patients with similar or like disorders might also benefit from the product, this list begins to infuse "therapeutically effective amount" with real meaning.

Other portions of the specification support interpreting the claims with reference to the class of patients listed in the specification. For example, the specification states: "The minimization of the need for transfusion therapy through use of EPO therapy can be expected to result in reduced transmission of infectious agents." `933 Patent, Ex. 1., col. 33: 37-39. While this is only one example of how the product is useful or advantageous, it falls within the class of patients listed in the specification.

Other pertinent sections are as follows:

It has recently been estimated that the availability of erythropoietin in quantity would allow for treatment each year of anemias of 1,600,000 persons in the United States alone.

. . . clinical testing and potential wide-ranging therapeutic use of [Lin's recombinant EPO] in treatment of e.g., chronic kidney disease wherein diseased tissues fail to sustain production of erythropoietin.

Also comprehended by the invention are pharmaceutical compositions comprising effective amounts of polypeptide products of the invention together with suitable diluents, adjuvants and/or carriers which allow for provision of erythropoietin therapy, especially in the treatment of anemic disease states and most especially such anemic states as attend chronic renal failure.

Because erythropoietin is essential in the process of red blood cell formation, the hormone has potential useful application in both the diagnosis and the treatment of blood disorders characterized by low or defective red blood cell production.

Amgen also points to column 6, lines 28-33 of the `933 patent, which cites a study done by Eschbach:

See, generally, . . . Eschbach, et al[.] . . . describing a therapeutic regimen for uremic sheep based on in vivo response to erythropoietin-rich plasma infusions and proposing a dosage of 10 U EPO/kg per day for 15-40 days as corrective of anemia of the type associated with chronic renal failure.

That Amgen intended its invention to treat anemic patients is clear from these sections (along with the prosecution history, as will be discussed below) and is pertinent to the analysis.Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1250 (noting that what the "inventors actually invented and intended to envelop with the claim" is relevant in claim construction); CVI/Beta Ventures v. Tura LP, 112 F.3d 1146, 1160 (Fed. Cir. 1997) ("In construing claims, the problem the inventor was attempting to solve, as discerned from the specification and the prosecution history, is a relevant consideration."). None of these sections, however, shows that Amgen intentionally re-defined the plain meaning of the term "therapeutically effective" to refer exclusively to anemia or to an increase in hematocrit.

While these sections do not suggest that the product is solely intended for anemic patients and to increase hematocrit, they do imply, in combination, that it is designed for the class of patients listed in column 33 and noted above. That being said, it seems to stretch the doctrine of claim construction too far to incorporate into the plain and ordinary meaning a reference to a class of patients that at best is only implied in the specification. Northern Telecom Ltd. v. Samsung Elecs. Co., 215 F.3d 1281, 1294 (Fed. Cir. 2000); KX Indus., L.P. v. PUR Water Purification Prods., 18 Fed. Appx. 871, 876 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 10, 2001) (unpublished opinion) ("[W]hat is determinative is whether the patentee has defined a claim term as excluding a broader interpretation with reasonable clarity and deliberateness."). On the other hand, it seems foolish to construe a term such as "therapeutically effective," without reference to a class of patients for which the product is intended to be "therapeutically effective." This quandary, however, is put to rest by the prosecution history. When the specification is considered along with the prosecution history, it becomes apparent that a class-of-patients limitation is appropriate.

d. The Prosecution History

The third step in claim construction is to consider the prosecution history to determine whether the applicant has made any express representations regarding the claim's scope.Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582-83; Standard Oil Co. v. American Cyanamid Co., 774 F.2d 448, 452 (Fed. Cir. 1985) ("[A]ll express representations made by or on behalf of the applicant to the examiner to induce a patent grant . . . [can] limit the interpretation of claims."); Alpex Computer Corp. v. Nintendo Co. Ltd., 102 F.3d 1214, 1220 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (noting that prosecution history is "relevant . . . for construing the meaning and scope of the claims").

The amendments made early on in pursuance of the patents support HMR/TKT's contention that Amgen defined a "therapeutically effective amount" of EPO to encompass an amount sufficient to elicit any or all of the biological effects that were attributed to natural EPO.

On December 5, 1988, in response to a rejection under 35 U.S.C. §§ 112, 102(b) and 103 of what eventually became the `080 patent, Amgen submitted independent claim 41 and dependent claims 55-57 and 61-66. The pertinent amendments are claim 41 (which relates to claim 2 of the `080 patent), claim 55 (which relates to claim 4 of the `080 patent), claim 57 (which relates to claim 6 of the `080 patent), and claim 56 (because it is referenced in claim 57).

Claim 41: A glycoprotein product having a primary structural conformation and glycosylation sufficiently duplicative of that of a naturally occurring human erythropoietin to allow possession of the in vivo biological property of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells and having an average carbohydrate composition which differs from that of naturally occurring human erythropoietin.

Claim 55: A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a glycoprotein product according to claim 41 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, adjuvant or carrier.

Claim 56: A method for providing erythropoietin therapy to a mammal comprising administering an effective amount of a glycoprotein product according to claim 41.

Claim 57: A method according to claim 56 wherein the therapy comprises enhancing hematocrit levels.

Amgen's `422/`080 App., Tab G (Ex. 2), at Tab 6, at 174-75.

These claims make clear that Amgen's product purposefully duplicates natural EPO in that it elicits the in vivo biological activity of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells, but that it differs from natural EPO in its carbohydrate composition. These claims also make clear that claim 55 (similar to claim 4 in the `080 patent) is not limited to increasing hematocrit because that is precisely what claim 57 does (and what claim 6 in the `080 patent now does). In the remarks accompanying the amendment, Amgen twice explained that its product produces the same in vivo biological activity as that of natural EPO:

Applicant's novel glycoprotein preparations . . . hav[e] the glycosylation-requiring in vivo biological activity (promoting reticulocyte and red blood cell production) characteristics of naturally occurring human erythropoietin.

Amgen's `422/`080 App., Tab G (Ex. 2), at Tab 6, at 175.

[T]he glycoprotein products herein claimed . . . possess the essential in vivo biological activity of naturally occurring erythropoietin.

Taken in combination, the amendments and these remarks support the interpretation that Amgen intended "therapeutically effective amounts" of EPO to encompass an amount that elicited in patients any or all of the biological effects previously attributed to natural EPO and that it did not limit the term to an increase in hematocrit. Such an effect is separately claimed in claim 6 (here claim 57).

Were this the entire prosecution history, the Court would agree with HMR/TKT and the Federal Circuit that Amgen broadened the term to mean one that elicits any or all of the in vivo effects before attributed to natural EPO regardless of whether they actually heal or cure the patient. In the course of overcoming two additional rejections later on in the process, however, Amgen differentiated its product from natural EPO (i.e., it overcame rejection) by asserting that natural EPO — which elicits the biological effects — was not therapeutically viable, whereas its product was clinically effective and designed specifically for a class of patients for which the product was intended. In doing so, Amgen avowed that its invention produced enough quantity of EPO to elicit responses that actually healed or cured the patient. Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1249 n. 3 ("[A]ny interpretation that is provided or disavowed in the prosecution history also shapes the claim scope."); Standard Oil Co., 774 F.2d at 452 ("[T]he prosecution history (or file wrapper) limits the interpretation of claims so as to exclude any interpretation that may have been disclaimed or disavowed during prosecution in order to obtain claim allowance.").

For example, in a June 5, 1989 amendment, in response to a PTO rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for obviousness, Amgen distinguished its recombinant EPO product from natural EPO by claiming natural EPO was "not a viable therapeutic product" whereas its recombinant EPO was "clinically effective" and the "first therapeutic product" successfully to treat anemia and other disorders involving low red blood cell counts:

All of the references cited by the Examiner in this rejection relate to naturally occurring erythropoietin. The claims of the subject invention relate to erythropoeitin which is produced through recombinant DNA techniques. Recombinant erythropoietin is different from naturally occurring erythropoietin . . . Moreover, naturally occurring human erythropoietin is not a viable human therapeutic product; human recombinant erythropoietin, on the other hand, has been proven to be clinically effective, and is the first therapeutic product which can be used to effectively treat the hundreds of thousands of patients who suffer from anemia and other disorders involving low red blood cell counts.

Amgen's `422/`080 App., Tab G (Ex. 2), at Tab 11, at 227 (emphasis omitted). Amgen further explained that "[i]n contrast to recombinant erythropoietin, naturally occurring human erythropoietin is not used to treat patients. In the past, efforts were made to obtain purified erythropoietin from natural sources. . . . The results of these efforts however yielded only a small amount of material which was far too little for clinical research." Id. at 229. As the FDA stated in its approval of recombinant EPO "there is not enough naturally occurring enthropoetin produced to collect it from healthy persons for use in treatment," but "gene splicing techniques have permitted its production." Id. Thus, in response to this rejection, Amgen differentiated its EPO from natural EPO in two respects. First, Amgen claimed its invention allowed for a sufficient amount of EPO actually to treat patients — as opposed to natural EPO which was not available in large enough quantities. Second, it claimed its EPO, as opposed to prior art, effectively treated patients suffering from anemia or other disorders involving low red blood cell count. This was a clear and definitive statement about what the invention "envelopes."Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1250 (noting that a term can only be properly interpreted "with a full understanding of what the inventors actually invented and intended to envelop with the claim" and that the correct construction is that which "stays true to the claim language and most naturally aligns with the patent's description of the invention"). Here, the prosecution history makes clear that Amgen intended its invention to be clinically effective at least for the class of patients suffering from anemia and low red blood cell disorders. See Standard Oil Co., 774 F.2d at 452 ("[A]ll express representations made by or on behalf of the applicant to the examiner to induce a patent grant or . . . to reissue a patent . . . [can] limit the interpretation of claims."); Spectrum Int'l Inc. v. Sterilite Corp., 164 F.3d 1372, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 1998) ("[E]xplicit statements made by a patent applicant during prosecution to distinguish a claimed invention over prior art may serve to narrow the scope of the claim."). Amgen was trying to cure anemia and other diseases associated with low red blood cell count — not simply to duplicate the effects of natural EPO regardless of whether those effects cured or healed. CVI/Beta Ventures, 112 F.3d at 1160 ("In construing claims, the problem the inventor was attempting to solve, as discerned from the specification and the prosecution history, is a relevant consideration.").

That Amgen intended its invention to provide a meaningful health benefit to the list of patients expressly mentioned in the specification is supported by another portion of the prosecution history. On November 6, 1990, Amgen claimed the following in an application that eventually resulted in the `422 patent:

Claim 61: An erythropoietin-containing, pharmaceutically-acceptable composition wherein human serum albumin is mixed with erythropoietin.

Claim 62: A composition according to claim 61 containing a therapeutically effective amount of erythropoietin.

Claim 63: A composition according to claim 61 containing a therapeutically effective amount of recombinant erythropoietin.

HMR/TKT's App. to Opp'n [Doc. No. 705], Tab 2 (Ex. 2003, 11/6/90 Preliminary Amendment) at 9. The examiner rejected claims 62 and 63 as "being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which [the] applicant regard[ed] as the invention." Id. (Ex. 2003, 6/1/94 Examiner's Action) at 2. Claim 62 was rejected for being "vague and indefinite because it is unclear what the claimed composition is required to be `effective' for," and claim 63 was rejected as "vague and indefinite because it is unclear as to how the recitation that the claimed erythropoietin is `recombinant' modifies the physical erythropoietin composition[;] . . . while the claimed erythropoietin may be prepared using recombinant techniques, the product would not necessarily distinguish over that found in nature." Id. In essence, then, the examiner rejected Amgen's patent because it did not specify for what type of patients the product was intended to be "therapeutically effective" and it did not distinguish how the recombinant EPO was different than natural EPO besides its preparation. In other words, it did not differentiate what recombinant EPO provided to patients that natural EPO did not.

Amgen requested reconsideration, stating that the terms "effective" and "recombinant" are, "in view of the extensive disclosure of the specification," well-defined and understood by a person of skilled in the art. Id. (Ex. 2003, 12/1/94 Request for Reconsideration) at 1. Amgen argued that "the specification indicates several potential therapeutic uses for the claimed invention." Id. at 2 (emphasis added). It then quoted the exact portion of the specification to which the Federal Circuit had pointed, where the in vivo effects along with the effect of an increase in hematocrit levels are mentioned. Id. Importantly, however, Amgen also quoted the following sections regarding the class of humans treatable with products:

Similarly, to the extent that polypeptide products of the invention share the in vivo activity of natural EPO isolates they are conspicuously suitable for use in erythropoietin therapy procedures practiced on mammals, including humans, to develop any or all of the effects heretofore attributed in vivo to EPO e.g., stimulation of reticulocyte response, development of ferrokinetic effects (such as plasma iron turnover effects and marrow transit time effects), erythrocyte mass changes, stimulation of hemoglobin C synthesis (see, Eschbach, et al[.], supra) and[,] as indicated in Example 10, increasing hematocrit levels in mammals. Included within the class of humans treatable with products of the invention are patients generally requiring blood transfusions and including trauma victims, surgical patients, renal disease patients including dialysis patients, and patients with a variety of blood composition affecting disorders, such as hemophilia, sickle cell disease, physiologic anemias[,] and the like.

these sentences from the specification and others provide a clear and definite description of the uses for which the claimed erythropoietin compositions would be therapeutically effective. A person of skill in the art would understand that the amount of erythropoeitin necessary to achieve these defined therapeutic results would vary for each use. However, clinicians can readily determine the "therapeutically effective" amounts for each condition, and indeed for each patient.

The question then is what are the "uses" to which Amgen refers. At first blush, it may appear that the "therapeutic uses" are the effects listed in the specification. A close reading of the remarks, however, makes clear that the words "uses" and "use" refer to treatment of the conditions listed in the specification — not to eliciting the effects. If this were not the case, the following sentence would not make sense: "A person of skill in the art would understand that the amount of erythropoeitin necessary to achieve these defined therapeutic results would vary for each use." Id. (emphasis added). Amgen overcame a rejection of indefiniteness, in part by claiming that its product was specifically designed to treat patients suffering from the types of disease listed in the specification. Such a clear avowal — when considered alone or along with the other parts of the prosecution history and specification — would estop Amgen now were it to try to claim that its product was "therapeutically effective" in treating patients with high red blood cell counts. Alpex Computer Corp., 102 F.3d at 1221 ("Just as prosecution history estoppel may act to estop an equivalence argument under the doctrine of equivalents, positions taken before the PTO may bar an inconsistent position on claim construction."); Ekchian v. Home Depot, Inc., 104 F.3d 1299, 1304 (Fed. Cir. 1997) ("[B]y distinguishing the claimed invention over the prior art, an applicant is indicating what the claims do not cover, [and] he is by implication surrendering such protection."). Here we have prosecution history estoppel in reverse — that is, Amgen wants this Court to constrain the meaning of the term to this class of patients. This does not change the effect the Court must give Amgen's clear and definite statements. Thus, the Court holds that Amgen limited the term in dispute to refer to the class of patients listed in the specification and quoted to the examiner. Telefex, 299 F.3d at 1327 (noting that a term can be limited or extended by the specification or prosecution history as long as the patenteeclearly intended to do so); Altiris, 318 F.3d at 1370 (same).

The trickier question, however, is whether these remarks define the disputed term to include the in vivo effects of EPOregardless of whether they heal or cure this class of patients. While it is a close call, the Court does not so read these remarks. Admittedly, all of the effects — the in vivo effects and an increase in hematocrit — are labeled together as "therapeutic results." What is not made clear, however, is whether "therapeutic results" equates with "therapeutically effective." While there is support for reading the terms as coextensive, there is also support for viewing them differently. Amgen specifically differentiates between an amount that achieves therapeutic results and a "therapeutically effective amount:"

A person of skill in the art would understand that the amount of erythropoeitin necessary to achieve these defined therapeutic results would vary for each use. However, clinicians can readily determine the "therapeutically effective" amounts for each condition, and indeed for each patient.

HMR/TKT's App. to Opp'n, Tab 2 (Ex. 2003, 12/1/94 Request for Reconsideration), at 2 (emphasis added). These two sentences indicate that a different amount of EPO is used to achieve each of the effects listed in the specification — including the in vivo effects — depending on the condition and needs of the patient, but that a clinician can determine the amount that would be "therapeutically effective." Thus, when read together, these sentences indicate that (1) the biological effects listed in the specification are part of the "therapy" but not necessarily "therapeutically effective," i.e., they do not necessarily heal or cure the patient, and (2) the amount necessary for therapeutic effectiveness — an amount that heals or cures — depends on the types of patients to which the recombinant EPO is being administered.

Because these remarks do not clearly disavow the ordinary and customary meaning of the disputed term and can actually be interpreted to support the ordinary and customary meaning of the disputed term, the Court does not construe "therapeutically effective" to encompass any or all of the biological effects regardless of whether they work to heal or cure. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1327 ("We indulge a heavy presumption that a claim term carries its ordinary and customary meaning . . . [P]rosecution history may not be used to infer the intentional narrowing of a claim absent the applicant's clear disavowal of claim coverage."); see KX Industries, L.P. v.PUR Water Purification Prod., 18 Fed. Appx. 871, 876 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (unpublished opinion); see also Northern Telecom Ltd. v. Samsung Elec. Co., Ltd, 215 F.3d 1281, 1294-95 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (analyzing whether the patentee in the prosecution history "with reasonable clarity and deliberateness" excluded a broader interpretation of the claims). In further support of this conclusion is the fact that the examiner allowed the claims to stand. As the Federal Circuit pointed out in a slightly different context in Amgen II, "[w]e must presume the examiner did his job, and if he truly thought that" Amgen's EPO was the same as natural EPO in that it merely elicited the biological effects, "the asserted claims would not have issued." 314 F.3d at 1327.

5. Conclusion and Claim Construction of "Therapeutically Effective"

The Federal Circuit has stated that "any interpretation [of a patent claim term] that is provided or disavowed in the prosecution history shapes the claim scope." Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1243 n. 3; see Digital Biometrics, Inc. v. Identix, Inc., 149 F.3d 1335, 1347 (Fed. Cir. 1998) ("The public has a right to rely on such definitive statements made during prosecution.");Ekchian, 104 F.3d at 1303-04 (noting that the courts and the public may rely on an information disclosure statement to interpret a claim). Here, to overcome a patent rejection for indefiniteness, Amgen avowed that its invention was "therapeutically effective" for the class of patients listed in column 33 of the specification. Therefore, the Court rules that "therapeutically effective" must be read with reference to this class of patients despite the fact that the specification uses the words "included within." Amgen did not, however, go so far as to limit the list of patients to those suffering from anemia only or refine the term to mean an increase in hematocrit. Nor did Amgen clearly redefine the term "therapeutically effective amount" to mean an amount that induces the effects heretofore attributed to natural EPO regardless of whether they work to heal or cure the patient. To the contrary, Amgen repeatedly states in the prosecution history and in the specification that recombinant EPO's novelty is that it can actually effectively treat, that is heal or cure, patients. While "the inventor's subjective intent as to claim scope, when unexpressed in the patent documents, [should not] have any effect," Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1584 (emphasis added), the correct construction is that which "stays true to the claim language and most naturally aligns with the patent's description of the invention," Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1243. Throughout the prosecution history, Amgen repeatedly describes the invention as one that heals patients suffering from low red blood cell counts — something that could not be done before. While the prosecution history and specification indicate a clear intent to define "therapeutically effective amount" as one that elicits "one or more" of the in vivo effects of natural EPO, they do not define the in vivo effects as necessarily being "therapeutically effective." In other words, they do not define these effects as being "therapeutically effective" regardless of whether they heal or cure. Instead, the plain and ordinary meaning of the term "therapeutically effective amount" was refined to (1) require (in addition to healing or curing) an elicitation of one or more of the in vivo effects that was attributed to natural EPO and (2) be read in the context of a certain class of patients. Thus, the Court's claim construction is as follows:

A therapeutically effective amount is a quantity that produces a result that in and of itself helps to heal or cure. A therapeutically effective amount is one that elicits in vivo biological activity of natural EPO such as those listed in the specification, column 33, lines 24 through 28: stimulation of reticulocyte response, development of ferrokinetic effects (such as plasma iron turnover effects and marrow transit time effects), erythrocyte mass changes, stimulation of hemoglobin C synthesis (see, Eschbach, et al., supra) and, as indicated in Example 10, increasing hematocrit levels in mammals.

Therapeutically effective is to be interpreted as being therapeutically effective with respect to the class of patients listed in the specification, column 33 lines 31 through 36: patients generally requiring blood transfusions and including trauma victims, surgical patients, renal disease patients including dialysis patients, and patients with a variety of blood composition affecting disorders, such as hemophilia, sickle cell disease, physiologic anemias, and the like.

As will be discussed further below, in deciding whether the Goldwasser reference anticipates Amgen's patents, this construction leaves the Court with a very fact-intensive task: determining which, if any, of the effects listed in the specification actually heal or cure the class of patients referred to therein.

B. "DNA Encoding"

1. Background

At the close of Amgen's case-in-chief during the first trial, this Court granted HMR/TKT's Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(c) motions for judgment of non-infringement of claims 4-9 of Amgen's `698 process patent. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 99-101. On appeal, the Federal Circuit vacated and remanded this Court's rulings regarding infringement of the `698 patent because the Court had compared the accused device to the preferred or commercial embodiments of the patent instead of to the properly construed claims themselves. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1347.

In the memoranda in support and in opposition to each party's motions regarding infringement of the `698 patent, the parties argued different interpretations of the term "DNA encoding" found in claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent. Thus, the Court concluded that the term is in dispute and needed to be construed in order properly to determine the issue of literal infringement.

2. The Claims at Issue

Claim 4 of the `698 Patent :

A process for the production of a glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide having the in vivo biological property of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells comprising the steps of: (a) growing, under suitable nutrient conditions, vertebrate cells comprising promoter DNA, other than human erythropoietin promoter DNA, operatively linked to DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6; and (b) isolating said glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide expressed by said cells.

`698 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 37-47 (emphasis added) (paragraph structure altered).

Claim 6 of the `698 Patent :

A process for the production of a glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide having the in vivo biological property of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells comprising the steps of: (a) growing under suitable nutrient conditions, vertebrate cells comprising amplified DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6; and (b) isolating said glycoslated erythropoietin polypeptide expressed by said cells.

3. Summary of the Parties' Arguments

HMR/TKT's proposed claim construction rests on the argument that the word "encoding" means "producing." HMR/TKT's Mem. in Opp'n re `698 [Doc. No. 700] at 8. HMR/TKT argues that the phrase at issue in Amgen's `698 patent means that the DNA actually produces a glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide having a 166 amino acid sequence. Id. In other words, HMR/TKT argues that section (a) of claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent should be construed to require the production of an EPO protein with 166 amino acids. Id. at 1; HMR/TKT's Reply re `698 [Doc. No. 725] at 3.

Amgen agrees that the term "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG 6" refers to a fully processed EPO glycoprotein having a 166 amino acid sequence. Amgen argues, however, that section (a) of the disputed claims refers to the DNA that encodes the fully processed EPO glycoprotein — not to the EPO glycoprotein itself. In other words, Amgen argues that the disputed claims refer to the type of DNA that is involved and describe that DNA as one that has a certain sequence, the genetic code, for the amino acid sequence spanning +1 through +166 of Figure 6. Amgen's Reply re `698 [Doc. No. 731] at 6. Amgen asserts that the proper construction of the claim language is "a DNA sequence that contains the genetic code for the amino acid sequence spanning from position +1 through position +166 of Figure 6." Amgen's Reply re `698 at 6. Amgen contends that a process can contain DNA that encodes the full 166 amino acids but result in an end-product that does not have the full 166 amino acid sequence. Thus, according to Amgen, this portion of the disputed claims refers to a type of DNA and to what that DNAencodes — not the end-protein that is ultimately produced.

4. Discussion

It is true that the Court construed the "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6," as stated in both the `080 and `698 patent, to mean a mature (fully realized) erythropoietin having 166 amino acids. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 100. HMR/TKT's argument that "DNA encoding . . . [the] amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" means that the DNA actually must produce an EPO with a 166 amino acid sequence, however, stretches this construction too far.

The Court notes that HMR/TKT supports its definition of "encoding" primarily with extrinsic evidence — evidence to which resort ought be had only "if necessary." Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1583. As will be discussed below, use of extrinsic evidence here is not appropriate in construing these terms because "the patent documents, taken as a whole," are sufficient "to enable the court to construe [the] disputed claim terms." Id. Moreover, even if it were necessary, and thus appropriate, for this Court to consider extrinsic evidence as to the meaning of the word "encoding," HMR/TKT's arguments would still fail. HMR/TKT misinterprets the extrinsic evidence to which it points from the first trial. Dr. Kingston did indeed state that "the protein that is encoded is the protein that is actually produced," Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1390-91, but this does not define "DNA encoding" as referring directly and exclusively to the specific product that is actually produced. Instead, what this language requires is DNA that is capable of encoding the final product — not DNA that produces the final product. HMR/TKT's interpretation of Dr. Lodish's testimony is also faulty. In the trial transcript pages to which HMR/TKT referred, Dr. Lodish never states that "encoding" means "producing," nor does Dr. Lodish define the fragment in question. He does indeed explain the end of the process as one that produces the same EPO glycoprotein. Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 156-60. But this is the same point. Amgen's argument, and it is a sound one, is that this part of the claim is not describing the last step of the process, but an interim step — one that requires a DNA with a certain type of sequence or encoding capability.

Furthermore, the extrinsic evidence adduced during the second trial shows that "DNA encoding" in these claims does not mean that the end product must be produced. Dr. Lodish testified that those of skill in the art at the time would understand the plain meaning of the disputed term to mean "a DNA which when copied into RNA, and if necessary spliced, specifies the order of amino acids that are the mature erythropoietin amino-acid sequence depicted in Figure 6 of the patent." Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1054: 17-22, 1058: 10, 1059: 1-3 (explaining that genes have two parts, one of which involves the "coding sequence, the piece of DNA that actually specifies the amino acids in the encoded product" and stating that it is this part that is the subject of the claim, "that is, it is an issue of DNA encoding specifying an amino-acid sequence as determined by the genetic code"); id. at 1059: 16-21 (stating that "DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" refers to "the DNA sequences that encode all of the amino acids from +1 to +166 of the EPO sequence"); id. at 1063: 17-19 (explaining that "DNA encoding" refers to DNA in the cell, not to "the polypeptide that is ultimately secreted by the cell. It's a statement of the coding capacity of the DNA in the cell"); id. at 1055: 13-18 ("It simply refers to a sequence of DNA which has the capability of encoding, which encodes, a particular protein. It is not a statement about a protein that the cell actually makes or secretes."). Indeed, even Dr. Kingston, HMR/TKT's expert, admitted that one way the word "encoding" "could be used very precisely is to describe a very, very precise small bit of the gene, and that is the codons." Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 163: 2-16. Further, consistent with Dr. Lodish's testimony, Dr. Kingston stated that the phrase "DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" means "DNA that provides the instruction to make th[e] protein which would be the sequences" found in Figure 6 and depicted as the codons encoding amino acids +1 through +166. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 135: 2-142: 7 (circling the entire sequence of Figure 6); Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1059: 22-1060: 25 (same).

Again, however, none of this evidence is necessary to the Court's construction because an examination of the plain and ordinary meaning of the words, the claims themselves, and the specification demonstrates that HMR/TKT's asserted construction is off base. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582; SRI Int'l, 775 F.2d at 1118; Autogiro, 384 F.2d at 397.

a. The Plain and Ordinary Meaning

The plain and ordinary meaning of "encode" is to "convert from one system of communication to another" and "to convert (a message) into code." Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary 1990. This implies that "DNA encoding" is DNA that converts one type of message or text into another type of message and that it provides information to the cell.

b. The Claims

The claim language supports the plain and ordinary meaning of the term. The claim language establishes that "DNA encoding" refers to DNA that contains a certain sequence in the cells. Both claims 4 and 6 describe processes for producing a glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide. The sentences in section (a) of the disputed claims do not, as HMR/TKT argues, require the production of the end-product of the claimed processes — an EPO polypeptide with 166 amino acids. To the contrary, the claims clearly distinguish between the cells grown in step (a) (which comprise "DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of Figure 6") and the EPO glycoprotein itself that is isolated in step (b). Here, the "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" modifies "DNA encoding" in the cells grown in step (a) — not the "glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide" isolated in step (b). Therefore, based on the claim language and the ordinary meaning of the words, it appears that the sentences containing the disputed phrase mean, in conjunction, that the DNA must provide or contain the code or instructions for the "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6."

The claims do not, however, imply that a protein with the "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" must at the end of the process be produced. This point becomes clear when comparing these claims to that of the `080 patent. The `698 claims recite a "DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6." as opposed to the claims of the `080 patent that specifically recite an EPO glycoprotein that "comprises the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6." `080 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 42-43.

In a nutshell, HMR/TKT's construction conflates the concept of DNA that encodes for a protein with requiring the production of a specific protein and in so doing ignores how proteins are actually produced. The DNA encodes the protein. It provides the instruction set used by the cell to synthesize a polypeptide that is later processed to its final form. DNA encoding a specific amino acid sequence, however, does not necessarily determine the final length of the polypeptide produced by the cell. The testimony adduced at trial regarding the 166th arginine makes this clear. Dr. Lodish explained that "as long as that DNA encodes the mature erythropoietin — mature EPO sequence, it matters not at all how many other amino acids might be there. Whatever it is, as long as it encodes that sequence, it's fine." Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 248: 23-249: 1.

HMR/TKT counterargues that it is the protein that is produced by the cell that determines what instructions were actually present in the cell and used in the process, that is, that erroneous instructions are not really instructions at all. See, e.g., 7/28/03 Hr'g Tr. at 52: 1-9 (explaining that "there's no proof one way or another as to what the intermediary is," and "the only proof that there is in this case is as to the end product").

The Court, however, is not persuaded. The evidence adduced at the first trial overwhelmingly suggested that although the DNA encodes for a 166 amino acid sequence, ultimately, the cell cleaves off the last amino acid residue prior to secretion of the final protein, EPO that has a 165 amino acid sequence. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 86, 101; Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 347: 16-18, 348: 3-9; 7/28/03 Hr'g Tr. at 52: 1-9. As Amgen's counsel explained at the Markman hearing, "DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" is DNA containing codons for amino acids 1-166 of FIG. 6. These instructions will be used by the cell to produce a 165 amino acid erythropoietin. 7/28/03 Hr'g Tr. at 44: 11-47: 11. Thus, DNA can encode or provide the genetic instructions for a protein that when ultimately secreted has a structure different from the one that the instructions dictate. That some of these instructions are not in the end "used" does not erase the fact that the DNA contained the information in the first place.

Moreover, as Amgen argues, HMR/TKT's construction makes the claims illogical. With HMR/TKT's construction, the claimed processes would require the use of a cell containing "a promoter DNA operatively linked to an EPO protein" or "an amplified EPO protein." Amgen's Mem. In Opp'n re `698 [Doc. No. 717] at 6-7. As asserted by Amgen and undisputed by HMR/TKT, this does not make sense.

In sum, any argument based on the claims that the words "producing" or "that produces" should be inserted in lieu of "encoding" fails along with HMR/TKT's argument that "encoding" refers to the EPO protein itself.

c. The Specification

Like the claims, the specification supports the plain and ordinary meaning of the word "DNA encoding." It demonstrates that one skilled in the art at the time would have defined "encoding" as providing genetic instructions, that is, the sequence.

At the Markman hearing, HMR/TKT pointed to columns 11 and 13 in the specification to support its argument that DNA encoding means producing or that the protein is actually produced. 7/28/03 Hr'g Tr. at 51: 6-11. Those sections state that:

The isolation of the desired cDNA clones containing EPO encoding DNA was accomplished through the use of DNA/DNA colony hybridization.

`933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 13: 64-66.

Specifically comprehended in part (b) are genomic DNA sequences encoding allelic variant forms of monkey and human erythropoietin and/or encoding other mammalian species of erythropoietin. Specifically comprehended by part (c) are manufactured DNA sequences encoding EPO, EPO fragments and EPO analogs which DNA sequences may incorporate codons facilitating translation of messenger RNA in non-vertebrate hosts.

`933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 11: 54-61.

As this Court pointed out during the hearing, however, neither of these sections equates "encoding" with producing. 7/28/03 Hr'g Tr. at 51: 12-15. Likewise, neither shows a clear and deliberate attempt by the patentee to become its own lexicographer. See Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1249; Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582;Altiris, 318 F.3d at 1370; Teleflex, 299 F.3d at 1326. Each can be read consistently with the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by one skilled in the art, that is, inserting "providing the genetic instructions for" in lieu of "encoding." In fact, the section to which HMR/TKT points in column 11 works against its argument that "DNA encoding" means DNA producing the actual protein because it refers to DNA sequences encoding EPO and EPO fragments. Under HMR/TKT's construction, this section would require EPO fragments actually to be produced instead of requiring that the DNA have the genetic instructions for, that is, provide the codons or genetic sequence for, EPO fragments.

5. Conclusion and Claim Construction of "DNA Encoding"

Accordingly, the Court construed "DNA encoding" to mean "the genetic instructions for." 7/28/03 Hr'g Tr. at 56: 18-23. TKT/HMR, however, did not give up. As a last-ditch effort to win on literal infringement — which is what claim construction is really all about — HMR/TKT argued at the second trial via Dr. Kingston's testimony that "genetic instructions for," the Court's construction of DNA encoding, could mean either the codons for the amino acids plus 1 to 166 of Figure 6 of the patent, or alternatively, all the instructions to make the mature protein including the regulatory sequences. Kingston, R. Trial Tr. at 161-163. Dr. Kingston explained that a scientist could use the term differently depending on the context. Id. To be clear, in this context, the Court interprets the claim to be referring to the coding sequence, the piece of DNA that actually specifies the amino acid sequence — not the regulatory sequences that determine when and under what conditions the cells copy the gene into RNA. This interpretation is supported by the claims themselves, which refer to DNA that encodes — provides the genetic instructions for — "the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6." Figure 6 indeed depicts, among other things, the deduced amino acid sequence that is arrived at by reading the codons of the DNA encoding the protein. Importantly, HMR/TKT points to no support in the prosecution history for its argument on this point. Thus, the Court interprets the claims to require the use of cells containing DNA that provides the genetic instructions, the codons, for a 166 amino acid sequence.

C. Are Claims 4 and 6 of the `698 Patent Step-Plus-Function Claims?

1. Background and Summary of The Parties' Arguments

Whether Amgen, in referring to the "step of . . . growing under suitable nutrient conditions" in claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent, was making step-plus-function claims is an issue raised for the first time by HMR/TKT in its Memorandum in Opposition to Amgen's Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment of infringement of claims 4-9 of the `698 patent. HMR/TKT's Mem. In Opp'n re `698 [Doc. No. 700] at 9. Paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C. § 112, which sets forth the notion of step-plus-function and means-plus-function, "obligates this court to interpret each functional element in a combination claim by reference to the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and their equivalents." Seal-Flex, Inc. v. Athletic Track and Court Const., 172 F.3d 836, 843 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (emphasis added);O.I. Corp. v. Tekmar Co., Inc., 115 F.3d 1576, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1997). In other words, if this section applies, the Court must limit its infringement analysis to a comparison of the type of "growing" claimed in the specification to the type of growing utilized by HMR/TKT.

Ironically, this is exactly what the Court did — in error — in the first go-round. In Amgen I, the Court based its holding of non-infringement of the `698 patent on a comparison of HMR/TKT's process to the processes outlined in the patent specification. This was error because the Court had never ruled that the relevant claims qualified as a step-plus-function claims. HMR/TKT now presses the Court to address the issue and so to rule.

The wrinkle here is whether the Court now can address this issue — that is, whether the Court can or should permit HMR/TKT to raise the argument at this stage. After all, in 2000, the Court issued a sanction order against HMR/TKT limiting it to the contentions specifically described in its responses to interrogatories. Amgen's Mem. in Opp'n re `698 `349 [Doc. No. 717] at 4; Amgen's App. to Mem. in Opp'n re `698 `349 [Doc. No. 719], Ex. A (1/28/00 Order Granting Sanction). HMR/TKT never identified its step-plus-function theory in its responses to Amgen's contention interrogatories as a basis for noninfringement of the `698 patent. Amgen's App. to Mem. in Opp'n re `698 `349, Tab C (12/7/99 HMR/TKT's Supplemental Answers and Objections to Amgen's Interrog. Nos. 2, 3, and 9) at 5-7, 17. Moreover, HMR/TKT never stated that this aspect of the `698 patent (i.e., whether it included a step-plus-function claim) needed to be resolved through a Markman hearing. Amgen asserts that the Court should therefore not allow this argument, and, at a minimum, the Court should afford Amgen the opportunity to present evidence directed to this new step-plus-function argument. Id. at 4-5. Moreover, Amgen argues that even if the Court allows such an argument, it lacks merit because "growing" is an "act," not a "function."

2. Discussion

a. Should the Court Allow HMR/TKT to Make Its Step-Plus-Function Argument?

Whether the language of a claim is in step-plus-function format is a question of claim construction. See, e.g., Kemco Sales, Inc. v. Control Papers Co., Inc., 208 F.3d 1352, 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2000) ("Whether the language of a claim is to be interpreted according to 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6, i.e., whether a claim limitation is in means-plus-function [or step-plus function] format, is a matter of claim construction and is thus a question of law, reviewed de novo."); Personalized Media Communications, LLC v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 161 F.3d 696, 702 (Fed Cir. 1998) ("An infringement analysis entails two steps. . . . The first step, claim construction, is a question of law which we review de novo. . . . The second step is factual. . . . Whether certain claim language invokes 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 is an exercise in claim construction and is therefore a question of law." (citations and internal quotation marks omitted)). Generally, on appeal, a party cannot proffer a new claim construction that changes its scope, but it can present additional arguments in support of a previously proposed construction. See, e.g., CCS Fitness, Inc. v. Brunswick Corp., 288 F.3d 1359, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2002). The rationale is that the parties deserve notice and an opportunity to develop the record and, at the same time, the appellate court needs to have a properly reviewable record on an issue raised on appeal.Interactive Gift Exp., Inc. v. Compuserve, Inc., 256 F.3d 1323, 1346-46 (Fed. Cir. 2001); cf. Finnigan Corp. v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 180 F.3d 1354, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 1999). Thus, a relevant inquiry in determining whether a new claim construction can be pressed is "whether the trial court and the party claiming waiver had fair notice and an opportunity to address the issue concerning the scope of a claim limitation." CCS Fitness, 288 F.3d at 1371.

The situation here is unusual. First, this is not a new claim construction argument raised on appeal but instead a new claim construction argument raised on remand to the trial court. Second, counsel for Amgen — the party now seeking to have the issue deemed waived — acknowledged the possible applicability of the step-plus-function doctrine to the Court. On June 9, 2000, after the Court made its finding of non-infringement of the `698 patent, Amgen queried whether the Court was construing the `698 process claims as "means plus function" claims. Trial Tr. at 1308-1309. The Court replied as follows:

I don't mean to be elliptical. That is my analogy. That's right. . . . Now I think you've missed on the `698 patent. I think that because I do think you have to spell out a means-plus-function. And I have read this patent with great care and I've reflected on it throughout the testimony of all the witnesses. I don't see either by equivalent or by literal infringement.

Trial Tr. at 1309-1310. Thus, the Court referred to the meansplus-function doctrine in relation to the `698 patent but, as noted earlier, did not definitively rule that the asserted claims were in means or step-plus-function format nor even mention stepplus-function in the opinion despite applying the infringement analysis required when a claim is in step-plus-function format.

Although the situation is not straightforward, it is clear that Amgen was on notice of the issue but did not get an opportunity to argue it. Given the procedural posture of the case with respect to the `698 patent specifically, Amgen was fully afforded the opportunity during the remand trial to address the issue, which substantially reduces any prejudice to it.

Indeed, the Federal Circuit has suggested that it is appropriate to consider whether a claim is in means-plus-function or step-plus-function format even when one party has essentially waived the issue. Rodime PLC v. Seagate Technology, Inc., 174 F.3d 1294 (Fed. Cir. 1999). In that case, the parties contested at trial whether the plaintiff's claim was in means-plus-function format, with the plaintiff arguing that it was not. Id. at 1302. The district court ruled that the claim was in means-plusfunction format. Id. The plaintiff appealed, but did not press that particular issue and thus apparently conceded that the claim was in means-plus function format. Id. The Federal Circuit nonetheless assessed de novo whether the claim was indeed in means-plus-function format, explaining that:

[The plaintiff's] concession . . . does not relieve this court of its responsibility to interpret the claims as a matter of law. To interpret the claims, this court must decide the subsidiary question of whether the claim element disputed by the parties invokes § 112, ¶ 6 in the first instance. . . . Only by undertaking this inquiry can this court ensure consistency in statutory application. Moreover, this court's claim interpretation affects entities beyond the parties to this case. Therefore, this court examines the district court's decision that this claim falls under § 112, ¶ 6.

Similarly, in this case, whether this portion of the `698 patent is in step-plus-function format determines the entire analytic framework for analyzing whether HMR/TKT's process infringes this part of the patent. To make this assessment, therefore, this Court needs to determine which analytic framework is implicated. The Court can either make this decision on the merits or can simply decide that the regular infringement framework must be used because HMR/TKT waived its argument that the step-plus-function framework should be used. The problem with the latter approach is that, if the step-plus function framework is truly the applicable one, and the Court nonetheless declines to use it on grounds of waiver, the Court will essentially be applying the wrong law to this aspect of the claim. This, in turn, undermines consistency in statutory application.

For these prudential reasons, this Court analyses whether claims 4 and 6 of the patent are step-plus-function claims. It does so in the course of construing the claims because, as noted above, whether the language of a claim is in step-plus-function format is a question of claim construction. See, e.g., Kemco Sales, Inc., 208 F.3d at 1360; Personalized Media Communications, LLC, 161 F.3d at 702.

b. Are Claims 4 and 6 of the `698 Patent Step-Plus-Function Claims?

This is a close question, but, on balance, claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent do not qualify as step-plus-function claims. Five reasons support this conclusion.

First — although this is not dispositive — the words "steps of" are used in the claim. Such a grammatical structure indicates that this is not a step-plus-function claim, because the phrase "steps of" colloquially signals the introduction of specific acts, rather than functions. See Seal-Flex, 172 F.3d at 850 ("[T]he . . . phrase `steps of' tend[s] to show that § 112, ¶ 6 does not govern that limitation. Accordingly, this court has similarly denied step-plus-function treatment to method claims which use the conventional `steps of' language."); see also O.I. Corp., 115 F.3d at 1582-83; Serrano v. Telular Corp., 111 F.3d 1578, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Similarly, Amgen did not use the phrase that typically signals the introduction of a step-plusfunction limitation: "step for." See Seal-Flex, 173 F.3d at 849 (Rader, J., concurring); Masco Corp. v. United States, 303 F.3d 1316, 1326-27 (Fed. Cir. 2002). Accordingly, there is a presumption that section 112, paragraph 6 does not apply, that is, that this is not a step-plus-function claim. Generation II Orthotics Inc. v. Med. Tech. Inc., 263 F.3d 1356, 1368 (Fed. Cir. 2001).

Second, upon examination, the claim element "growing" appears to recite a specific act for performing an ultimate function, that is, it appears to explain how the function is accomplished, rather than reciting the ultimate function itself. This is a key distinction. As Judge Rader explained in his concurrence inSeal-Flex, "the `underlying function' of a method claim element corresponds to what that element ultimately accomplishes in relationship to what the other elements of the claim and the claim as a whole accomplish. `Acts,' on the other hand, correspond to how the function is accomplished." Seal-Flex, 172 F.3d at 849-50. Here the "what" that is ultimately accomplished is the production of glycosylated erythropoietin, and the "how" is "growing [vertebrate cells] under suitable conditions." The dictionary definition of "growing" supports the interpretation that this is an act. Masco, 303 F.3d at 1327 (looking to a mechanical engineering dictionary and a regular unabridged dictionary to determine whether "transmitting" is an act); Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1584 (noting that judges are free to consult technical treatises and dictionaries "so long as the dictionary definition does not contradict any definition found in or ascertained by a reading of the patent documents"). Here, the dictionary definitions of growing are "to increase in size by a natural process" or "to develop and reach maturity." The American Heritage Dictionary, supra, at 579. These definitions support that growing is an act. Moreover, they do not contradict the meaning of "growing" that may be inferred from the prosecution history, and HMR/TKT does not argue that Amgen defined the term to have anything other than its plain and customary meaning.

Third, HMR/TKT does not even attempt to explain, much less show, how Amgen's language — "growing under suitable nutrient conditions" — fails to describe an act. "[W]here a method claim does not contain the term `step[s] for,' a limitation of that claim cannot be construed as a step-plus-function limitationwithout a showing that the limitation contains no act."Masco, 303 F.3d at 1327 (emphasis added). To the contrary, HMR/TKT makes only a half-hearted assertion — in a footnote in a memorandum in opposition — that these claims are in step-plus-function format. Indeed, the footnote merely states that the argument HMR/TKT made with reference to claim 7 of the `349 patent can be applied to claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent. HMR/TKT's Mem. In Opp'n re `698 at 9 n. **. HMR/TKT does not dispute Amgen's evidence, but simply claims that "growing" is not an act. HMR/TKT contradicts itself, however, as it implicitly refers to "growing" as an act in the Corrected Joint Pretrial Memorandum when it admits that HMR 4396 is produced by "growing, under suitable nutrient conditions R223 cells." Amgen's App. to Mot. for Judgment re `349 [Doc. No. 676], Tab M (4/26/00 Corrected Joint Pretrial Mem.) ¶ 25. This implies that "growing . . ." is not in step-plus-function format. If "growing" was a function and needed further explanation, arguably HMR/TKT would not have admitted to such a statement in the Joint Pretrial Memorandum — at least not without further explanation. HMR/TKT cannot merely assert that there is "no act" contained in this part of the claim without producing some evidence that there is not, i.e., that growing is not an act. Celotex Corp. v.Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)) (stating that the non-moving party must "go beyond the pleadings, and by [its] own affidavits, or by the `depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,' designate `specific facts showing there is a material issue for trial'");Seal-Flex, 172 F.3d at 849-50 (noting that step-plus-function applies only when the "limitation contains nothing that can be construed as an act").

Fourth, the Federal Circuit has made clear that "claiming a step by itself, or even a series of steps, does not implicate section 112, ¶ 6," and that courts must be

careful not to extend the language of this provision to situations not contemplated by Congress. If we were to construe every process claim containing steps described by an "ing" verb, such as passing, heating, reacting, transferring, etc. into a step-plus-function limitation, we would be limiting process claims in a manner never intended by Congress.

As a final matter, the Federal Circuit's silence as to whether these claims are step-plus-function claims may be indicative. True, the Federal Circuit probably may not even have considered the possibility. Alternatively, however, the Federal Circuit may have considered the step-plus-function possibility but rejected it as without merit. This latter interpretation of the Federal Court's silence is supported by the Federal Circuit's statement that this Court's analysis (comparing HMR/TKT's process to the specification) was "legally unsupportable." Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1350-51. If the analysis was "legally supportable" by, for example, a finding that the claim was in step-plus-function format, the Federal Circuit certainly could have reached in and decided the issue itself, see Rodime, 174 F.3d at 1294. While it is true that in Rodime, the issue had been squarely before the district court and thus apparent to the Federal Circuit, here the issue was flagged by the way this Court erroneously conducted its infringement analysis. To anyone familiar with patent law, step-plus-function would have come to mind upon reading the Court's infringement analysis which limited Amgen's processes to those outlined in the specification. That the Federal Circuit failed to address the issue may, therefore, be significant. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 93 F.3d 1572, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996) ("We must affirm the decision of the district court if it is supported by any ground properly preserved on appeal.");Datascope Corp. v. SMEC Inc., 879 F.2d 820, 822 n. 1 (Fed. Cir. 1989) ("Appellees always have the right to assert alternative grounds for affirming the judgment that are supported by the record.").

3. Conclusion and Claim Construction

Though it is a close question, this Court rules that claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent, in referring to the "steps of: (a)growing under suitable nutrient conditions . . .," are not step-plus-function claims and that the regular infringement framework should therefore apply.

D. Is Claim 7 of the `349 Patent a Step-Plus-Function Claim?

1. Background

Amgen's `349 patent contains six product claims (claims 1-6) and one process claim (claim 7). `349 Patent, Ex. 1. This Court held, and the Federal Circuit affirmed, that HMR/TKT's HMR 4396 literally infringes the product claims of the `349 patent. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1352, 1358. Based on a comparison between the accused product and the preferred embodiment, this Court held that HMR/TKT did not literally or equivalently infringe the process claim, claim 7. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 122. The Federal Circuit, as it did with the Court's holding of infringement of the `698 patent, vacated this ruling and remanded it so that the Court could analyze infringement by comparing the accused process to the properly construed claims themselves.Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1351, 1347, 1313. Therefore, the remaining issue regarding this patent is whether HMR/TKT's HMR 4396 infringes claim 7.

2. The Claim at Issue

Claim 7 of the `349 Patent:

A process for producing erythropoietin comprising the step of culturing, under suitable nutrient conditions, vertebrate cells according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

`349 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 34-36.

3. Summary of the Parties' Arguments

HMR/TKT, in an effort to establish non-infringement of claim 7, has argued, as it did with claims 4 and 6 of the `698 patent, that claim 7 is a step-plus-function claim and that 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 therefore applies. As such, it contends that its product does not literally infringe the "step of culturing" because HMR/TKT's process does not involve the culturing procedures set forth in Amgen's specification. HMR/TKT's Mem. in Supp. [Doc. No. 687] at 12-13. As with the `698 patent, Amgen argues, as a preliminary matter, that HMR/TKT is improperly basing its motion under Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(c) on new arguments and defenses, given the previous orders of this Court and Amgen's lack of opportunity to address these issues. Amgen's Mem. In Opp'n re `698 `349 [Doc. No. 717] at 3-5. Furthermore, Amgen points out, the procedural context here is different than it was with the `698 patent, as this Court heard the entirety of both parties' arguments and evidence concerning `349 claims 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Lastly, Amgen argues, for the same reasons that it did regarding the `698 patent, that claim 7 is not a step-plus-function claim. Id. at 11-14.

4. Discussion

a. Should the Court Allow HMR/TKT to Make Its Step-Plus-Function Argument?

Here, there is the same wrinkle that there was with the step-plus-function argument respecting the `698 patent: should the Court permit HMR/TKT to raise this argument at this late stage in the game? There are two differences, however, that make the wrinkle, in the context of this patent, harder to iron out. First, the Court did not remark on the record, as it did with the `698 patent, that it was making a means-plus-function analogy in ruling on the `349 patent claims. Second, HMR/TKT has already presented its case of non-infringement regarding all the claims of the `349 patent.

Neither of these differences, however, prevents the Court from allowing HMR/TKT to make this argument at this point. The fact that the Court did not make a means-plus analogy to this patent is easily overcome since the Court, in Amgen I, explained that it found non-infringement of claim 7 of the `349 patent for the same reasons as it did the `698 patent. Thus, the parties were on notice that any analysis regarding the process claims of the `698 patent would necessarily apply to the `349 patent. The procedural landscape ought not prevent the Court from construing whether this is a step-plus-function claim. If it is such a claim, the Court ought not conduct its infringement analysis as though it were not. This claim is here on remand and ths Court must construe it in accordance with the law. Thus, the Court reaches the same conclusion as it did with the `698 patent, that is, that it can and should address HMR/TKT's step-plus-function argument.

b. Is Claim 7 of the `349 Patent a Step-Plus-Function Claim?

The determination of whether claim 7 of the `349 patent is a step-plus-function claim must be made in the same way as any other determination regarding claim construction. As such, the Court must principally rely on intrinsic evidence and refer to extrinsic evidence only if necessary, with the exception that a dictionary or treatise — which qualifies as extrinsic evidence — can be consulted freely as long as it does not contradict the patent language.

The Court's assessment of whether "culturing" is a function rather than an act, such that the step-plus-function framework applies, tracks the analysis provided above with respect to the whether "growing" is a function rather than an act in the `698 patent. Just as the Court ruled that growing is an act, it rules that culturing is an act, and claim 7, therefore, does not state a step-plus-function limitation.

Like the asserted claims of the `698 patent, claim 7 contains the phrase "step of," rather than the phrase "step for." Accordingly, there is a presumption that section 112, paragraph 6 does not apply — that this is not a step-plus-function.Generation II Orthotics Inc., 263 F.3d at 1368; Seal-Flex, 173 F. 3d at 849 (Rader, J., concurring); Masco, 303 F.3d at 1326-27.

HMR/TKT argues that "culturing" is the claimed function of claim 7. HMR/TKT's Mem. in Supp. re `698 `349 [Doc. No. 687] at 13. Specifically, it claims that the "what" is "culturing." In other words, HMR/TKT argues that "culturing" is "what" the claim ultimately accomplishes, and nothing else in the claim describes "how" the culturing is accomplished. HMR/TKT's Reply Mem. re `698 `349 [Doc. No. 725] at 9. While at first blush this argument makes sense, the Federal Circuit, in Masco, interpreted Judge Rader's formulation as requiring analysis of "what th[e] limitations ultimately accomplish in relation to what the other limitations and each claim as a whole accomplish." Masco, 303 F.3d 1316. Although there are no words in claim 7 that state the function, as Judge Rader explained in Seal-Flex, "the function of that element may nonetheless be discernible from the context of the overall claim and the disclosure in the specification." Seal-Flex, 172 F.3d at 850. Here, the claim states in its preamble that it is "a process for producing erythropoietin" suggesting that there is a larger, ultimate function and that "culturing" is merely one act that achieves it. While the "recitation of the overall function of the claim in the preamble does not suffice to convert each element into an act for performing that function so as to preclude application of section 112, paragraph 6," Seal-Flex, 172 F.3d at 850, language in other claims of the patent lends further support to the Court's conclusion that "culturing" is an act. Here, claim 7 itself refers to, inter alia, product claims 1 and 4. Claims 1 and 4 describe the purpose of culturing vertebrate cells as being able to produce erythropoietin at a certain rate:

Claim 1: Vertebrate cells which can be propagated in vitro and which are capable upon growth in culture of producing erythropoietin in the medium of their growth in excess of 100 U of erythropoietin per 106 cells in 48 hours . . .

Claim 4: Vertebrate cells which can be propagated in vitro which comprise transcription control DNA sequences . . . for production of human erythropoietin, and which upon growth in culture are capable of producing in the medium of their growth in excess of 100 U of erythropoietin per 106 cells in 48 hours . . .

`349 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 8-14, 21-27 (emphasis added). Hence, when considering what the "other limitations and each claim as a whole accomplish," it appears that "culturing" is not the claimed function but instead a single step or act of a process claim that "ultimately accomplishes" the production of erythropoietin at a certain rate. Masco, 303 F.3d at 1327 (emphasis added).

There are two other pieces of support for construing "culturing" as an act. First, both parties agreed that the claim term "culturing under suitable conditions" means "growing in vitro under appropriate [or suitable] conditions." Amgen's App. to Mem. in Opp'n re `698 `349, Tab P (9/20/99 App. to Amgen's Claim Construction Submission) at 7; id., Tab Q (10/18/99 App. to HMR/TKT's Claim Construction Submission) at 5. Thus, implicitly HMR/TKT admitted that "culturing" and "growing" are essentially interchangeable terms. This, considered in combination with the Joint Pretrial Memorandum itself, which states that HMR/TKT's HMR 4396 is produced by "growing, under suitable nutrient conditions R223 cells," 4/26/00 Corrected Joint Pretrial Mem. at 5, ¶ 25, suggests that even HMR/TKT at one point did not believe that "growing" — and by extension, "culturing" — was a function that needed further explanation. This strongly suggests that the term "culturing" was one reasonably well understood by those skilled in the art, a relevant consideration in determining whether a term is an act. Cf. Greenberg v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., 91 F.3d 1580, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996); see also Watts, 232 F.3d at 881; Caterpillar, 961 F. Supp. at 1256.

Second, dictionary definitions of "culturing" define this word as an act. A standard medical dictionary, Dorland's Medical Dictionary, defines "culture" as "propagation of . . . living tissue cells in special media conducive to their growth." Amgen's App. to Mem. in Opp'n re `698 `349, Tab R (Dorland's Illustrated Med. Dictionary (27th ed. 1988)), at 334; see, e.g., Masco, 303 F.3d at 1328 (relying on a standard mechanical engineering dictionary definition of "transmitting" to help determine whether it is an act). The American Heritage Dictionary describes the verb culturing to mean "to cultivate" or "to develop (microorganisms or tissues, for example) in a culture medium." The American Heritage Dictionary, supra, at 348; see, e.g., Masco, 303 F.3d at 1328 (relying on standard unabridged dictionary definition of "transmitting" to help determine whether it is an act); Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1584. None of these definitions contradicts what is described in the patent.

In sum, HMR/TKT has failed to show that the "limitation contains nothing that can be construed as an act." Seal-Flex, 172 F.3d at 850. On the contrary, "culturing" — that is, developing cells in a certain medium — can logically be construed as an act because it describes how the EPO is produced (i.e., by culturing the cells), and because "culturing" is itself a term well understood by those skilled in the art.

As a final matter, the Court notes the same concerns it had with construing "growing" as a step-plus-function limitation. If the Court were to construe "culturing" as a step-plus-function limitation, it would run the risk of interpreting the process claim of the `349 patent in a way that Congress never intended, rendering the scope of coverage of the patent uncertain and disrupting the patentee's settled expectations regarding the scope of the claims. Masco, 303 F.3d at 1328; O.I. Corp., 115 F.3d at 1583.

5. Conclusion and Claim Construction

Accordingly, the Court rules that claim 7 of the `349 patent does not contain a step-plus-function limitation and that the regular framework for assessing infringement therefore applies. IV. VALIDITY CHALLENGES UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 112

When claims are construed broadly, alleged infringers commonly challenge validity under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶¶ 1, 2 in light of the broad construction. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1330. This is exactly what HMR/TKT does here. It argues that certain of Amgen's claims are now invalid because of how broadly the Court construed them. Because these validity challenges relate directly to this Court's claim construction and claims are construed the same way for both invalidity and infringement, see, e.g., W.L. Gore Assocs., Inc., v. Garlock, Inc., 842 F.2d 1275, 1279, 1280 (Fed. Cir. 1988), this Court now addresses the relevant section 112 issues before turning to the infringement issues. See Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1330 (addressing section 112 issues before infringement for the same reasons).

As with any validity challenge, the Court begins by presuming that the patents are valid. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1335; 35 U.S.C. § 282 (2000). As a result, HMR/TKT bears the burden of going forward and a "heavy burden" of persuasion, one that requires proof by clear and convincing evidence. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1335. Clear and convincing evidence is "evidence which produces in the mind of the trier of fact an abiding conviction that the truth of [the] factual contentions is `highly probable.'" Buildex, Inc. v. Kason Indus., Inc., 849 F.2d 1461, 1463 (Fed. Cir. 1988).

A. Definiteness

a. Discussion

1. The `698 and `349 Patent

Paragraph 2 of section 112 requires that a patent specification include one or more claims "particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention." 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 2 (2000). The Federal Circuit has stated that the standard for determining whether a claim is sufficiently definite is "[i]f one skilled in the art would understand the bounds of the claim when read in light of the specification." Exxon Research and Eng'g Co. v. United States, 265 F.3d 1371, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2001); Union Pac. Res. Co. v. Chesapeake Energy Corp., 236 F.3d 684, 692 (Fed. Cir. 2001) ("The definiteness inquiry focuses on whether those skilled in the art would understand the scope of the claim when the claim is read in light of the rest of the specification."). Although the definiteness requirement is meant to protect public notice of the scope of the patentee's right to exclude, Honeywell Int'l, Inc. v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 341 F.3d 1332, 1338-39 (Fed. Cir. 2003), the Federal Circuit has made clear that the standard for indefiniteness is rather high. A claim is not indefinite merely because its scope is not ascertainable from its face. Instead, it is indefinite if it is "insolubly ambiguous and no narrowing construction can be properly adopted." Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1342; Honeywell, 341 F.3d at 1338-39; Amgen Inc. v. Chugai Pharm. Co., 927 F.2d 1200, 1218 (Fed. Cir. 1991); Standard Oil Co. v. Am. Cyanamid Co., 774 F.2d 448, 453 (Fed. Cir. 1985).

HMR/TKT argues that under the Court's construction of "DNA encoding" the asserted claims of the `698 patent and claim 7 of the `349 patent are invalid as indefinite because they include within their scope many embodiments that will not make EPO. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial [Doc. No. 808] at 47-48. Specifically, it argues that the Court's construction of the term requires only that the DNA provide the requisite letters or codons, regardless of what protein is actually made, and that the evidence demonstrates that while many cells contain the same DNA codons, only those in which certain particular DNA codons are contiguous will actually produce EPO. Further, it asserts that Amgen has changed its stance and now claims that "genetic instructions for" includes not only the codons but also the splicing instructions for putting those codons together in the correct order. The claims, it asserts, say nothing about splicing instructions or messages and, as such, are indefinite and inoperative.

Amgen responds primarily by arguing that the evidence demonstrates that skilled artisans using the teachings of Amgen's patents would have been able to produce EPO using cells comprising non-contiguous DNA encoding the "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6." Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial [Doc. No. 815] at 33-34. Further, it claims that this very evidence establishes that those skilled in the art would have known how to determine which processes fell within the `698 and `349 claims.

The primary dispute, then, is whether the specification teaches skilled artisans to splice the codons into the correct order when the codons are not contiguous but need to be in order to make EPO. If it does, then the claims are not indefinite as they do not cover embodiments that do not make EPO.

While it may be true, as Dr. Kingston originally stated, that "only those cells in which the DNA letters were contiguous would actually produce EPO," Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 56-60, 164: 2-7, Dr. Kingston admitted that the cells from Example 10 of Amgen's specification produce EPO even though the Figure 6 codons for the mature erythropoietin sequence in the Example 10 cells are not contiguous. Id. at 164: 8-22; 170: 4-10. Either Dr. Kingston was blatantly contradicting his original statement, or — as the Court concludes is more likely — Example 10 and Figure 6 communicate to Dr. Kingston, one skilled in the art, how non-contiguous codons can be manipulated to produce EPO. This belies HMR/TKT's argument that the claims are vague or indefinite for not including splicing instructions and for covering contiguous and noncontiguous codons because the specification provides the information that Dr. Kingston believed was missing from the claims.

This deduction — that the specification makes the term "DNA encoding" understandable to the skilled artisan, Exxon Research and Engineering Co., 265 F.3d at 1375; Union Pacific Resources Co., 236 F.3d at 692 — is supported by expert testimony from Dr. Lodish and by other testimony from Dr. Kingston.

According to Dr. Lodish, Dr. Lin's patent taught those skilled in the art in 1983 to produce DNA sequences encoding EPO that are either contiguous or noncontiguous. Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1061: 4-1063: 4. In other words, Dr. Lodish testified that those skilled in the art would not consider the phrase "DNA encoding" to require the presence of contiguous codons of the mature EPO sequence of Figure 6. The main support for this contention stems from the fact that the codons were noncontiguous in Figure 6 of the patent. As mentioned earlier in the claim construction portion of this memorandum and order, Dr. Lodish testified that those of ordinary skill in the art at the time would have understood the disputed term to mean "a DNA which when copied into RNA, and if necessary spliced, specifies the order of amino acids that are the mature erythropoietin amino-acid sequence depicted in Figure 6 of the patent." Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1054: 17-22 (emphasis added); id. at 1058: 10-1059: 3. He explained that Figure 6 disclosed to those skilled in the art the codons for the mature EPO amino acid sequence, the introns, exons, and splice donor and acceptor sites of the human genomic EPO sequence. Id. Indeed, Dr. Kingston admitted that Lin's specification discloses the EPO gene sequence, the EPO splice donor and acceptor sites, and the linkage of a non-human promoter with the EPO gene. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. 116: 23-117: 2. According to Dr. Lodish (and not directly disputed by Dr. Kingston), this information, along with what was known in the art, enabled skilled artisans to alter the codons, to alter or eliminate the introns, and to make many DNA sequences that would encode human EPO and work in the claimed processes. Id. Thus, contrary to HMR/TKT's assertions, expert testimony from both sides shows that those skilled in the art would understand the claims to cover contiguous and non-contiguous DNA sequences that when necessary could be spliced into a correct and contiguous order to produce EPO. Union Pacific Resources Co., 236 F.3d at 692 ("The definiteness inquiry focuses on whether those skilled in the art would understand the scope of the claim when the claim is read in light of the rest of the specification.").

b. Conclusion

HMR/TKT has failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence that "DNA encoding" is a vague, ambiguous, or undefined term not understandable to a skilled artisan when read in light of the specification. Accordingly, the Court rejects HMR/TKT's argument that the disputed claims of the `349 and `698 patent are indefinite.

B. Written Description

1. The `698 and `349 Patents

a. Discussion

The basic requirements for the content of a patent specification are found in 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1:

The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains . . . to make and use the same. . . .

HMR/TKT contends that Amgen's claims, as construed by the Court, have a scope far greater than the written description of Amgen's patents and are, therefore, invalid. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 47-48. Primarily, it makes two arguments in support of this contention. First, HMR/TKT argues that the specification "repeatedly describes [the] DNA, cells, processes and proteins in terms of only exogenous DNA and heterologous recombination," whereas the Court construed the asserted claims in the `698 and `349 patents to cover both exogenous and endogenous DNA and homologuous and heterologous recombination. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 47-48. Second, HMR/TKT points to the undisputed fact that the specification provides only an example of a process which places the promoter just upstream of the ATG initiation codon of a cloned and isolated EPO gene, although the Court construed "operatively linked," as found in the `698 patent, to cover placement much farther upstream. Id. As such, HMR/TKT argues, the asserted process claims of the `698 patent fail to provide adequate written description. Id.

(1) HMR/TKT's First Argument: Endogenous DNA and Homologous Recombination

Although HMR/TKT's first argument is, in part, factually correct — the specification explicitly discloses only exogenous EPO DNA expression systems and heterologous recombination techniques — it is misdirected. The section 112 inquiry focuses on what was known by those skilled in the art at the time of the filing of the application. Here, it is undisputed that in 1983-84 (the time period of the application filing date), endogenous activation technology and homologous recombination were not known to skilled artisans. HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact ¶ 488; Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 34-35. Therefore, this technology is irrelevant to the written description analysis, and for good reason. "If later states of the art could be employed as a basis for rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 112, the opportunity for obtaining a basic patent upon early disclosure of pioneer inventions would be abolished."Application of Hogan, 559 F.2d 595, 606 (C.C.P.A. 1977); see also Koller, 613 F.2d at 825 (same).

HMR/TKT incorrectly assumes that the Court's construction of Amgen's claims to cover this later developed technology changes the analysis. Application of Koller, a case similar to this one, shows the fallacy of HMR/TKT's assumption. In that case, the Federal Circuit upheld a broad construction of the term "liquid medium" that covered all solvents (including the later developed water-immiscible solvents) despite a specification that only described water and water-miscible solvents — and not water-immiscible solvents. It reversed, however, the decision of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Board of Appeals that had found, inter alia, that the claims failed to provide adequate description. The Federal Circuit conducted its section 112 analysis based on what was claimed and known at the time of the application filing date. Because water-immiscible solvents were not known at the time of the application filing date, the Federal Circuit found that the term "liquid medium" was adequately described. Koller, 613 F.2d at 823-25.

Here, the situation is very similar. Because homologous recombination and use of endogenous DNA were not known to those skilled in the art at the time of the application, HMR/TKT's first argument for inadequate written description fails. As the Federal Circuit explained in Application of Hogan, "the Courts have consistently considered subsequently existing states of the art as raising questions of infringement but never of validity."Hogan, 559 F.2d at 607 (noting that the PTO's concern that allowance of the claims might lead to enforcement efforts against later developers is "both irrelevant and unwarranted" because "[t]he business of the PTO is patentability, not infringement");United States Steel Corp., 865 F.2d at 1251 (stating that the fact that "claim[s] may cover a later version of the claimed [invention] relates to infringement not to patentability").

HMR/TKT's arguments are more properly reserved for invoking the judicially developed reverse doctrine of equivalents defense which allows interpretation of the claims in light of the specification, inter alia, and precludes improper enforcement against later developers. Hogan, 559 F.2d at 607. This argument alone fails to establish this defense. Because this is the only argument presented with respect to the sufficiency of the written description of claim 7 of the `349 patent, the Court holds that HMR/TKT has failed to meet its burden with respect to this defense.

(2) HMR/TKT's Second Argument: Placement of the Promoter

HMR/TKT's second argument and Amgen's response thereto, as they relate to the `698 patent, render determination of the written description a bit more squirrelly. As stated above, HMR/TKT correctly argues that the specification only describes insertion of the promoter just upstream of the ATG initiation codon of the EPO gene to be expressed while the Court construed the claims to cover HMR/TKT's process of inserting the promoter far upstream leaving multiple ATGs between the promoter and the gene to be expressed. Instead of counter-arguing, as it did in response to HMR/TKT's first argument, that HMR/TKT's placement technique was a post-filing advance which need not be described, Amgen contends that by 1984, artisans of ordinary skill could have placed a promoter DNA in such a position that multiple ATGs would exist between it and the gene to be expressed, and they knew how to express proteins in vertebrate cells by positioning a promoter upstream of exon coding sequences and removing unwanted DNA by manipulating splice sites. Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 34-35; Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact ¶ 67. Further, Amgen asserts, evidence shows that those of skill in the art would have understood the patent to describe operative linkages of far greater distances than 44 pairs and that skilled artisans would have understood from Lin's patent how to avoid potentially interfering ATG sequences and thereby successfully position the promoter further upstream of DNA encoding EPO. Id. ¶ 68, ¶ 342.

This argument is curious because the easier path would have been to argue that placement so far upstream was a post-filing advance. Indeed, the Court's factual findings in Amgen I would have supported such an argument. See, e.g., Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 160 (concluding that placing the promoter farther upstream works to make HMR/TKT's process more "technologically advanced" than that in Amgen's patent and commenting that there was no evidence implying that "one of ordinary skill in the art would dare to place a promoter sequence in such a position that multiple ATGs would exist between it and the gene to be expressed"). Such an argument, however, would have weakened Amgen's position with respect to the reverse doctrine of equivalents. In other words, urging that this technique was a post-filing advance would work against Amgen's argument that HMR/TKT's product and process is not so far changed in principal that the Court ought find that it does not infringe under the reverse doctrine of equivalents.

Stuck in a similar catch-22, HMR/TKT argues with respect to section 112 that Amgen should have described upstream placement of the promoter, yet, in furtherance of its reverse doctrine of equivalents argument, HMR/TKT argues with equal passion that a process for producing EPO by linking the promoter and transcription control sequences far upstream of the EPO gene had never been done before HMR/TKT developed its patented gene activation process. HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial [Doc. No. 819] at 29, 34. Further, it argues that those skilled in the art recognized that promoter linkages further upstream of the initiation codon would not work to produce EPO. HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact ¶ 493. Thus, HMR/TKT's reverse doctrine of equivalents argument belies its argument that Amgen should have described placement of the promoter further upstream of the EPO gene to be expressed since, according to HMR/TKT, this had never been done before. Thus, both parties, to a degree, have argued against their best interests on this issue because to do otherwise would weaken their positions with respect to application of the reverse doctrine of equivalents.

However the parties may frame the issue, this Court, as trier of fact in this case, must determine whether placing the promoter farther upstream was a concept sufficiently known to those skilled in the art at the time of filing such that the claims would have been understood to encompass such a technique. United States Steel Corp., 865 F.2d at 1251 ("`[L]anguage in a specification is to be understood for what it meant to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed' . . . and . . . support need be found for only the claimed invention, in view of how one skilled in the art at that time would construe the claims and would read its specification." (quoting Koller, 613 F.2d at 824) (internal citation omitted));United States Steel Corp., 865 F.2d at 1252 (considering the state of the art in 1983-84, the level of sufficiency and the condition of knowledge about all art-related facts at the time of filing). If the Court determines that this is so, the Court must consider whether the specification in its entirety — not just literally — conveys to the skilled artisan that Amgen's process includes such upstream promoter placement. Kaslow, 707 F.2d at 1375; cf. Application of Edwards, 568 F.2d 1349, 1352 (C.C.P.A. 1978).

After careful review of the evidence from the first and second trials, the Court now concludes that placement of the promoter further upstream of the EPO coding region and splicing out deleterious ATGs was indeed a concept known and understood — albeit not practiced — by those skilled in the art at the time Amgen filed its application (1983-84).

Dr. Lodish and Dr. Kingston testified that both Amgen and HMR/TKT use a technique of linking two different pieces of DNA together with a splice donor site and a splice acceptor to express a protein and that this was a standard technique in 1983. Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1428-30, 1433, 1434: 12-19; Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1081 (claiming that at the time of the patent application this type of splicing was common). While Dr. Lodish did indeed admit that Dr. Lin did not know what sequences were upstream of the EPO gene, and that it was intuitive to place the promoter close to the EPO coding region because the "longer the distance the more problems you're likely to encounter," he clarified that those skilled in the art knew that it was possible to vary the distance and still cause transcription and proteins to be made, because the sequences that are unwanted are readily identifiable and can be avoided. Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 255-58. Further, he explained, those skilled in the art in 1983 did indeed know that a promoter could be placed 8,000-10,000 bases upstream and that very long intervening sequences could be spliced out. Lodish Test., R. Trial at 1081. Even Dr. Kingston himself admitted that in 1983 those skilled in the art knew how to place a promoter much further upstream than 44 base pairs, the location identified in Example 7 of Dr. Lin's patent. Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1436-38.

Additionally, there were published articles showing that those skilled in the art possessed this knowledge. Dr. Kingston's mentor, Dr. Sharp, published an article in 1983 that, according to Dr. Kingston, showed a construct in which a splice donor site was added to splice out approximately a 700 base pair fragment of DNA ("a 5 prime splice and a 3 prime splice") from the message. Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1435-36. Indeed, Dr. Kingston himself published an article in 1982 that disclosed that the way to discard a portion of the DNA that was not wanted in the vector was to put a downstream splice receptor or acceptor site and splice it out. Id. at 1436-37. In the constructs discussed in the article, the distance between the 5 prime and 3 prime splice sites was, according to Dr. Kingston, between 180 and 500 pairs.Id. at 1438.

HMR/TKT argues, however, that the evidence shows that no one had in fact used those splice sites the way that HMR/TKT eventually did — in other words, that placing the promoter upstream as HMR/TKT did was novel. HMR/TKT's Response to Amgen's Findings at 130. HMR/TKT also suggests that the situations to which reference has just been made appear only in nature; that is, they were not human constructs or experiments. See, e.g., Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1104: 15-1105: 5. The Court is not persuaded that the evidence shows what HMR/TKT claims it does. First, Dr. Sharp's article, Trial Ex. 247, discloses actual experiments showing upstream placement, see, e.g., R. Trial Tr. at 1134-35. HMR/TKT produced no evidence to the contrary. Tellingly, HMR/TKT's counsel neither asked Dr. Kingston whether actual experiments had been conducted in 1983-1984 nor asserted in any of its post-trial memoranda the absence of actual experimentation. Second, and perhaps most enlightening, the only support HMR/TKT offers for its contention that no one skilled in the art had in 1983-84 placed the promoter upstream as HMR/TKT did, or even would have dared to do so, is the Court's previous factual findings, which were made with respect to a different legal issue. See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 15 (citing only this Court's opinion in support); HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial at 29 (citing this Court's opinion and unsupportive testimony by Dr. Lodish (inaccurately referred to as "Kingston Tr. 162-167") and irrelevant testimony by Dr. Kingston, "Kingston R. Tr. 177, 181"); HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 111, 112, 114, 116 (citing this Court's opinion and irrelevant testimony from Dr. Lodish, admitting that he did not includehomologous recombination in the first edition of his textbook). The Court finds that placement of the promoter further upstream, as HMR/TKT does with its HMR 4396, was a technique known to those skilled in the art at the time of Amgen's application filing.

Because upstream placement of the promoter was known at the time of Amgen's application, however, the Court now addresses whether HMR/TKT has shown by clear and convincing evidence that Amgen did not adequately describe such a placement. The Court agrees with HMR/TKT's central contention that the specification explicitly refers only to placement of the promoter in close proximity (within 44 base pairs) of the EPO gene to be expressed, leaving only one ATG adjacent to the amino terminal coding region. `933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 24: 15-32. "The test for determining compliance with the written description requirement," however "is whether the disclosure of the application as originally filed reasonably conveys to the artisan that the inventor had possession at that time of the later claimed subject matter," rather than the presence or absence of literal support in the specification for the claim language. Kaslow, 707 F.2d at 1375; cf. Edwards, 568 F.2d at 1352 (noting that in the context of the case before it, "this translates into whether the parent application provides adequate direction which reasonably leads persons skilled in the art to the later claimed compound"). After much reflection and despite some hesitancy, the Court concludes that the disclosure does convey the "later claimed subject matter."

First, as Amgen rightly points out, the `698 claims themselves have no limitations specifying the promoter distance or the number of ATGs. Instead, the claims state that the promoter DNA must be "operatively linked" to the "DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6." The Court inAmgen I construed this to mean "the promoter DNA is linked to the EPO DNA in a way that maintains the capability of the promoter DNA to initiate transcription of the EPO DNA." Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 90.

Second, as was determined in Amgen I, the specification does not clearly communicate a locational restriction. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 90. That the specification recites in one of the examples an exact location for the promoter that is in close proximity to the EPO gene to be expressed is not dispositive. "[T]hat a claim may be broader than the specific embodiment disclosed in a specification is of no moment." In re Rasmussen, 650 F.2d 1212, 1215 (C.C.P.A. 1981); see Gentry Gallery, Inc. v. Berkline Corp., 134 F.3d 1473, 1480 (Fed. Cir. 1998). As the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals reasoned in In re Kirschbraun, 44 F.2d 675 (C.C.P.A. 1930), a court "should never interpret a positively recited generic expression [such as "operatively linked"] to the precise instrumentality disclosed by the patent, except where such narrow interpretation is necessary to distinguish the claim from prior art." Id. at 739 (internal citations and quotations omitted).

The only support in the specification that the invention is of a narrower scope than the claims is the absence of specific examples showing an alternate location for the promoter. The specification, however, does not limit the patent to the examples therein. It does not clearly identify placement within 44 base pairs as the only possible location from which to conduct the process nor does it indicate that this exact location was an essential element of the invention or that placement farther upstream is "outside the stated purpose of the invention." Cf. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1334 (considering these factors);Gentry, 134 F.3d at 1479 (same); Ethicon, 93 F.3d at 1582 (considering whether the aspect was considered an element of the invention and stating that if it was not then the patentee was free to draft the claim broadly). Moreover, the specification does not address possible variations from which the Court could conclude that a further upstream placement was not in the realm of possibility.

That Amgen chose to show placement of the promoter in very close proximity is only evidence that this was perceived to be the best location to achieve operative linkage — as Dr. Lodish testified — not the only location. Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 258 (explaining that the longer the distance the higher likelihood that problems might occur and that "there's no reason one would want to put it very far upstream. But one could," with a little bit of work); id. at 553 (commenting that "in practice in the laboratory one does what is most expeditious"); Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1131 (explaining that Dr. Lin had no reason even to consider other sequences of pieces of DNA); cf. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 41: 20-21 (testifying that standard practice in 1984 was to place the promoter in a position such that there was not another ATG present). True, Dr. Lodish stated that the patent teaches that by linking a strong promoter or placing it near the first codon for the signal sequence of EPO, one could overcome the natural suppression of EPO expression in vertebrate cells. Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1070, 1077-78. This, however, does not unambiguously limit the location of the promoter to a distance of 44 base pairs or indicate that further upstream placement was not part of the invention. As Dr. Lodish explained, placement of the promoter thousands of base pairs upstream, as HMR/TKT does, is only a "minor difference" that is "irrelevant in the final process." Id. at 1077: 1-6. Thus, as testified to by Dr. Lodish, the specification teaches that putting a strong viral promoter upstream of the human EPO gene is the important feature — not how far upstream — as long as the intervening sequences are spliced out. Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 173, 549; see also Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1081 (noting that "there's nothing different about a large intron spliced out and a small intron spliced out"); Cooper Cameron Corp. v. Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc., 291 F.3d 1317, 1322-23 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (considering expert testimony on the issue of what the specification teaches). In other words, Amgen's patent teaches that the natural suppression of EPO expression in vertebrate cells can be overcome by operatively linking a non-human promoter upstream of DNA encoding human EPO. See id.; see also Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1068: 21-1070: 3.

Therefore, the Court infers that though the examples may show linkage that is directly upstream, those skilled in the art would not, nor does the Court, read the specification so to limit the process. United States Steel Corp., 865 F.2d at 1251; cf. Ethicon, 93 F.3d at 1582 n. 7 (noting that 35 U.S.C. § 112 (1994) allocates to the inventor the task of claiming what the inventor regards as his invention); Vas-Cath Inc. v.Mahurkar, 935 F.2d 1555, 1565 (Fed. Cir. 1991) ("There is no legally recognizable or protected essential element, gist or heart of the invention in combination patent. The invention is defined by the claims." (citations and internal quotation marks omitted)). As such, Amgen was free to draft the claim broadly (within the limits imposed by prior art) to exclude the exact placement of the promoter as a limitation of the claimed invention. Cf. Ethicon, 93 F.3d at 1582 n. 7. "Such a claim is not necessarily unsupported by the specification even though it would be literally infringed by undisclosed embodiments."Id.

Third, although HMR/TKT has shown that the specification lacks literal support for a process that places the promoter further upstream, it has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that Amgen's patent does not "reasonably convey to the artisan that [Amgen] had possession at that time of the later claimed subject matter." Kaslow, 707 F.2d at 1375 (noting that the presence or absence of literal support in the specification is not determinative). To the contrary, the evidence shows that the specification (both the written words and the figures) discloses the techniques that are employed in a process that places the promoter further upstream such as HMR/TKT does in HMR 4396. It is undisputed that the specification discloses a DNA sequence and the amino acid sequence it encodes, introns, exons, splice donor and splice acceptor sites, and the linkage of a non-human promoter with the EPO gene, and communicates that splicing events occur to avoid the deleterious effects of ATGs and to allow the appropriate final functional mRNA to form to produce the amino acids disclosed in Figure 6. See, e.g., Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1428-29, 1430; Kingston Test., R. Trial. Tr. at 116: 23-117: 2; see also Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1061: 4-1063: 4. As discussed infra with respect to the reverse doctrine of equivalents, the evidence shows (albeit by a slim margin) that HMR 4396 uses the same splice donor and splice acceptor sites as are disclosed in Amgen's specification. Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1431: 10-19, 1432: 14-24, 1433: 1-22, 1440: 19-25. HMR/TKT merely copies the splice donor site and places it upstream of the deleterious ATGs, the intended effect of which is to splice out all the deleterious ATGs that were upstream of the coding region of the EPO gene. Id. (explaining that the way the splice donor site is moved is by "ma[king] a design that happens to include the same nucleotides" and "the purpose of that is so that this splice donor . . . would direct a splicing event" that spliced out all of the deleterious ATGs); see also Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1081 ("Very simply put, what [HMR/]TKT did is take this splice donor that's right here, include this G residue directly upstream of it, and move it in toto immediately adjacent to this hGH signal sequences. So in fact, the splicing that occurs . . . in the RNA, between donor 1 and acceptor 1 is identical to the splicing that occurs in . . . Amgen's Example 10 cells."); Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 174; Lodish Test., R. Trial at 1076: 23-1077: 6; id. at 1068-69 (discussing the three principals of Lin's `698 patent). As discussed earlier, placement of the promoter further upstream and splicing out deleterious data was a technique known to skilled artisans in 1983-84. Thus, Amgen's process discloses exactly what HMR/TKT's process does, that is, it discloses locating a strong promoter upstream of the ATG initiation codon of a cloned and isolated EPO gene (i.e., upstream of the DNA encoding EPO), and splicing out the deleterious data. Gosteli, 872 F.2d at 1012 (explaining that the specification must communicate clearly to those skilled in the art that the inventor invented what is claimed).

While it appears that the scope of the right to exclude as set forth in the claims does not overreach the scope of Amgen's contribution to the field of the art as described in the specification, see Reiffin, 214 F.3d at 1346, HMR/TKT points to one piece of evidence that suggests the contrary and gives the Court pause. As discussed earlier in a different context, Dr. Lodish admitted that Dr. Lin never even attempted such an upstream placement and did not know what was upstream or downstream of the EPO gene. Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1129. This, therefore, indicates that Amgen was not in actual possession of the entire scope of the invention at the time of filing; that is, that Amgen had not, at that time, itself demonstrated though experimentation the distant upstream placement of the promoter.

Although this evidence is compelling, when considered in light of prior case law and HMR/TKT's high burden of proof, it fails to persuade the Court that Amgen's specification is invalid for lack of written description. As discussed, the techniques disclosed in the specification are the same ones used in a process that places the promoter further upstream. Simply because further upstream placement was possible and applicants could have, as testified to by Dr. Lodish, done it and then described it in an example does not mean that the applicant must describe it. This is just the sort of argument rejected in In re Vickers, 141 F.2d 522, 988 (C.C.P.A. 1944). Although In re Vickers was a mechanical case, its reasoning applies here. If an inventor had to describe more than what he conceives is his best mode, most patents would be worth little. "The principle of the invention is a unit, and invariable; the modes of its embodiment in a concrete invention may be numerous and in appearance very different from each other." Id. at 991 (quoting Continental Bag Co. v. Eastern Paper Bag Co., 210 U.S. 405, 418 (1908)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, as explained above, the principal of the process was operative linkage — overcoming the natural restriction of the cell from making EPO by placing a strong promoter upstream of the EPO gene to be expressed and splicing out the intervening deleterious ATGs. Example 7 describes the best mode — the best process — and should not limit Amgen's right to exclude other processes that fall within the principal of the invention:

The exclusive right to the thing patented is not secured, if the public are at liberty to make substantial copies of it, varying its form or proportions. And, therefore, the patentee, having described his invention, and shown its principles, and claimed it in that form which most perfectly embodies it, is, in contemplation of law, deemed to claim every form in which his invention may be copied, unless he manifests an intention to disclaim some of those forms.

Moreover, this admission can be distinguished from the admission in Gentry Gallery, Inc. v. Berkline Corp., upon which HMR/TKT relies for support. There, Gentry admitted he broadened his claims to cover placement of the controls outside the console only after competitors engaged in such placement.Gentry, 134 F.3d at 1479; see also Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1334 (distinguishing the facts in Gentry). Further, inGentry, the exact placement of the controls was clearly identified in the specification to be an essential element of the invention. Gentry, 134 F.3d at 1479. Here, there is absolutely no indication in the claims or the specification of a locational restriction. So while Dr. Lodish may have admitted that Amgen was not in literal possession of this embodiment of the invention at the time of filing, given the broadness of claims, this admission is not determinative. Judge Miller, as he did dissenting in Application of Edwards, would no doubt argue that this is in essence an admission that Amgen was not literally in possession of the invention as claimed since it did not ever even try to move the promoter further upstream.See Edwards, 568 F.2d at 1354-55. This Court concludes, however, that although the question is extremely close, Amgen was in possession of the invention as claimed, i.e., it used the words "operatively linked." The specification adequately describes what is claimed — a broad claim. A persuasive analogy is found in the enablement context. There, "[i]t is not necessary that a patent applicant test all the embodiments of his invention; what is necessary is that he provide a disclosure sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to carry out the invention." Amgen Inc. v. Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 927 F.2d 1200, 1213 (Fed. Cir. 1991) [hereinafter Chugai] (citing In re Angstadt, 537 F.2d 498, 502 (C.C.P.A. 1976)), andIn re Donohue, 766 F.2d 531, 533 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (discussing enablement of a publication under § 102(b))).

Here, according to undisputed expert testimony, the specification communicates that in order to achieve "operative link[age]," what is important is placing a strong promoter upstream of the ATG initiating codon of the EPO gene and splicing out unwanted ATGs. One skilled in the art who read Amgen's specification would understand that it is unimportant where upstream the promoter is placed, so long as it is genuinely "operatively linked." Cf. Rasmussen, 650 F.2d at 1214-15 (concluding that the generic step of "adheringly applying" one layer to an adjacent layer satisfied the written description requirement, because "one skilled in the art who read [the] specification would understand that it is unimportant how the layers are adhered, so long as they are adhered."); Gentry, 134 F.3d at 1480 (applying Rasmussen and considering what one skilled in the art would understand was important or essential to the invention). Amgen may claim other patentable means of operative linkage despite not having provided specific examples in its specification or a boilerplate statement that the examples in the specification were not meant to limit the breadth of the claims. Rasmussen, 650 F.2d at 1215; cf. Kiruschbraun, 44 F.2d at 677. Thus, the phrase "operatively linked" appears to be supported by the specification.

In a nutshell, HMR/TKT misconstrues the focus of the section 112 inquiry, to wit, whether the claimed subject matter is adequately described, see, e.g., Ralston-Purina Co. v.Far-Mar-Co., Inc., 772 F.2d 1570, 1575 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Wilder, 736 F.2d 1516, 1520 (Fed. Cir. 1984), and whether the applicant asserted that he invented that which he did not, Moba, B.V. v. Diamond Automation, Inc., 325 F.3d 1306, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2003). If the claims contained a limitation regarding promoter placement, HMR/TKT's arguments would have merit. They do not, and HMR/TKT points to nothing in the specification or prosecution history that justifies a location restriction for the promoter. Moreover, the specification adequately describes operative linkage and upstream promoter placement. Thus, HMR/TKT has failed to present clear and convincing evidence that Amgen failed adequately to describe the claimed inventions of the `698 and `349 patents.

b. Conclusion

Accordingly, the Court holds that HMR/TKT has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that the asserted claims of the `698 patent and claim 7 of the `349 patent are invalid for lack of written description under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1.

C. Enablement

a. Discussion

1. The `698 and `349 Patents

A patent application must "contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it . . . as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected to make and use the same." 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1 (2000). "To be enabling, the specification of the patent must teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the full scope of the claimed invention without `undue experimentation.'" Genentech, Inc. v. Novo Nordisk A/S, 108 F.3d 1361, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 1997) (quoting In re Wright, 999 F.2d 1557, 1461 (Fed. Cir. 1993)); Plant Genetic Systems, H.V. v. Dekalb Genetics Corp., 315 F.3d 1335, 1339 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (same). The scope of the claims must reasonably correlate to the scope of enablement provided by the specification to skilled artisans at the time of the patent's effective filing date. Plant Genetic Systems, 315 F.3d at 1340;Hogan, 559 F.2d at 604 (stating that enablement is determined as of the effective filing date of the patent). Therefore, crucial to the analysis is the state of the art at the time of the application — which is undisputedly 1983-84.

The parties' arguments for non-enablement run parallel to those regarding written description. Although the enablement requirement is separate and distinct from the written description requirement, the written description requirement is broader than the enablement requirement. Vas-Cath, 935 F.2d at 1563. Because the Court already held that the asserted claims of the `698 and `349 patents met the written description requirement based on the same arguments and evidence, it need address the enablement issue only briefly.

(1) HMR/TKT's First Argument: Endogenous DNA and Homologuous Recombination

HMR/TKT rightly claims that under the Court's claim construction, the asserted process claims of the `698 and `349 patents "do not enable one of skill in the art to produce EPO from vertebrate cells other than those transfected with exogenous cloned EPO DNA." HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 48. As discussed above, however, it is undisputed that in 1983-84, endogenous activation technology and homologous recombination were not known to skilled artisans. HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact ¶ 488; Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 34-35. As with the written description requirement, when considering enablement, later states of art cannot be employed as a basis for rejection. Hogan, 559 F.2d at 606; Plant Genetics Systems, 315 F.3d at 1340 (stating that Hogan held that "one could not use later-existing states of the art to invalidate a patent that was enabled for what it claimed at the time of filing"). Thus, this argument fails with respect to the `349 and `698 patents. Moreover, because HMR/TKT makes no other enablement arguments with respect to claim 7 of the `349 patent, the Court holds that HMR/TKT has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that Claim 7 of the `349 patent was not enabled.

(2) HMR/TKT's Second Argument: Placement of the Promoter

HMR/TKT argues that Amgen's specification only enables operative linkage of promoter DNA and EPO DNA near or adjacent to the ATG initiation codon of a cloned and isolated EPO gene and that skilled artisans at the time would not have expected promoters placed further upstream to produce EPO. Furthermore, HMR/TKT contends that Amgen's argument — that enablement of one way to make a claimed product suffices — does not apply, because these are process claims not product claims. As a result, HMR/TKT argues, Amgen has forfeited its patent under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1 by claiming all processes for making EPO but enabling only one.

HMR/TKT cites no cases that actually support its contention that process claims are somehow different than product claims when it comes to the enablement inquiry. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 49-50. The two cases that HMR/TKT does cite, Genentech, 108 F.3d at 1365 and Enzo Biochem, Inc. v. Calgene, Inc., 188 F.3d 1362, 1371, 1374-75 (Fed. Cir. 1999), stand only for the unremarkable proposition that a patent must teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the full scope of the invention. The Court holds that the `698 patent meets this requirement.

Here, HMR/TKT has not proved that the disclosure fails adequately to guide the skilled artisan to a process that places the promoter further upstream without undue experimentation. The thrust of HMR/TKT's argument — that the skilled worker would not have expected promoter linkages further upstream to produce EPO — has already been rejected by the Court. As discussed in the written description analysis, this Court finds as a factual matter that skilled artisans at the time of the application filing were aware of how to place promoters further upstream than is shown in example 7 of the `698 patent specification. Moreover, this Court found that all the techniques required to achieve such placement were taught in the specification. According to Dr. Lodish, using the specification, one skilled in the art could have placed a promoter further upstream and produced EPO. While he admitted that some problems might have occurred and that it would have taken a little bit of work, Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 258, this does not necessarily equate to undue experimentation.See In re Vaeck, 947 F.2d 488, 495 (Fed. Cir. 1991) ("Thatsome experimentation may be required is not fatal; the issue is whether the amount of experimentation required is `undue.'" (quoting In re Wands, 858 F.2d 731, 737 (Fed. Cir. 1988)));see also Wands, 858 F.2d at 737 ("The key word is `undue,' not `experimentation.'" (quoting Angstadt, 537 F.2d at 504) (internal quotation marks omitted)). Thus, the evidence shows that all the methods required to conduct the process with the promoter further upstream were disclosed and one skilled in the art could replicate the invention using a further upstream promoter placement with some experimentation.

Tellingly, HMR/TKT has neither addressed in its memorandum nor pointed to record evidence regarding the amount of experimentation required by one of skill in the art to use the specification to place the promoter further upstream. Rather, it implicitly asks the Court to infer undue experimentation from general testimony about the development of the technology, the admission that Dr. Lin had not actually tried to place the promoter further upstream and did not know what was upstream of the EPO gene, and the absence of working examples disclosing placement of the promoter further upstream. Given this lack of specific evidence, HMR/TKT simply has not met its burden to prove undue experimentation. See Moba, 325 F.3d at 1321 (reaching a similar conclusion in the absence of specific evidence). First, the Court points out that "it is not necessary that a patent applicant test all the embodiments of his invention; what is necessary is that he provide a disclosure sufficient to enable one of skill in the art to carry out the invention commensurate with the scope of his claims." Chugai, 927 F.2d at 1213 (citingAngstadt, 537 F.2d at 502); Donohue, 766 F.2d at 533 (discussing enablement of a publication under section 102(b) and concluding that "it is not . . . necessary that an invention disclosed . . . have actually been made in order to satisfy the enablement requirement[;] . . . the fact that [the inventor] did not attempt to make his disclosed invention does not indicate one way or the other whether the [patent] [is] enabling"). Second, the evidence produced at trial about the state of the art and the amount of guidance the specification provides suggest the contrary — that the patents at issue do teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the full scope of the invention.Cf. Wands, 858 F.2d at 737 (noting that the determination is not a "simple factual determination, but rather is a conclusion reached by weighing many factual considerations"). In light of the presumption of validity, HMR/TKT has failed to carry its burden with respect to this issue.

b. Conclusion

Accordingly, the Court holds that HMR/TKT has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that the process claims of the `349 and `698 patents were not enabled.

V. INFRINGEMENT

1. Background

A. The `698 Patent: Claim 4-9

At the close of Amgen's case-in-chief in the first trial, and before HMR/TKT had presented its case, this Court granted HMR/TKT's motions for judgments of non-infringement under Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(c), both literally and under the doctrine of equivalents of claims 4-9 of the `698 patent. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 99-101. In reaching this decision, the Court compared HMR/TKT's process to the specific embodiments exemplified in the `698 patent and found two significant differences between HMR/TKT's process and Amgen's process: (1) HMR/TKT's process uses homologous recombination to make its erythropoietin-producing cells and HRM/TKT's human EPO gene is endogenous to the human cell, whereas the preferred embodiment of the `698 patent employs heterologous recombination and uses human EPO DNA material that is exogenous; and (2) HMR/TKT's process uses cells in which the CMV promoter and enhancer are placed at a greater distance from the EPO DNA than did the particular examples found in the `698 patent, resulting in several ATG sites in HMR/TKT's process as opposed to only one in Amgen's examples. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 102-04. The Court considered these differences to be substantial ones and therefore held that Amgen had failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that HMR/TKT's process infringes (literally or equivalently) the independent claims of the `698 patent. Id.

On appeal, the Federal Circuit vacated and remanded this Court's ruling regarding infringement of the `698 patent because the Court had erroneously compared the accused device to the preferred or commercial embodiments of the patent instead of to the properly construed claims themselves. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1347. In the course of its ruling, the Federal Circuit made some specific statements about whether this Court's factual findings ought have any bearing on the infringement analysis when properly conducted. With regard to the Court's finding that HMR/TKT's process is homologous, the Federal Circuit pointed out that none of the claims at issue in the `698 patent contains any limitation regarding heterologous recombination. Id. Furthermore, the Federal Circuit pointed out this Court's claim construction — as opposed to a specific example in the specification — indicated that HMR/TKT did infringe the "operatively linked" limitation in the claims.

As discussed briefly in the procedural history portion of this memorandum and order, the Court denied both Amgen's and HMR/TKT's renewed motions for summary judgment regarding infringement of the `698 patent [Doc. Nos. 664 and 665]. As a result, HMR/TKT presented its case on these issues at the remand trial.

HMR/TKT was also allowed to present its defense that it does not literally infringe claims 4-9 of the `698 patent under the reverse doctrine of equivalents. The Court decided to entertain such an argument because the facts that form the reverse doctrine of equivalents defense were always a part of HMR/TKT's interrogatory responses. In Wright Medical Technology, Inc v. Osteonics Corp., 122 F.3d 1440, 1445 (Fed. Cir. 1997), the Federal Circuit remanded a case to the district court so it could determine the doctrine of equivalents issue even though the patentee had not argued equivalents, on the basis that the patentee had already introduced evidence in support of this argument. The analysis in Wright, although it addresses the doctrine of equivalents and not the reverse doctrine, is applicable here. Therefore, the Court afforded HMR/TKT the opportunity to present its defense and Amgen the opportunity to rebut.

2. The Claims at Issue

Claims 4 and 6 are the critical claims for resolving the infringement issue, as claims 5, 7, 8, and 9 are dependent.

Claim 4:

A process for the production of a glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide having the in vivo biological property of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells comprising the steps of: (a) growing, under suitable nutrient conditions, vertebrate cells comprising promoter DNA, other than human erythropoietin promoter DNA, operatively linked to DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6; and (b) isolating said glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide expressed by said cells.

`698 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 37-47 (paragraph structure altered).

Claim 6:

A process for the production of a glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide having the in vivo biological property of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells comprising the steps of: (a) growing under suitable nutrient conditions, vertebrate cells comprising amplified DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6; and (b) isolating said glycoslated erythropoietin polypeptide expressed by said cells.

3. Literal Infringement

a. Discussion

To determine whether an accused device literally infringes a patent claim, courts apply a two-step analysis. See, e.g., Watts v. XL Sys., Inc., 232 F.3d 877, 880 (Fed. Cir. 2000);Laitram Corp. v. Morehouse Indus., Inc., 143 F.3d 1456, 1461 (Fed. Cir. 1998). First, the court construes the claims to determine their scope as matter of law. See Markman, 517 U.S. at 370. Second, the court determines whether the claims cover the accused device. See, e.g., Watts, 232 F.3d at 880; Cybor Corp. v. FAS Techs., Inc., 138 F.3d 1448, 1454 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (en banc).

The only limitation of claims 4-9 of the `698 patent that HMR/TKT asserts it does not literally infringe is "DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6." See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial at 26-27; HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 10-11. As discussed, supra, the Court conducted the first step of the inquiry and construed the term "DNA encoding" to mean "the genetic instructions for" the "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6." To conduct the second step, the Court must compare the properly construed claim with the accused product to determine whether the accused product meets each and every limitation. Bayer AG v. Elan Pharm. Research Corp., 212 F.3d 1241, 1247-48 (Fed. Cir. 2000); Young Dental Mfg. Co. v. Q3 Special Prods., Inc., 112 F.3d 1137, 1141 (Fed. Cir. 1997).

HMR/TKT argues that the claims require the genetic instructions for an EPO with the fully realized, secreted 166 amino acid sequence of Figure 6. See HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial at 26-27; HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 10-11. In support it points to the Court's ruling in Amgen I, in the context of the `080 patent, that the "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" is "the fully realized form of the amino acid sequence of Figure 6," Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 100, that is, one with a 166 amino acid sequence.

HMR/TKT's argument fails to persuade the Court because "the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG 6" in the context of the `080 patent refers to the structure of the claimed glycoprotein whereas in the `698 claims it refers to the structure of a DNA in the claims. This is not to suggest that the phrase should have different meanings in different contexts. Indeed, the parties agreed in Amgen I that the meaning of the term should be the same in both settings. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 86. Here, as in the context of the `080 patent, the phrase means the "fully realized form of the amino acid sequence of Figure 6." Id. at 87. In the `698 patent, however, the phrase is preceded by "DNA encoding," and thus the primary subject is the DNA whereas in the `080 patent the primary subject is the "erythropoietin glycoprotein" itself. See `080 and `698 Patents, Ex. 1. Although it is true that HMR 4396 is a glycoprotein containing 165 amino acids, experts for both parties agree that HMR/TKT's R223 cells contain a DNA encoding EPO that "has the same codons for the same amino acids as is depicted in Dr. Lin's Figure 6." Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 154: 21-155: 15; Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 245: 16-247: 18; id. at 259: 12-15 (stating that HMR/TKT's R223 cells contain amplified DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of Figure 6); Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1066: 23-1067: 18. In other words, each process encodes or provides the genetic instructions for the 1-166 amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 6, as each contains a DNA sequence having codons for amino acids +1 through +166 as depicted in Figure 6. As discussed in Amgen I, the reason that HMR/TKT claims an end-product that only has 165-amino acids while Amgen claims one that has 166 is that at the time Amgen's patents were written, it was not yet known that the last amino acid residue ultimately cleaves off prior to secretion of the EPO from the cell. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 86, 101.

HMR/TKT argues that "Amgen ignores that the `cDNA' sequence it relies upon has a `methionine, alanine, threonine' amino acid sequence, which is exon 1" and is derived from human growth hormone, not from EPO. HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact After Trial at 24, ¶ 104. This argument, however, is irrelevant. First, as Amgen points out — and HMR/TKT does not dispute — this argument involves the amino acids of the leader sequence in HMR/TKT's R223 cells, yet the claims do not specifically address the leader sequence. Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact at 36. The Court held, in Amgen I, that the mature EPO amino acid sequence of Figure 6 included only 166 amino acids, that is, positions +1 through +166. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 86, 100 (noting that Figure 6 depicts the amino acids starting from -27, the signal or leader peptide which is cleaved off, and concluding that in order for HMR 4396 to infringe literally, it "must contain an EPO glycoprotein comprising the fully realized erythropoietin amino acid sequence of Figure 6, which depicts 166 amino acids"). Consistent with this holding, Dr. Lodish testified at the remand trial that the amino acid sequence of the mature EPO in Figure 6 begins at the +1 position and ends at +166. Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1067: 5-18. Amgen's counsel suggested the same to Dr. Kingston, and he never contradicted this implication. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 156: 14-23 (agreeing with Amgen's counsel's depiction of Figure 6 as having codons for a leader sequence and then codons for the "mature sequence" beginning at +1). Second, this argument ignores expert testimony proffered by both parties, noted above, that HMR/TKT's R223 contain DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of Figure 6, as defined by this Court, regardless of any differences in the leader sequences.

Even so, HMR/TKT argues that proof that its DNA is the same as Amgen's DNA is not enough. It contends that the claims require production of an EPO product with 166 amino acids because "the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of Fig. 6" is followed in the claims by a clause which states "said glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide" is "isolated." HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 11.

Based on the language of the claims, including the preambles, the Court rejects this argument and concludes that "the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" modifies the words "DNA encoding" in the cells grown in step (a) — and does not modify "glycosylatd erythropoietin polypeptide" isolated in step (b). This interpretation is supported by evidence, proffered by Amgen and undisputed by HMR/TKT, that the proper antecedent basis is provided only by use of prioridentical language in the claim. See Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 2173.05(e) (6th ed. 1997); Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact at 37. Here, "glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide" is previously found only in the preamble and not in part (a) of the claim. Part (a), although it refers to the "mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of Fig. 6," concerns the DNA that is doing the encoding — not the EPO itself. Part (b) merely addresses the next step in the process which is the step of isolating. Thus, "said glycosylated erythropoietin polypeptide" refers back to the preamble before steps (a) and (b) are described. This is the only reading that makes grammatical sense. Moreover, it is consistent with how the claims of the `080 patent are read. There, "said erythropoietin glycoprotein" always refers back to the exact identical language at the beginning of the claim and not to the attributes of the glycoprotein itself. `080 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 39-50.

b. Conclusion

In sum, Amgen has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that HMR/TKT's HMR 4396 does indeed literally infringe claims 4-9 of the `698 patent. Before ruling that Amgen prevails on this issue, however, the Court must address HMR/TKT's reverse doctrine of equivalents defense.

4. Reverse Doctrine of Equivalents

a. Overview of the Doctrine

The reverse doctrine of equivalents is an equitable doctrine that a court applies when it finds that the accused device literally infringes a patented invention, but is so fundamentally different from the patented invention that a judgment of infringement would be inappropriate. Texas Instruments, Inc. v. United States International Trade Commission, 846 F.2d 1369, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 1988) ("Texas Instruments II") (noting that it might be better described as "the doctrine of non-equivalents");Scripps Clinic Research Found. v. Genentech Inc., 927 F.2d 1565, 1581 (Fed. Cir. 1991). The doctrine was first articulated by the Supreme Court in Boyden Powder-Brake Co. v.Westinghouse, 170 U.S. 537, 568 (1898) (establishing that the doctrine of equivalents could be used defensively); Gillette v.S.C. Johnson Son, Inc., Nos. 83-2657-N, 83-3201-N, 1989 WL 87374, at *19 (D. Mass. July 31, 1989) (Collings, M.J.) (commenting that Westinghouse was the seminal case respecting the reverse doctrine of equivalents); George M. Sirilla, Thomas P. Feddo Michael C. Antone, The Doctrine of Equivalents: Both a Sword and a Shield, 13 Fed. Cir. B.J. 75, 77-78 (2003) (noting that Westinghouse was a "seminal case" in establishing the use of the doctrine of equivalents as a shield); John F. Duffy, The Festo Decision and the Return of the Supreme Court to the Bar of Patents, 2002 Sup. Ct. Rev. 273, 315 (2002). Approximately fifty years later, in Graver Tank Mfg. Co. v. Linde Air Products Co., 339 U.S. 605, 608-609 (1950), the Supreme Court explicitly endorsed the reverse doctrine of equivalents. Graver Tank, 339 U.S. at 608-609 (noting that the doctrine of equivalents "is not always applied in favor of the patentee but is sometimes used against him" when "the invention is so far changed in principle from a patented article that it performs the same or a similar function in a substantially different way"); Scripps, 927 F.2d at 1581 (quoting Graver Tank); Tate Access Floors, Inc. v. Interface Architectural Res. Inc., 279 F.3d 1357, 1368 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (remarking that the Supreme Court referred to the reverse doctrine in Graver Tank).

The reverse doctrine of equivalents is applied equitably based upon factual determinations made after "the accused infringer proves that, despite the asserted claims literally reading on the accused devise, `it has been so changed that it is no longer the same invention.'" Amgen II, 314 F. 3d at 1351 (quoting Del Mar Avionics, Inc. v. Quinton Instrument Co., 836 F.2d 1320, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 1987)). As the Supreme Court explained in Westinghouse:

The patentee may bring the defendant within the letter of his claims, but if the latter has so far changed the principle of the device that the claims of the patent, literally construed, have ceased to represent his actual invention, he is as little subject to be adjudged an infringer as one who has violated the letter of a statute has to be convicted, when he has done nothing in conflict with its spirit and intent.

Although the Federal Circuit recognizes this doctrine, it is rarely invoked successfully. Shyh-Jen Wang Shyh-Yau Wang, The Verification Flow Chart of Patent Infringement, 86 J. Pat. Trademark Off. Soc'y 74, 78 (2004) ("[I]t is not often raised and even less frequently successful."); Burk Lemley, supra, at 1657. Indeed, according to the Federal Circuit, it has never upheld a decision of non-infringement based on the reverse doctrine of equivalents. Tate, 279 F.3d at 1368 (labeling the reverse doctrine "anachronistic"). This may be because circumstances in which the doctrine is satisfied are very rare.See, e.g., SRI Int'l, 775 F.2d at 1124, n. 19 ("Because products on which patent claims are readable word for word often are in fact the same, perform the same function in the same way, and achieve the same result, as the claimed invention, a defense based on the reverse doctrine of equivalents is rarely offered."); Caterpillar Tractor Co. v. Berco, S.P.A., 714 F.2d 1110, 1115, n. 3 (Fed. Cir. 1983) ("It is possible, of course, for a claim to be literally but not actually infringed, where, for example, a claim may `read on' a structure having no relation to the invention. Instances are rare."); Donald S. Chisum, Chisum on Patents, § 18.04(4)(b) at 18-392 (2000). On the other hand, its rarity may be, as the Federal Circuit suggested in Tate, a result of the enactment of 35 U.S.C. § 112. Tate, 279 F.3d at 1368 (explaining that "the written description requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112 are co-extensive with the broadest possible reach of the reverse doctrine of equivalents"); Joseph Yang Roxana H. Yang, An Update on the Doctrine of Equivalents — Where Do We Stand in 2003?, 749 Practicing L. Inst. 521, 561 (2003) (concluding that this is a dead doctrine due to the enactment of section 112). In other words, alleged infringers that perhaps could successfully have evoked the reverse doctrine of equivalents do not attempt to do so because they prevail with section 112 challenges on grounds such as inadequate written description, lack of enablement, or means-plus-function. See, e.g., Texas Instruments, Inc. v. United States Int'l Trade Comm'n, 805 F.2d 1558, 1571-2 (Fed. Cir. 1986) ("Texas Instruments I") (applying the principles underlying the reverse doctrine of equivalents in the context of section 112, paragraph 6). As the Federal Circuit explained in Texas Instruments II, 846 F.2d at 1372, section 112 and the reverse doctrine are intertwined:

The reverse doctrine of equivalents is invoked when claims are written more broadly than the disclosure warrants. The purpose of restricting the scope of such claims is not only to avoid a holding of infringement when a court deems it appropriate, but often is to preserve the validity of the claims with respect to their original intended scope.

Despite the paucity of cases relying on the reverse doctrine, the doctrine is not yet dead. Indeed, just last year, the Federal Circuit implied in two separate cases that the reverse doctrine of equivalents still had a heart beat, albeit a faint one. See Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1351 (discussing the doctrine as though it were a viable one, but holding that it did not apply to the case at bar); Plant Genetic Systems, N.V. v.Dekalb Genetics Corp., 315 F.3d 1335, 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2003) ("[T]he judicially-developed `reverse doctrine of equivalents,' requiring interpretation of claims in light of the specification, may be safely relied upon to preclude improper enforcement against later developers."); Burk Lemley, supra, at 1657, n. 308 (interpreting Amgen II as implying the viability of the reverse doctrine). This is rightly so.

Although both the reverse doctrine of equivalents and section 112 spring from the same roots and very often take account of the same factors and considerations," Texas Instruments II, 846 F.2d at 1372 (Davis, J., concurring), the reverse doctrine is theoretically — if not practically — distinct from section 112 requirements. See, e.g., Warner-Jenkinson Co, Inc. v. Hilton Davis Chemical Co., 520 U.S. 17, 35 (1997) (rejecting the notion expressed in Tate that section 112 nullified or codified the reverse doctrine); cf. Sirilla, Feddo Antone, supra, at 82, 102 (stating that the requirements of section 112 provide the context in deciding the rightful reach of the claims and thereby implying that section 112 and the reverse doctrine are distinct); Ronald D. Hantman, Why Not the Statute?: Revisited, 83 J. Pat. Trademark Off. Soc'y 685, 704 (2001) (noting that "the Federal Circuit has interpreted the reverse doctrine of equivalents as distinct from section 112" but opining that they are not). The reverse doctrine of equivalents, unlike the requirements of section 112, supports innovation — especially in the area of biotechnology where blocking patents are common — because it offers some chance of protection to those that make substantial changes or radical improvements to inventions. Mark A. Lemley, The Economics of Improvement in Intellectual Property Law, 75 Tex. L.Rev. 989, 991, 1011, 1067 (1997) ("Economics") ("The application of the reverse doctrine is to protect substantial improvers from infringing if they are sufficiently radical."); cf. Burk Lemley, supra, at 1681; Mark R. Patterson, Inventions, Industry Standards, and Intellectual Property, 17 Berkeley Tech. L.J. 1043, 1052 (2002) ("The reverse doctrine of equivalents can be viewed as a means of avoiding hold-ups that can deter innovation."); see also Robert P. Merges Richard R. Nelson, On the Complex Economics of Patent Scope, 90 Colum. L.Rev. 839, 866 (1990) ("[T]he reverse doctrine of equivalents solves the problem of [hold-up by blocking patents] by, in effect, excusing the improver from infringement liability — and therefore removing the original patentee's hold-up right."). As the Federal Circuit explained in Plant Genetics, should an alleged infringer lose its section 112 arguments because the technology was new and therefore did not need to be described or enabled, it can bring a challenge under the reverse doctrine of equivalents.Plant Genetics, 315 F.3d at 1341. Thus, the reverse doctrine, unlike section 112, acts as a "judicial safety valve," Robert Merges, Intellectual Property Rights and Bargaining Breakdown: The Case of Blocking Patents, 62 Tenn. L.Rev. 75, 75-76 (1994) ("Blocking Patents"), allowing consideration of equity and fairness, "soft factors," that a section 112 inquiry does not incorporate. In essence, the reverse doctrine, when equity demands it, reverses the protection given to broad patents that satisfy section 112. Cf. Lemley,Economics, at 1003 (noting that patent owners are not limited to what they actually discovered "so long as the patentee describes the general class and its characteristics with sufficient precision that others can identify and use them without undue experimentation"); cf. Antony L. Ryan Roger G. Brooks, Innovation vs. Evasion: Clarifying Patent Rights in Second Generation Genes and Proteins, 17 Berkeley Tech. L.J. 1265, 1280 (2002) (noting that "in theory the reverse doctrine of equivalents" could provide some relief in the biotech arena where innovation is stifled by broad patents but concluding that it is applied so rarely that its comfort is slight); Toshiko Takenaka,Doctrine of Equivalents After Hilton Davis: A Comparative Law Analysis, 22 Rutgers Computer Tech. L.J. 479, 506-07 (1996) ("Application of the reverse doctrine of equivalents may prevent enforcing the patent as broadly as drafted.").

This is not to suggest that the reverse doctrine of equivalents should be invoked frequently. To the contrary, it should be saved — and apparently is — for the inventor that radically, not just modestly, improves upon the prior art such that there is a "manifest departure from the principle in the [patentee's] patent." Westinghouse, 170 U.S. at 572, 579 (commenting that the alleged infringer's invention did not infringe not just because it was novel or changed in principle but because it solved an important problem that the patentee's invention did not and pointing out that the alleged infringer's invention was a "radical departure"); see generally SRI International, 775 F.2d at 1123 (emphasizing that the reverse doctrine protects when the alleged infringer's device is "so far changed in principle that it performs in asubstantially different way" (internal quotation marks omitted)); Scripps, 927 F.2d at 1581 (suggesting application of the reverse doctrine on remand where the defendant produced similar biological materials by a potentially radically new biotechnological process); cf. Winans, 56 U.S. at 342-343 ("It is only ingenious diversities of form and proportion, presenting the appearance of something unlike the thing patented," which indicate that infringement should not be found. (emphasis added)); see also Diamond Int'l Corp. v. Maryland Fresh Eggs, Inc., 374 F. Supp. 1223, 1247 (D. Md. 1974) (noting that it is the "really meritorious improver" who deserves the benefit of the concept of the reverse doctrine of equivalents),rev'd on other grounds, 523 F.2d 113 (4th Cir.); Lemley,Economics, at 1067; Merges, Blocking Patents, at 92-94 (opining that the alleged infringer must show a "radical improvement" or "significant contribution" or "substantial technological improvement" such as that shown in Westinghouse or Scripps); Donna M. Gitter, International Conflicts Over Patenting Human DNA Sequences in the United States and the European Union: An Argument for Compulsory Licensing and a Fair-Use Exemption, 76 N.Y.U.L.R. 1623, n. 411 (2001); Sean Hogle, Unauthorized Derivative Source Code, 18 No. 5 Computer Internet Law. 1, 3 (2001). Only then will the certainty of patent law be preserved while still encouraging and rewarding substantial, radical, innovation. Merges Nelson, supra, at 867 n. 120; cf. Merges, Blocking Patents, at 92 (asserting that the reverse doctrine creates enough of a threat to pioneer patentees to positively influence the changes of a society productive agreement between the pioneer and radical improver); Lemley, Economics, at 1012 ("The reverse doctrine of equivalents therefore benefits radical improvers at the expense of the original patentee, and so encourages radical improvements, just as the blocking patents rule provides some lesser encouragement to significant improvements.").

b. Discussion

HMR/TKT argues that it does not infringe claims 4-9 of the `698 patent because its process is "so far removed in terms of its principles of operation from the process Amgen disclosed." HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 18. Although HMR/TKT proffers many reasons in support of its position, it has failed to make out a prima facie case. As Amgen aptly points out, HMR/TKT makes the same mistake with each of its arguments. It repeatedly compares its process to the examples disclosed in Amgen's patent specification instead of to the "equitable scope of the claims." Scripps, 927 F.2d at 1581 ("Application of the doctrine requires that facts specific to the accused device be determined and weighed against the equitable scope of the claims, which in turn is determined in light of the specification, the prosecution history, and the prior art."); cf. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1351 (rejecting HMR/TKT's reverse doctrine of equivalents arguments regarding the `349 patent that compared its invention to the examples in the specification and not to the claims); SDS USA, Inc. v. Ken Specialties, Inc., 122 F. Supp. 2d 533, 541 (D.N.J. 2000) (holding that the accused infringer had "fail[ed] to mount a prima facie case because it [had] compare[d] the accused product not to the . . . patent, but to [the patentee's] commercial embodiment"). The proper question, however, is how any purported differences are changed in principle from Amgen's patented processes given "the context of the patent, the prior art, and the particular circumstances of the case." Graver Tank, 339 U.S. at 609; United States Steel Corp., 865 F.2d at 1253 n. 9. (affirming district court's decision that was based on the principle of the contribution made by the inventor); Scripps, 927 F.2d at 1581. Thus, as will be explained below, although HMR/TKT presents evidence showing many differences between its process and those specifically exemplified in Amgen's specification, it fails to prove that these differences matter.

(1) Homologous Recombination, Endogenous EPO DNA, and The Neighborhood's Effect on the Production of EPO

(a) Homologous Recombination and Endogenous EPO DNA

HMR/TKT repeatedly asserts that (1) its process is different because it uses homologous recombination (as opposed to heterologous recombination); and (2) its EPO gene is different in structure because HMR/TKT's EPO DNA is endogenous and Amgen's is exogenous. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 13; HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 141; HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial at 28.

Tellingly, aside from the neighborhood theory (discussed immediately below), HMR/TKT does not even attempt to explain how these differences matter — that is, how they are different in principle from the processes disclosed in Amgen's patents. Instead, it primarily relies on this Court's prior findings, in the equivalent infringement context, that HMR/TKT's process is not substantially similar to Amgen's because, inter alia, it uses homologous recombination and endogenous activation techniques. See, e.g., Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 102-03 (concluding that "[HMR/]TKT is able to express high levels of human EPO in human cells without having to rely upon host cells from alternative species"). While it is true that the Court inAmgen I asserted that use of endogenous DNA was "an important distinction" in its eyes, the Court's vantage point has now changed. The Federal Circuit has made clear that the proper infringement analysis — of which the reverse doctrine of equivalents is a part — requires the Court to look at the properly construed claims and not to limit its purview to the invention as described in embodiments in the specification. See Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1351 (making clear that the claims must frame the analysis when considering the reverse doctrine of equivalents). Clearly, endogenous DNA and homologous recombination are not explicated in any claim limitations. Moreover, the Court has already found — and the Federal Circuit upheld — that the specification does not limit the claims to exogenous activation and homogenous recombination. Id. Thus, the mere fact that HMR/TKT utilizes these other techniques does not alone demonstrate any substantial change from Amgen's patents. As the Court found in Amgen I in the context of the `349 patent, whether DNA encoding human EPO originated within or outside of the host cell simply does not matter, because the coding sequences of the DNA are the same and both DNA sequences function the same way to produce human EPO. 126 F. Supp. 2d at 121; see also Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1098: 6-12.

True, heterologous recombination and endogenous activation techniques were not known by skilled artisans at the time Amgen filed its application. Equivalent infringement, however, is evaluated based on the date of infringement. Warner-Jenkinson, 520 U.S. at 37. Here, the evidence does not show that these techniques are different in principle than those espoused in Amgen's patent. Moreover, the mere use of new technology — even when it is superior — does not on its own justify the application of the reverse doctrine of equivalents. Westinghouse, 170 U.S. at 723 (noting that infringement can be found even if the device is an improvement upon that of the patentee);Studiengesellschaft Kohle, m.b.H. v. Dart Indus., Inc., 726 F.2d 724, 728 (Fed. Cir. 1984) ("That [the alleged infringer's] catalysts may be superior to those actually invented, disclosed, and contemplated by [the patentee] would not by itself remove [the alleged infringer's] catalysts from the scope of [the patentee's] claims."); Phillips Petroleum Co. v.United States Steel Corp., 673 F. Supp. 1278, 1357 (D. Del. 1987) (similar); Lemley, Economics, at 1010-11 (noting that "any invention, no matter how pioneering, can be thought of as an improvement on prior work," and that "not all improvements escape infringement," even significant ones, but that "radical improvements are protected under the reverse doctrine of equivalents"). HMR/TKT must somehow show its product or process is changed "in principle" from what is embraced in the patent claims — that is, that these differences "amount to a significant contribution that takes the invention outside the equitable bounds of the patent." Westinghouse, 170 U.S. at 572, 579 (noting that it was not just novel but also a substantial improvement); cf. Scripps, 927 F.2d at 1581; Merges Nelson,supra, at 864-65 (interpreting the reverse doctrine as requiring not just novelty but a significant contribution or substantial improvement and relying on Westinghouse and SRI International as support). Importantly, HMR/TKT provides no support — aside from this Court's dicta — that its endogenous activation technique or homologous recombination was an improvement "so radical that it fundamentally changed the nature of the invention." Lemley,Economics, at 1067. HMR/TKT merely points to differences such as "endogenous genes in mammalian cells have a methylation pattern that exogenous genes lack." HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 141. Aside from the neighborhood theory, discussed and rejected by the Court below, HMR/TKT does not explain how these differences matter. Its showing is simply inadequate.

(b) The Endogenous EPO Neighborhood and Its Effect on EPO Production

HMR/TKT argues that how the gene construct "functions with the surrounding neighborhood to produce EPO is completely different in HMR/TKT's and Amgen's cells." HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact at 29-32; HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 16 (claiming that the way in which expression of human EPO is accomplished is significantly different in HMR/TKT's process). In support, it explains that HMR/TKT activates the normally silent EPO gene and inserts it amidst the endogenous EPO neighborhood. HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 122-125. This, according to HMR/TKT, enables the promoter "to work with other nearby enhancers and the EPO gene neighborhood to contribute to the gene's transcriptional activity," id. ¶ 124, and to "produce higher levels of EPO,"id. ¶ 129. See id. ¶¶ 126-138.

While this theory is intriguing — and might well have justified invocation of the reverse doctrine of equivalents — the evidence HMR/TKT presented fails sufficiently to support it.

HMR/TKT relied primarily on Dr. Kingston's testimony to elucidate its neighborhood theory. Dr. Kingston testified that the neighborhood around the EPO gene affects expression capability. See, e.g., Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 36. He explained that HMR/TKT uses an endogenous EPO promoter in a region that is normally set up to express EPO. Therefore, like a hotel that is positioned in the heart of the city, he argued, it is helped by its surroundings, that is, the nearby regulatory sites "all work together to help keep this gene on." See, e.g., Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 26-28. This is different, according to Dr. Kingston, than Amgen's process which, as explained in the specification, randomly integrates exogenous DNA, leaving the potential surroundings up to chance. Id. at 26-28 ("A gene that has gone into an open region that doesn't happen to be near any other regulatory elements" may have "nothing in its surroundings to help it stay on."); id. at 151. Dr. Kingston opined that it was the neighborhood — and not the difference in promoter strength, culture conditions, media, or cell type, or any other factors — that caused HMR/TKT's construct to express more EPO per gene copy than the cells made following example 10 in Amgen's patent. Id. at 29-33.

Although this testimony is compelling, it fails to persuade the Court for three reasons. First, notwithstanding Dr. Kingston's testimony to the contrary, the bulk of the credible evidence demonstrates that the endogenous regulatory sequences surrounding the EPO gene in HMR/TKT's construct are "inactive" and actually do not work with the CMV promoter to enhance EPO reproduction in the R223 cells. Dr. Wall testified that the EPO neighborhood in HRM/TKT's cells does not enhance their ability to produce EPO. Wall Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1149: 3-5, 1161-62. Specifically, he explained

The genomic neighborhood around the EPO gene is there to constrain the expression of the EPO gene in very specific cells; and in all the rest of the cells in the body the genomic neighborhood is silent, it's shut down, it's not responsive to hypoxia. So the genomic neighborhood is not set there to somehow enhance the activity of this really robust viral promoter. Instead, it's there to exquisitely restrict the level and the tissue-specific activity of the EPO gene expression.

Second, Dr. Kingston — the sole exponent of the neighborhood theory — did not perform any experiment to validate his conclusions. Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1495: 9-1496: 16; Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 189: 14-16; Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1086 (noting that there is no evidence that supports Dr. Kingston's contention); id. at 1096: 1-5. He merely compared HMR/TKT's R223 cell experiments with Amgen's Example 10 cell experiments. These comparisons do not, on their own, establish Dr. Kingston's conclusions. As both Dr. Lodish and Dr. Wall pointed out — and Dr. Kingston did not dispute — Dr. Kingstown compared EPO production per gene copy by looking at experiments with cells grown in different locations under different conditions by different people without controlling for other variables that could have affected the amount of EPO produced per gene copy. Id. at 1095-98, 1091 (explaining that Dr. Kingston's comparison did not account for the different growing conditions, different promoters, and many other variables in the experiment that are evidenced by the thousand-fold variance in data points for one construct and pointing out that Kingston relied on only a single data point); Wall Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1155, 1157-1158 (objecting to Dr. Kingston's conclusions because there is not a reliably established significant difference; "you can't really compare these two cells. They're like apples and oranges" due to "time differences" and a "large number of variables that could affect the expression level of EPO in those cells"); cf. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 190-91, 199-202, 205-06 (conceding that no other experiments were conducted, that the experiments were based on a single data point, and that he could not do a statistical analysis to determine if there was an outlier, but asserting that he still considered them to be controlled experiments); Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1484-85, 1490-91 (acknowledging that factors other than "neighborhood" effects can affect the amount of EPO produced per gene copy). Even Dr. Kingston admitted that a failure to use controls can lead to erroneous or misleading results and that a competent technician controls for the variables that could cause certain results. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 120: 10-18, 119: 9-120: 3. Furthermore, the evidence at trial suggested that HMR/TKT's experimental data itself was inconsistent. A single data point was an 800-fold difference from all the other data points — a variance greater than the alleged 500-fold difference between the single data point for pREPO26 and the highest value reported for pREPO22. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 190: 16-25, 201: 1-10;see also 12-17-96 Memo from Fike to Hermentin, Ex. 165. Thus, there is no reliable experimental data supporting the contention that it is the neighborhood, as opposed to some other factor, that accounts for HMR/TKT's expression capabilities.

Third, even if HMR/TKT had proven that the genomic EPO regulatory sequences in the EPO neighborhood — and not other factors like nutritional growth conditions, limits in cellular folding, strength of promoter, number of enhancers, and the Kozak sequence — affected the amount of EPO produced per gene copy, that would not have proved a meaningful change or substantial difference in actual EPO production. SRI Int'l, 775 F.2d at 1123; cf. Winans, 56 U.S. at 342-343. The evidence shows that HMR/TKT's R223 cells do not produce more EPO or better EPO, even though they make more EPO per gene copy than the cells made following example 10 in Amgen's patent. Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 178: 4-12; Wall Test., R. Trial at 1155: 4-9, 1156: 23-1157: 1 (noting that the difference is not significant). Indeed, Dr. Kingston admitted that actual EPO production levels by Amgen's example 10 cells and R223 cells were comparable. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 177: 25-178: 16. Moreover, uncontradicted testimony adduced at trial shows that there was no difference in biological activity or therapeutic effects of the EPO glycoprotein ultimately secreted by the two cells. Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 166: 15-25. Given the claims, the specification, and the absence of any language about gene copy number, how efficiently the EPO is made is simply not material. HMR/TKT points to nothing in the specification or prosecution history to suggest otherwise. As both Dr. Lodish and Dr. Wall testified, a more significant comparison would be between the amounts of EPO made by the respective cells or even between the rates of expression of EPO per million cells per 24 hours in the respective parties' processes — not the amount of EPO produced per gene copy. Wall Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1155: 4-9; Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1085: 13. Moreover, even if a comparison of the amount of EPO produced per gene copy was a material one, and if such a comparison had been conducted using controls, HMR/TKT's argument would likely still fail. HMR/TKT compares its cells to the cells in an example when it is clear, as Amgen argues, that "Dr. Lin's patent describes and teaches much more — including various cultured vertebrate and mammalian cells, including human cells, grown in optimized nutrient conditions having stronger and/or more numerous viral promoters and enhancers." Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact ¶ 101;see also Wall Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1161: 8-13.

Had HMR/TKT proven that its new technology of using homologous recombination or endogenous activation actually worked in some substantially different way due to the neighborhood and enabled it to produce significantly more EPO or EPO that somehow differed in its biologic or therapeutic effects (which would have supported HMR/TKT's contention that its technology functions differently), it might well have demonstrated sufficient grounds for invoking the reverse doctrine of equivalents. Cf. Scripps, 927 F.2d at 1565 (noting that whether alleged infringer's new recombinant technology resulted in "specific activities and purity" otherwise unattainable might, if proven, provide sufficient grounds for invoking the reverse doctrine of equivalents). Here, however, HMR/TKT has not done so. It has not shown that any of these differences constitute a radical or dramatic improvement or are "so far changed in principal that they perform the function in a substantially different way." SRI Int'l, 775 F.2d at 1124.

Thus, despite the fact that HMR/TKT's process employs homologous recombination and endogenous DNA and produces more EPO per gene copy than Amgen's Example 10 cells, it appears that its process does exactly that which Amgen's patent teaches: it introduces a strong viral promoter and non-human enhancers to overcome the naturally restrictive neighborhood in the R223 cells. See Wall Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1149: 3-14, 1159: 6-1161: 13; Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1097; Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 165: 1-11, 178: 4-12; Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1382-1386.

(2) Different Promoter Placement, Splice Sites, and Leader Sequences

HMR/TKT argues that it places its promoter much farther upstream of the EPO gene to be expressed than does Amgen and that this was something those skilled in the art in 1984 would not have dared to attempt. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 13. As a result, it contends, HMR/TKT's process for producing EPO uses primary RNA transcripts and splice sites that differ from those used in Amgen's process, and results in a different EPO mRNA in HMR/TKT's and Amgen's cells and a different primary EPO protein product. HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact at 33-36; HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 15.

(a) Upstream Promoter Placement and Splice Sites

Although it is undisputed that HMR/TKT places its promoter much farther upstream than 44 base pairs (the position described in one example in Amgen's specification), the Court has now found that placement of the promoter further upstream of the EPO coding region and splicing out deleterious ATGs was indeed a concept known and understood to those skilled in the art at the time Amgen filed its application (1983-84). Furthermore, the Court has held that Amgen's process covers, adequately describes, and enables such upstream promoter placement.

In terms of the EPO splice donor sites, it is undisputed that absent the exons, the splice donor sites are the same and that the intended effect of both processes was to splice out what is in between including intervening sequences and any deleterious ATGs. See, e.g., Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1431: 10-19, 1432: 14-24, 1433: 1-22, 1440: 19-25, 2094-2102 (admitting that what HMR/TKT labeled as its splice donor site is identical to the human splice donor site disclosed by Amgen in Figure 6). HMR/TKT argues, however, that its splice site is not the same as Amgen's because the left portion (the exon) is different. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 15; HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact at 35. It asserts that "it is the exon portion that matters" because it creates the leader sequence for the expressed polypeptide, that is, the exons remain to encode the polypeptide while the introns are removed. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 15. Amgen argues that the exon is irrelevant and not part of the splice site. Therefore, the key factual question for the Court is whether exons are included when one skilled in the art refers to the splice sites.

To the extent that the experts disagreed, the Court credits Dr. Lodish's testimony explaining that the exons are not included. Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1107-10; id. at 1132-33 (explaining that it is the splice donor sequence, not the splice junction, that will determine where downstream and with what corresponding DNA downstream a splice junction will splice and stating that "the splice donor is the sequence . . . that is removed during the splicing process," the splice acceptor is the sequence that is removed downstream, and "it's the regions on either side that are linked together"). This accreditation of Dr. Lodish's testimony is supported by evidence that HMR/TKT itself did not consider the hgH exon 1 to be part of the splice donor sequence. In its Investigational New Drug Application (IND) and in its patent, HMR/TKT identifies the splice donor site to be separate from the growth hormone exon 1 sequence. See, e.g., HMR/TKT's IND, Ex. 19, at 554; HRM/TKT's IND, Ex. 20, at 830; U.S. Patent No. 5,641,670 ("Treco's Patent"), Ex. 12, col. 50: 53-55; see also Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 2094-2102 (conceding that this interpretation of the IND and patent is correct — that is, that HMR/TKT did not include the three nucleotides in exon 1 as part of the splice donor sequence). Moreover, in the IND, HMR/TKT identifies the splice donor sequence to be the first 10 nucleotides of intron 1: GTGAGTACTC, which is identical to the sequence in Amgen's patent. See, e.g., HMR/TKT's IND, Ex. 19, at 554; HRM/TKT's IND, Ex. 20, at 830; see also Demonstrative Aids 7 8 from Lodish Rebuttal Examination, R. Trial.

Thus, as alluded to earlier in the written description analysis, this Court finds that the fair preponderance of the evidence shows, by a slight margin, that HMR 4396 uses the same splice donor site as that disclosed in Amgen's specification. Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1431: 10-19, 1432: 14-24, 1433: 1-22, 1440: 19-25 (admitting that absent the exons, the splice donor sites were the same and that the intended effect was to splice out what is in between, including intervening sequences and the deleterious ATGs). The only difference is that Amgen takes the genomic EPO splice donor site disclosed in Amgen's Figure 6 and moves it upstream. Placing the promoter further upstream of DNA encoding a protein using the identical splice site is simply not a fundamental change in principal, because the intervening DNA is spliced out when the mRNA is formed. As discussed supra, skilled artisans could have done this at the time Amgen filed its application, and, more importantly, skilled artisans could easily have done it at the time of the alleged infringement — the relevant time period for analyzing equivalent infringement. Warner-Jenkinson, 520 U.S. at 37. Therefore, it is unclear how HMR/TKT can argue that its promoter placement differentiates its process from Amgen's process. As the Federal Circuit pointed out when HMR/TKT made the same argument in furtherance of the reverse doctrine of equivalents with respect to the `349 product claims, the exact promoter placement or the way the accused device controls transcription is not relevant to the analysis because neither the claims nor the specification require a locational limitation. They merely call for "operative linkage," which was construed by the Court to mean "the promoter DNA is linked to the EPO DNA in a way that maintains the capability of the promoter DNA to initiate transcription of the EPO DNA." Amgen, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 90. It refused to read any distance restriction in the claim term "operatively linked," because the specification does not restrict the promoter location. It merely communicates that in order to achieve "operative link[age]," what is important is placing a strong promoter upstream of the ATG initiating codon of the EPO gene and splicing out unwanted ATGs. Thus, that which HMR/TKT does was "suggested" by the patent. Westinghouse, 170 U.S. at 573 ("If the method pursued by the patentee for the performance of the function discovered by him would naturally have suggested the device adopted by the defendants, that is in itself evidence of intended infringement."). Thus, HMR/TKT has not shown any real difference, let alone a substantial or radical one.

(b) Different Leader Sequences in the Primary EPO Protein Product

HMR/TKT argues that its primary EPO protein product is different from Amgen's product because it contains a hybrid leader sequence containing both hGH and human EPO amino acids, whereas Amgen's only contains EPO leader sequences. HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact at 36; HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 15. At trial, Dr. Lodish conceded that in Amgen's Example 10, exon 1 comes from the EPO gene whereas in HMR/TKT's process, it comes from the human growth hormone gene. Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 174. He explained that the difference between the leader peptides is a "minor" one because they both function in exactly the same way and both are removed.Id.; see also id. at 433-34 (stating that the leader peptides are different but perform the same function and are ultimately cleaved); id. at 159-160. Evidently, exons 2-5 of the EPO structural genes are what encode amino acids in the mature secreted form of the protein. Id. at 173; id. at 160 ("[E]xon 1 . . . encodes part of the leader peptide which is removed from the cell and has no other function."). Furthermore, what is ultimately secreted from the cell is the same polypeptide with three n-linked oligosacharides, sialic acids . . . and one o-linked oligosacharide." Id. at 174; id. at 160 ("Exon 1 . . . has no effect whatsoever on the secreted mature EPO glycoprotein."). HMR/TKT points to no evidence disputing this testimony nor does it even attempt to explain how this difference presents a change in principle from Amgen's patented process.

(3) Method of Growing Cells

HMR/TKT argues that it grows its cells in a substantially different manner from that described in the `698 patent. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 18-19; HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact at 38-41. It points out that Amgen's specification describes a process of growing vertebrate cells that uses a roller bottle system to obtain adhesion of the cell line to the bottle surface. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 19. HMR/TKT, on the other hand, uses an air-lift technology that "works in a completely different way from roller bottle technology". Id.

These arguments fail for the same reasons that all of HMR/TKT's other reverse doctrine of equivalents arguments fail. First, HMR/TKT compares its process to the method of culturing described in an embodiment in the specification instead of to the spirit and intent of the claims. Second, it has not even argued how its culturing process is changed in principle from that explicated in Amgen's patent.

The Court begins by pointing out that it has not construed the claims to require roller bottle culturing. Nor has HMR/TKT pointed to anything in the patent, specification, or prosecution history to compel it to do so. HMR/TKT simply argues that because a roller bottle system is the only type of culturing actually described in the specification, the claims should be limited to this type of culturing. The Court has already explained at length that a patent's scope is not limited to those embodiments described in the specification, absent concerns about invalidity, prosecution history estoppel, or other such grounds.

Moreover, after a careful review of the specification, it is clear that it does anything but imply that use of roller bottles is the only way to culture or grow the cells. The specification states that productivity can be improved "by appropriate cell culture techniques." `933 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 27: 7-9. Then it makes a general statement that "[the] propagation of mammalian cells in culture generally requires the presence of serum in the growth media," but that "a method" that does not contain serum can "greatly facilitate" the process. Id. at col. 27: 10-14 (emphasis added). The implication of these two sentences is (a) more than one culturing technique is contemplated, and (b) both serum and serum-free culturing can be used to propagate mammalian cells, but serum-free is preferred. The specification then goes on to describe one such preferred method that happens to use roller bottles. Id. at col. 27: 15-53. Later, the specification also teaches, in the preferred method, growing suspension cell cultures in spinner flasks — yet another type of culturing or growing process. Id. at col. 27: 19-21. Thus, the specification does not only teach culturing via the roller-bottle but also teaches culturing in spinner flasks. Indeed, HMR/TKT's expert testimony confirms this interpretation of the specification. See Hancock Test., R. Trial Tr. at 259: 20-260: 21, 262: 16-263: 24 (admitting that in 1984 roller-bottles were not the only method for culturing mammalian cells and that the specification teaches growing up the suspension cell cultures in spinner flasks, which grow the cells in suspension).

Since HMR/TKT points to nothing in the patent or prosecution history to support adding a limitation to the claims, the Court refuses to do so. The equitable scope of the claim is broader than roller-bottle culturing. Scripps, 927 F.2d at 1581 (weighing accused device against equitable scope of the claims); Sirilla, Feddo Antone, supra, at 101.

Even if the Court were to limit the claims to a roller bottle system of culturing, HRM/TKT would still fall short of making a prima facie showing that the reverse doctrine of equivalents is applicable. HMR/TKT does not even attempt to explain how using an air-lift fermenter to grow its cells (as opposed to roller bottles) justifies invoking the reverse doctrine of equivalents, that is, it does not show how this difference is a "manifest departure in principle" or even novel, for that matter.Westinghouse, 170 U.S. 572, 579. Instead, it spent many of its precious trial minutes eliciting testimony about the minute distinctions between air-lift fermenting and roller-bottle culturing. See generally Hancock Test., R. Trial Tr. at 232-39. For example, it showed at trial that (a) the cells circulate through the fermenter, but adhere as a layer to the surface of the roller bottles; (b) roller bottle culturing uses fetal calf serum, while the air-lift technology does not; (c) roller bottle culturing is done horizontally, while air-lift fermenting is done vertically; and (d) multiple bottles are used in roller bottle culturing, while only a single vessel is used in air-lift fermentation. Id. at 234, 236-40. HMR/TKT failed, however, to demonstrate that the two processes are premised on anything other than the same principle of mixing cell cultures.

Indeed, HMR/TKT did not even show that air-lift fermenting was superior let alone a substantial or radical improvement. Dr. Hancock basically testified as to how the processes were different, but said nothing about how these differences mattered.See generally Hancock Test., R. Trial Tr. at 232-39. True, Dr. Hancock testified there is a risk of contamination when using fetal calf serum and that the air-lift fermenter allows for more uniform monitoring and control of conditions since it only uses one vessel. Id. at 234-35, 241, 256; see also id. at 238-399. He did not, however, loop it back together. He did not present or refer to any controlled experimental data comparing the two processes that showed that fetal calf serum caused contamination that affected the process. Id. at 256-57. Moreover, he did not testify as to how or even whether the additional level of control in air-lift fermenting is beneficial or superior. Id. at 239. He merely made some vague statements that in the air lift fermentation technology, the process could potentially be optimized because the medium can be defined. Id. at 242-43. Even if there had been a more concrete showing that serum-free medium was advantageous to fetal-calf serum medium, it would not have been enough to show a substantial change or manifest departure in principle. As discussed earlier, the mere fact that something is improved or better does not justify invoking the reverse doctrine. See, e.g., Studiengesellschaft, 726 F.2d at 728; Phillips Petroleum Co., 673 F. Supp. 1278.

Further, HMR/TKT's own expert implicitly admitted that growing cells in an air-lift fermenter is equivalent to many culture methods including the roller bottles or spinner flasks exemplified in Amgen's patent. Hancock Test., R. Trial Tr. at 264: 12-265: 12, 261: 23-262: 24 (conceding that regardless of whether roller bottle spinner cells are used or other types of culturing techniques, the objectives are the same and can be met by mixing or agitating the cell culture by spinning, rolling, or mixing it with air bubbles from an air-lift fermenter).

As the Federal Circuit has noted many times in the past, "[e]quivalence and non-equivalence, as the terms indicate, are but opposite sides of the same coin." SRI International, 775 F.2d at 1125; id. at 1125 n. 22 ("In both instances, one is dealing with whether a particular product falls within a range of products which the patent entitles the patentee to exclude others from making, using, or selling."); see Westinghouse, 170 U.S. at 568; Texas Instruments II, 846 F.2d at 1371; Duffy, supra, at 315. Since air-lift fermenting is essentially equivalent to roller-bottle culturing and is premised on the same principle of mixing cell cultures, it cannot qualify as a "reverse equivalent." SDS USA, Inc., 122 F. Supp. 2d at 541; see also Westinghouse, 170 U.S. at 569 (explaining that if the substance of the invention is there, "[m]ere variations of form may be disregarded").

(4) HMR/TKT's Process Was Patented

HMR/TKT seems to believe that since the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted it a patent on its culturing process, the two processes must be so substantially different that the reverse doctrine of equivalents can justifiably be invoked. See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial at 28; HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 121. While attainment of a patent may aid in making a prima facie case in support of the reverse doctrine of equivalents, see, e.g., Jewish Hosp. of St. Louis v. IDEXX Laboratories, 973 F. Supp. 24, 28 (D. Me. 1997) (finding a prima facie showing met when one of three facts asserted was that the process was patented), it does not necessarily equate to such a determination. See, e.g., Nat'l Presto Indus., Inc. v. West Bend Co., 76 F.3d 1185, 1191-92 (Fed. Cir. 1996) ("The grant of a separate patent on the accused device does not automatically avoid infringement, either literal or by equivalency. Improvements or modifications may indeed be separately patentable if the requirements of patentability are met, yet the device may or may not avoid infringement of the prior patent."); Atlas Powder Co. v. E.I. Dupont de Nemours Co., 750 F.2d 1569, 1580-81 (Fed. Cir. 1984) (finding equivalent infringement despite the fact that the accused device was separately patented). Thus, as Amgen contends, "patents are routinely granted for improvements in technology even though the practice of the technology would infringe an earlier issued patent." Amgen's Reply to HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 29; see also Lemley, Economics, supra, at 1009 (noting that "patenting an improvement does not prevent it from infringing on the original patent" and describing three situations where "an improvement which is nonobvious in view of the prior art can still infringe on a patent which is part of that prior art");see also Merges Nelson, supra, at 865 ("Issuance of an improvement patent or a holding that a patent is valid but subservient to another patent is . . . common."). Indeed, here it appears that HMR/TKT's patent consists of claims that are narrower but within the scope of Amgen's broader patent since its claims relate to homologous recombinant cells comprising a targeting sequence, an "exogenous regulatory sequence, an exogenous exon, and a splicedonor site operatively linked to the second exon of an exogenous gene." Treco's Patent, Ex. 12, col. 63: 50-54. Thus, without more, the fact that its process has been patented fails to make HMR/TKT's case.

c. Conclusion

HMR/TKT has succeeded in proving that its process differs in many respects from those specifically exemplified in the Amgen's specification and even is advanced technologically in at least one way. As the Supreme Court explained in Graver Tank, however,

Equivalence, in the patent law, is not the prisoner of a formula and is not an absolute to be considered in a vacuum. It does not require complete identity for every purpose in every respect. In determining equivalents, things equal to the same thing may not be equal to each other and, by the same token, things for most purposes different may sometimes be equivalents. Consideration must be given to the purpose for which [some aspect of the invention] is used in a patent, the qualities it has when combined with the other [aspects], and the function which it is intended to perform.

While the Court affirms the viability of the reverse doctrine of equivalents for those rare cases where the claims read on a new device or process despite its use of a new technology that makes a real difference in how the process works or what is produced, HMR/TKT has failed to meet its burden in establishing the defense here (although the neighborhood theory potentially could have carried the day, had it been thoroughly demonstrated through experimentation at trial).

5. Ultimate Conclusion Concerning Infringement of the `698 Process Patent

The Court holds that Amgen has carried its burden of proving by a fair preponderance of the evidence that HMR/TKT's process infringes the `698 patent, claims 4-9.

B. The `349 Patent: Claim 7

1. Background

In Amgen I, the Court held that HMR/TKT did not literally or equivalently infringe claim 7, the process claim, of the `349 patent. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 122. In reaching this determination, the Court compared the accused process to the preferred embodiment in the specification and concluded that "[HMR/]TKT's process for producing erythropoietin differs markedly from that disclosed by Amgen's specification" because it "utilizes the endogenous rather than exogenous EPO gene" and it "places its promoter upstream from, rather than adjacent to, the EPO gene." Id. The Federal Circuit, as it did with the Court's holding of infringement of the `698 patent, vacated this holding and remanded it so that the Court could analyze infringement by comparing the accused process to the properly construed claims themselves. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1313, 1347, 1351.

Since the Court heard the entirety of both parties' arguments and evidence concerning the `349 patent at the first trial, no new evidence with respect to this patent was taken on remand. The parties, however, were given the opportunity to brief the issues remanded to this Court in pre and post-trial memoranda. Before the Court are both parties' motions for judgment pursuant to rule 52(c) [Doc. Nos. 674 686].

In HMR/TKT's motion for judgment pursuant to rule 52(c), it argued a new defense, the reverse doctrine of equivalents. Although the Court allowed the defense as it related to the `698 patent, it did not definitively do so for the `349 patent, because the procedural postures of the two patents were different. HMR/TKT never had a chance to present its case of non-infringement with regard to the `698 patent in Amgen I, but it did with regard to the `349 patent. As it ends up, this procedural dispute is moot. Even if the Court were to allow the defense at this stage, it would fail for lack of merit.

2. The Claim At Issue

Amgen's `349 patent contains six product claims regarding types of vertebrate cells grown in culture and one process claim, claim 7. The issue is whether HMR/TKT infringed claim 7, the process claim:

A process for producing erythropoietin comprising the step of culturing, under suitable nutrient conditions, vertebrate cells according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

`349 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 34-36.

3. Literal Infringement

a. Discussion

Since literal infringement of claims 1, 2, 4, and 6 has been established and affirmed, Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1352, 1358, to prevail on this issue, Amgen need only show by a fair preponderance of the evidence that HMR/TKT's process for producing EPO comprises "culturing under suitable nutrient conditions, vertebrate cells." Here, it is clear that Amgen has met its burden.

First, Dr. Lodish specifically testified that "I guess there is no dispute that [HMR/TKT's] cells are cultured and they're clearly vertebrate cells." Amgen's `349 App., Tab I (Lodish Test., Trial Tr.) at 300: 22-301: 8. HMR/TKT's assertion that Dr. Lodish's testimony makes clear that he was only guessing does not cast any affirmative doubt on Dr. Lodish's statements, which this Court credits.

Second, as discussed earlier, the Joint Pretrial Memorandum itself states that HMR/TKT's HMR 4396 is produced by "growing, under suitable nutrient conditions R223 cells," Amgen's `349 App., Tab M (4/26/00 Corrected Joint Pretrial Mem.), ¶ 25, and that its cells are cultured, id. ¶ 13 ("HMR 4396 is produced from the R223 cell line grown in culture."). Since HMR/TKT has admitted in various contexts that culturing and growing basically mean the same thing, it has implicitly admitted that its process literally infringes claim 7.

Last, this Court's factual findings support the holding that HMR/TKT's process cultures the cells. In finding literal infringement of claims 1 and 4 of the `349 patent, this Court found that HMR/TKT's R223 cells are "capable, upon growth in culture, of producing erythropoietin in the medium of their growth in excess of 100 units of erythropoietin per 10 cells in forty-eight hours as determined by RIA (radioimmunoassay)," just like Amgen's cells. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 119. Thus, the Court finds that HMR/TKT's cells are cultured.

Tellingly, HMR/TKT did not even argue in its post-trial submissions that its process did not literally infringe claim 7 of the `349 patent.

b. Conclusion Concerning Infringement: `349 Patent, Claim 7

Amgen has shown by a fair preponderance of the evidence that HMR/TKT's HMR 4396 literally infringes claim 7 of the `349 patent.

4. Reverse Doctrine of Equivalents

HMR/TKT presented the exact same arguments in furtherance of its reverse doctrine of equivalents arguments for the `349 patent as it did for the `698 patent. Given that it points to nothing in the claims or prosecution history of the `349 patent specifically in support, and the specifications are the same as between the two patents, the above analysis with respect to the `698 patent applies here.

5. Ultimate Conclusion Concerning Infringement of Claim 7 of the `349 Patent

The Court rules that Amgen has shown by a fair preponderance of the evidence that HMR/TKT's process literally infringes Amgen's `349 patent. Therefore, HMR/TKT's Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(c) motion regarding infringement of the `349 patent [Doc. No. 686] is DENIED and Amgen's Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(c) motion regarding infringement of the `349 patent [Doc. No. 674] is ALLOWED.

VI. VALIDITY CHALLENGES UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a) 103

HMR/TKT argues that the asserted claims of the `422, `080, `698, and `349 patents are either anticipated or rendered obvious by Sugimoto, Goldwasser, or both. Since these patents are presumed valid, HMR/TKT bears the burden of proving its contentions by clear and convincing evidence. 35 U.S.C. § 282 (2000); Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1335.

A. Sugimoto

1. Background a. Overview of Sugimoto

U.S. Patent No. 4,377,513 (Sugimoto's patent) was filed in 1981 and issued to Sugimoto on March 22, 1983. Sugimoto's patent, Ex. 2229, at 1. Sugimoto claims a process for producing human erythropoietin comprising "multiplying human lymphoblastoid cells capable of producing erythropoietin by transplanting said cells into a non-human warm-blooded animal body," or, alternatively, multiplying said cells "by allowing said cells to multiply with a device by which the nutrient body fluid of a nonhuman warm-blooded animal is supplied to said cells," and allowing the cells multiplied by either of the above multiplications procedures to release human erythropoietin. Id. at col. 6: 46-59. Put another way, Sugimoto claims that when a human cell line that produces EPO is fused with a human lymphoblastoid cell line, the resulting fused cells produce higher amounts of EPO in culture than the original fusion partners. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 108. Sugimoto also advises that (1) conventional techniques can be utilized to achieve purification; and (2) human EPO produced thereby can be used in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of anemia. Sugimoto's patent, Ex. 2229, col. 3: 50-55; col. 3: 66-4: 2.

b. The Court's Decisions in Amgen I

(1) Anticipation

This Court held that HMR/TKT failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that Sugimoto's patent anticipated Amgen's `422, `080, and `349 patents. Id. at 110. In support of this holding, it found that Sugimoto was not enabled and that none of the cited references disclose each and every limitation of any of Amgen's individual claims. Id. at 109. With respect specifically to claim 1 of the `422 patent, the Court found that none of the cited references disclose a therapeutically effective amount of EPO or the purification of human EPO from mammalian cells grown in culture. Id.

(2) Obviousness

Because the Court had already held that HMR/TKT failed to prove that Sugimoto was enabled, it held that Amgen's claims were also not invalid due to obviousness. The Court noted in a footnote, however, that had the Court found the Sugimoto patent enabled, it would have "go[ne] a long way toward proving HMR/TKT's obviousness defense." Id. at 114. This is because the patent itself suggested combining its invention with prior art sources relating to both purification and therapeutic delivery. The Court noted that if one of ordinary skill could actually make the EPO-producing cells described in the Sugimoto patent, a point on which HMR/TKT failed to persuade this Court, such a combination of prior art material might render invalid the pharmaceutical composition claims of the `080, and `422 patents. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 114 n. 29. Finally, the Court noted that secondary considerations also applied to support the Court's findings of non-obviousness.

c. The Federal Circuit's Opinion

The Federal Circuit ruled that the Court erred in placing the burden of proving enablement of Sugimoto on HMR/TKT. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1354. The Federal Circuit explained that in prosecution of a patent, the examiner can reject applications as anticipated by prior art without first having determined whether that application had been enabled. The patent applicant can then overcome such a rejection by proving that the prior art had itself not been enabled. The Federal Circuit reasoned that this type of burden shifting was appropriate in this context as well. Therefore, it held "that an accused infringer should be similarly entitled to have the district court presume the enablement of unclaimed (and claimed) material in the prior art patent defendant asserts against a plaintiff." Id. at 1355. The patentee, however, may prove nonenablement by a fair preponderance of the evidence. See id. Thus, the Federal Circuit concluded, Amgen is the party that bears the burden of proving the nonenablement of Sugimoto. Id.

The Federal Circuit noted that the Court could not have found that Amgen met its burden based solely on Dr. Erslev's testimony that "no one reported using Sugimoto's process to make a pharmaceutical composition of human EPO, nor has any patient ever been treated by any EPO produced by Sugimoto procedure." Id. at 1356. "The mere fact that no one has so used the Sugimoto process is only minimally probative of non-enablement: a conclusion that no one could have used Sugimoto." Id. at 1356. Moreover, the Federal Circuit stated, the fact that Amgen argued non-enablement of Sugimoto before the patent examiner during prosecution of Amgen's patents is only minimally probative of the issue since this was only one argument out of many and "we cannot assume the acceptance of every argument presented during prosecution." Id. Thus, the Federal Circuit concluded that Amgen had not presented evidence sufficient to meet its burden.

The Federal Circuit clarified that the Court's error was harmless for the most part because the Court had conducted a detailed anticipation analysis. With respect to claim 1 of the `422 patent, however, the Federal Circuit directed the Court to consider, on remand, whether it is novel over Sugimoto in light of the Court's new definition of "therapeutically effective" while being "mindful of the principle that source limitations cannot impart novelty to old compositions." Id.

Additionally, the Federal Circuit remanded to this Court the issue of obviousness in light of Sugimoto, because a reference need not be enabled to prove invalidity under section 103. Id. at 1537.

2. The Claims at Issue

HMR/TKT argues that Sugimoto (1) anticipates claim 1 of the `422 patent and claims 6 and 9 of the `698 patent and (2) renders obvious claim 1 of the `422 patent, claims 2-4 of the `080 patent, and the asserted claims of the `349 and `698 patents.

3. Discussion

a. Anticipation : Does Sugimoto Anticipate Any of the Asserted Claims of the `422 and `698 Patents?

"[I]nvalidity by anticipation requires that the four corners of a single, prior art document describe every element of the claimed invention, either expressly or inherently, such that a person of ordinary skill in the art could practice the invention without undue experimentation." Advanced Display Sys., Inc. v.Kent State Univ., 212 F.3d 1272, 1282 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (citingAtlas Powder Co. v. Ireco Inc., 190 F.3d 1342, 1347 (Fed. Cir. 1999)); In re Paulsen, 30 F.3d 1475, 1479 (Fed. Cir. 1994). The invention at issue must be identical to that in a single prior art reference and it must be shown in as complete detail. Richardson v. Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd., 868 F.2d 1226, 1236 (Fed. Cir. 1989). Determining whether a patent is invalid by anticipation in prior art is matter of fact, Advanced Display, 212 F.3d at 1283, and the burden is placed on the party trying to prove anticipation. Robotic Vision Sys., Inc. v. View Eng'g, Inc., 189 F.3d 1370, 1377 (Fed. Cir. 1999). Hence, here HMR/TKT must prove anticipation by clear and convincing evidence.

(1) Has Amgen Shown that Sugimoto Was Not Enabled?

As the Federal Circuit explained in Amgen II, "a non-enabled disclosure cannot be anticipatory (because it is not truly prior art) if that disclosure fails to enable one of skill in the art to reduce the disclosed invention to practice." 314 F.3d at 1354 (internal quotations and citations omitted). Therefore, if Amgen shows by a preponderance of the evidence, that it "present[ed] evidence of nonenablement that [this Court] finds persuasive, the [Court] must then exclude that particular prior art patent in any anticipation inquiry, for then the presumption [of enablement] has been overcome." Id. at 1355.

For the following reasons, the Court finds that Amgen has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that Sugimoto is not enabled — that is, that Sugimoto's specification does not teach skilled artisans how to make and use the entire scope of the claimed invention without undue experimentation. See 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1 (2000); Genentech, 108 F.3d at 1365 (quoting In re Wright, 999 F.2d at 1461); Plant Genetic Systems, 315 F.3d at 1339 (same).

(a) The Starting Materials Were Neither Described Nor Made Available to the Public

First, the Sugimoto starting materials were not deposited, not described so that one skilled in the art could obtain them, and not otherwise made available to the public. Both Dr. Lodish and Dr. Green testified that Sugimoto's failure to deposit the starting materials, or to make them available to the public in some way, was critical in this case, because Sugimoto also failed to describe the starting kidney cells in a manner that would enable one skilled in the art to reproduce the method. See Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 287: 3-288: 16 (explaining that Sugimoto only loosely describes the kidney tumor cells as "carcinomas," when he should have characterized the cells as to karyotype and morphology so that one could repeat the experiments); Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 421: 4-422: 2 (hypothesizing that one reason why HMR/TKT's attempts to reproduce Sugimoto's hybridization failed might be that HMR/TKT was unable to obtain the starting kidney tumor line described by Sugimoto).

That this failure to teach how to obtain the starting materials or to deposit them was debilitating is evidenced by both parties' unsuccessful attempts to procure such cells. Amgen, after many attempts, was unsuccessful at locating or obtaining any of the human kidney tumor cells used by Sugimoto or any cells capable of producing EPO at the levels reported by Sugimoto in his patent. Lin Test., R. Trial Tr. at 562: 19-563: 11. Moreover, as this Court found in Amgen I, after an arduous search, even HMR/TKT's star witness, Dr. Heartlein, was unable to obtain any of the human kidney tumor cells used by Sugimoto, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 109; Heartlein Test., Trial Tr. at 1812: 10-1813: 13; 1826: 5-1827: 24, and was unable to find any prior art EPOproducing cell lines that could be fused successfully to lymphoblastoid cells, Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 427: 10-25.

HMR/TKT urges that Dr. Heartlein did not duplicate Sugimoto and, therefore, that his experiments cannot be used to show that Sugimoto was not enabled. Johns Hopkins Univ. v. CellPro, Inc., 152 F.3d 1342, 1360 (Fed. Cir. 1998) ("A party who wishes to prove that the claims of a patent are not enabled by means of a failed attempt to make the disclosed invention must show that the patent's disclosure was followed."). As pointed out in Amgen I, however, the reason Dr. Heartlein did not duplicate Sugimoto was that he could not do so — he could not obtain starting materials that produced EPO at the levels disclosed in the examples of Sugimoto's patent. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 109. Therefore, Dr. Heartlein's failed experiments are relevant to the analysis.

HMR/TKT argues that EPO-producing cells such as the human cell line that Goldwasser obtained from Abbott and from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) were available to the public and that, as of 1984, several groups of researchers had reported human kidney tumor cells capable of production of human EPO.See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 281-85; HMR/TKT's Response to Amgen's Proposed Conclusions of Law and Findings of Fact ¶ 21. The evidence shows, however, that these cells were not comparable to the starting materials reported by Sugimoto. Lin Test., R. Trial Tr. at 562: 19-563: 11 (testifying that Amgen was never successful in obtaining EPO producing human cells or tissue sources). The Abbott cells were normal embryonic kidney cells, not kidney tumor cells, and they did not produce EPO. Id. at 541-42; Amgen Project Update, Ex. 234 (providing that Abbott cells did not make EPO). None of the cells Amgen obtained from the ATCC made EPO or could be induced to produce EPO at the levels reported in Sugimoto. Lin Test., R. Trial Tr. at 559: 21-560: 2; 1/20/83 Memo from Browne to Distribution, Ex. 235; Excerpts from Lab Notes, Ex. 236; 3/23/83 Summary Notes from Lin, Ex. 237. As to the other reported EPO producing kidney tumor cells, Dr. Sherwood would not make her cells available, Lin Test., R. Trial Tr. at 540, and Dr. Green testified that none of the cell lines made appreciable amounts of EPO, Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 421, 471: 6-19, 478: 3-15 (explaining that he was not aware that any of these researchers showed that production of EPO was sustained to the same level over time, and testifying that in 1984, several groups of researchers had reported human kidney tumor cells capable of production of human EPO, but they were "all poor producers of the EPO"); Joseph W. Eschbach, The History of Renal Anemia (Anemia and Erythropoietin), Nephrology 4:279-287 (1998), Ex. 48, at 280 (noting that Lin's invention was a "difficult feat" because, inter alia, "there was no source of erythropoietin mRNA").

While it is true, as HMR/TKT points out, that Sugimoto's method is not limited to starting cells that produce a certain threshold amount of EPO, even HMR/TKT itself was unable to find any prior art EPO-producing cell lines that could be fused successfully to lymphoblastoid cells to do as Sugimoto claimed. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 109; Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 421: 18-422: 2; 427: 10-25. Further, HMR/TKT points out that Sugimoto claimed that any human cells (and specifically any human kidney tumor cells) capable of producing human erythropoietin could be used in his method. See, e.g., Sugimoto Patent, Ex. 2229, at col. 6: 60-68. Yet no one was successful in finding any starter cells that worked — regardless of their EPO production capabilities. This is significant because enablement must be coextensive with the scope of the claims. Genentech, 108 F.3d at 1365; Plant Genetic Systems, 315 F.3d at 1339.

Although it is not always necessary to deposit starting materials, Wands, 858 F.2d at 736; 35 U.S.C. § 112, deposit is required "[w]here an invention depends on the use of living materials such as microorganisms or cultured cells" and it is "impossible to enable the public to make the invention (i.e., to obtain these living materials) solely by means of a written disclosure." Wands, 858 F.2d at 735; see Deposit of Biological Materials for Patent Purposes, 52 Fed. Reg. 34,080, 34,084 (Sept. 9, 1987) (noting that a deposit may be required to satisfy enablement requirements of section 112); see also Chugai, 927 F.2d at 1211 (discussing circumstances where a deposit may be required). Here, as Dr. Lodish explained, without access to or adequate disclosure of the starting materials, "one could not begin to repeat [Sugimoto's] experiments." Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 289: 16-290: 181. Therefore, undue experimentation would necessarily be required. Genentech, 108 F.3d at 1366 ("[W]hen there is no disclosure of any specific starting material or of any of the conditions under which a process can be carried out, undue experimentation is required.").

(b) Sugimoto Did Not Teach How To Select EPO-Producing Hybrid Cells

Second, Sugimoto neither deposited his putative "hybrids" nor taught how to select true hybrids. Dr. Green's testimony that the formation of hybrid cells — incorporating the material of two parental nuclei into a single nucleus — is "a rare event," went undisputed. See Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 414: 1-8, 415: 2-9. Because most of the cells in a culture following a fusion event are not true hybrids, use of a selection method to remove all cells which are not hybrids is a very important step.Id. at 414-16. Sugimoto did not describe any selection method. As a result, according to Dr. Green, if skilled artisans tried to reproduce his experiments as described, "they would have no benefit of the selective system and therefore the amount of work which would be required might make it impossible for them to succeed in isolating such a hybrid." Id. at 422: 21-25; see also Elan Pharms., Inc. v. Mayo Found. for Med. Educ. and Research, 346 F.3d 1051, 1055 (Fed. Cir. 2003) ("The determination of what level of experimentation is `undue,' so as to render a disclosure non-enabling, is made from the viewpoint of persons experienced in the field of the invention.").

Although Dr. Green admitted that methods to select hybrid cells were available to those skilled in the art at the time, Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 423: 14-16, 507, he explained that execution of the methods was not routine, because the methods sometimes worked and sometimes did not, and that without publishing which methods to use and whether they worked, "there's no reason to suppose that you can apply it routinely to any combination of cells and have it work correctly." Id. at 425: 3-5; see id. at 420: 10-14, 422: 16-25, 424: 19-425: 5, 520: 2-24. According to Dr. Green, this lack of selection method, along with the fact that Sugimoto neither deposited nor characterized the cells, i.e., proved that they were hybrids, posed great difficulties to one skilled in the art attempting to reproduce the procedure. Id. at 425: 22-426: 8.

HMR/TKT attempts to rely on Dr. Kingston's testimony to lessen the weight the Court accords Dr. Green's testimony. This attempt is unsuccessful because HMR/TKT points to no testimony by Dr. Kingston addressing selection methods specifically, let alone the potential problems identified by Dr. Green. Furthermore, although the Court has indeed considered both Dr. Kingston's and Dr. Green's testimony regarding the amount of experimentation due,Elan Pharmaceuticals, 346 F.3d at 1055 (citing Enzo, 188 F.3d at 1373-74), it gives more weight to Dr. Green's testimony, because he is undisputedly the more experienced professional in this specific area. See, e.g., Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 128: 2-8 (agreeing that Dr. Green is a "world-renowned expert on somatic cell fusion" and more expert than Dr. Kingston himself in that area).

Moreover, that these deficiencies were debilitating to those skilled in the art trying to reproduce the procedure, and thus required undue experimentation to be overcome, is supported by HMR/TKT's failed attempt to repeat Sugimoto's process to obtain an EPO-producing hybrid cell. Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 427: 10-22. Dr. Heartlein could not even obtain a putative hybrid when he used multiple selective markers, which make the job of selection easier. Id. at 427: 10-428: 12 (noting that he tried unsuccessfully with one marker ten times and then with multiple markers twenty-seven separate times, finding no putative hybrids on any occasion). While it is true, as mentioned earlier, that Dr. Heartlein did not exactly duplicate Sugimoto's process, hecould not for the reasons stated above. Morever, as Dr. Green pointed out, even when he used advanced technology, had even more resources at his disposal than Sugimoto had, and had every incentive to achieve, he could not make any hybrid cells. Id. at 430: 3-7. Thus, the evidence shows that undue experimentation would have been required to select a hybrid human kidney tumor/lympohblastoid cell having the EPO-producing properties reported by Sugimoto. See Genentech, 108 F.3d at 1366 ("[W]hen there is no disclosure of any specific starting material or of any of the conditions under which a process can be carried out, undue experimentation is required; there is a failure to meet the enablement requirement that cannot be rectified by asserting that all the disclosure related to the process is within the skill of the art.").

(c) Purification of EPO To Be Used To Treat Anemia Was Claimed But Not Taught, and Prior Art Techniques Were Insufficient

Third, Sugimoto did not enable a purification method. Sugimoto's specification states that "conventional procedures" for purification may be used to purify EPO from the lysate produced in Sugimoto's experiments and can be used "in the prevention and treatment of human diseases such as anaemia." Sugimoto's patent, Ex. 2229, at col. 3: 50-65, col. 3: 66-4: 2. HMR/TKT's experts rendered opinions that an ordinarily skilled artisan, combining procedures of Yanagawa, Chiba, and Erslev, could have purified EPO from serum or cell culture medium. See, e.g., Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1751: 15-1754: 3; Robbins Test., Trial Tr. 1984: 7-1987: 5; Matsudaira Test., R. Trial Tr. at 910-14. Notwithstanding this testimony, the Court is persuaded that one of ordinary skill in the art could not have used the prior art purification methods to purify to substantial homogeneity the EPO produced in tumor cell cultures.

Given the state of the art and the skill level at the time, purification of EPO in the context of the Sugimoto patent was not as simple as it seemed; that is, it was not simply a matter of applying generic protein purification procedures already well known in the art to purify EPO produced in tumor cell cultures.See Wands, 858 F.2d at 737 (noting that the state of the art and level of skill are factors to be considered in the enablement decision). This Court was not convinced during Amgen I — nor is it convinced now — that one of ordinary skill could have used the Yanagawa or Chiba purification methods to purify to substantial homogeneity the EPO produced in the tumor cell cultures. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 115 (noting as much in support of the conclusion that HMR/TKT failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that the pharmaceutical compositions claimed in the `933, `080, and `422 patents were rendered obvious by prior art). Dr. Green testified that Sugimoto's claim that other methods can be used to obtain human EPO preparation of high purity was "embarrassing" because it was "quite impossible." Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 505: 6-16. He explained that as a scientist, he had to "examine the basis for Sugimoto's statements," and he found them "very deficient." Id. at 506: 5-7; see Wands, 858 F.2d at 738 (citing the amount of direction in the patent as one of the factors to consider in determining whether undue experimentation is required). Dr. Bradshaw gave specific examples why Yanagawa's purification method could not be used. He explained that the antibody in Yanagawa was not available and could not be substituted and that Yanagawa used an intermediate that would have denatured the EPO protein, potentially resulting in an incorrectly folded molecule. Bradshaw Test., Trial Tr. at 2717: 22-2718: 18, 2721: 4-21. There is also evidence that HMR/TKT's Dr. Erslev did not believe that prior art purification methods could easily be combined to purify EPO. Three years after Sugimoto's disclosure, he stated in the bookHematology that "[r]eplacement therapy with erythropoietin, the most rational approach to the treatment of the anemia of chronic renal failure, unfortunately still lies in the future." Allan J. Erslev, Anemia of Chronic Renal Failure, in Hematology (3rd ed. 1983), Ex. 249, at 422.

Moreover, no one to this day has been reported as being able successfully to purify to homogeneity therapeutically effective human EPO from non-recombinant cells grown in culture, nor has any patient ever been treated by any EPO produced by the Sugimoto procedure. Even HMR/TKT's witnesses, Dr. Matsudaira and Dr. Erslev, admitted this. Matsudaira Test., R. Trial Tr. at 930: 16-23; Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1755: 17-1756: 3. As this Court pointed out in Amgen I, "in light of the intense competition that grew out of the race to make human EPO suitable for treatment of chronic anemia, one would imagine that if Sugimoto's invention were truly enabling then he would have won that lucrative race." 126 F. Supp. 2d at 108; see also Genentech, 108 F.3d at 1367 (concluding undue experimentation was needed based, in part, on the fact that the method was not used to make the claimed product for nearly a year). That Sugimoto's assignee had actually discontinued the project further supports the conclusion that Sugimoto's experiments were not enabling. 9/27/82 Rathmann Memo Memorializing Meeting with Assignee, Ex. 239, at 1 (characterizing the program as inactivated and "dormant"). Moreover, the experiments of HMR/TKT's star witness, Dr. Heartlein, affirm that undue experimentation would be required to produce results similar to those reported by Sugimoto. As discussed in Amgen I, after many attempts, Dr. Heartlein could not identify any clones producing EPO in fusions involving the HEpG2 cells. As HMR/TKT points out, the Sugimoto patent is not limited to certain types of EPO-producing cells, and, therefore, this failure alone indicates that Sugimoto's patent is not enabled. Genentech, 108 F.3d at 1366.

Thus, given the state of the art and the level of skill at the time — proven by testimony about the prior art and subsequent art — Sugimoto's failure to provide any guidance as to what combination of purification techniques is likely to produce substantially homogenous human EPO from Sugimoto's cell extracts that could potentially be used to treat patients means his patent is nothing more than an "invitation" to experiment — and this is simply not sufficient to satisfy the enablement requirement.Enzo, 188 F.3d at 1374; see also Elan Pharmaceuticals, 346 F.3d at 1055 ("The disclosure in an assertedly anticipating reference must be adequate to enable possession of the desired subject matter. It is insufficient to name or describe the desired subject matter, if it cannot be produced without undue experimentation."). The testimony regarding the state of the art up till the time Amgen's patent issued and the experiments performed by Dr. Heartlein show that more than routine experimentation would be required to combine prior art techniques to purify and make EPO that is therapeutically effective in treating human diseases such as anemia.

(2) Conclusion

Patent protection is granted in return for an enabling disclosure of an invention, not for vague intimations of general ideas that may or may not work. Genentech, 108 F.3d at 1366. "While every aspect of a generic claim certainly need not have been carried out by an inventor, or exemplified in the specification," id., expert witnesses for both sides were shocked at the lack of direction and detail in Sugimoto's patent.See Wands, 858 F.2d at 738; Enzo, 188 F.3d at 1374. Dr. Green called the patent "a parody of a scientific document" because "[i]t has very, very poorly constructed experiments for examples. It has absence of controls or defective controls. It has many ambiguities, or worse, implausible statements that are not justified by any evidence. In short, it is a thoroughly unacceptable document from the scientific point of view. . . ." Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 401: 8-14; id. at 506: 5-7. Dr. Erslev, HMR/TKT's expert, was similarly "flabbergasted" by Sugimoto's patent. Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1754: 24-1755: 9. Like in Genentech, here "the claimed invention is the application of an unpredictable technology in the early stages of development." 108 F.3d at 1367. As such, the specification must provide skilled artisans with "specific and useful teaching" and "supply the novel aspects of an invention." Id. at 1368, 1366. It is not sufficient merely to set forth a "plan or invitation for those of skill in the art to experiment" without providing sufficient guidance as to how to reproduce the starting materials, to select the hybrid cells, and then, most importantly, to purify the EPO so that it can be used, as is stated in the specification, to treat human diseases such as anemia. Enzo, 188 F.3d at 1374.

Like in Chugai, here a substantial discovery is claimed, yet there is no credible evidence that the claimed EPO can be purified and produced by skilled artisans by the disclosed process. Indeed, all evidence — even that from HMR/TKT itself — is to the contrary. Chugai, 927 F.2d at 1217 (basing decision on same criteria). Therefore, this Court concludes that Amgen has proved by a fair preponderance of the evidence that Sugimoto's claims were not adequately enabled. As a consequence, Sugimoto does not anticipate any of the asserted claims of the `422 and `080 patents.

b. Obviousness : Does Sugimoto Render Obvious Any of the Asserted Claims of the `422, `080, `698, and 349 Patents?

A patent is invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 103 if the differences between the patented subject matter and the prior art are small enough that the patented subject matter "as a whole" would have been obvious at the time of the invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art. 35 U.S.C. § 103 (2001); SIBIA Neurosciences, Inc. v. Cadus Pharm. Corp., 225 F.3d 1349, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2000). Obviousness is determined based on four factual considerations and a set of secondary objective considerations. The factual considerations that are important are (1) the content of the prior art and its scope; (2) the differences that exist between the claimed invention and the prior art; (3) the level of skill in the prior art (as opposed to that in the claimed invention); and (4) the "objective indicia of non-obviousness."Yamanouchi Pharm. Co., Ltd. v. Danbury Pharm., Inc., 231 F.3d 1339, 1342 (Fed. Cir. 2000); see also Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 17-18, 86 S.Ct. 684, 15 L.Ed.2d 545 (1966); Ruiz v. A.B. Chance Co., 234 F.3d 654, 667 (Fed. Cir. 2000).

The "objective indicia of non-obviousness," referred to as secondary considerations, include (1) commercial success; (2) copying; (3) long-felt, but unresolved need; (4) the failure of others; (5) commercial success; (6) unexpected result created by claimed inventions; (7) unexpected properties of the claimed inventions; (8) licenses revealing industry respect for the invention; and (9) skepticism of skilled artisans before the invention. Graham, 383 U.S. at 17-18; In re Rouffet, 149 F.3d 1350, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 1998). Although they are "but a part of the `totality of the evidence' that is used to reach the ultimate conclusion of obviousness," Richardson-Vicks, Inc. v. Upjohn Co., 122 F.3d 1476, 1483 (Fed. Cir. 1997), these secondary considerations are by no means secondary in importance. Ryko Mfg. Co. v. Nu-Star, Inc., 950 F.2d 714, 719 (Fed. Cir. 1991);Arkie Lures, Inc. v. Gene Larew Tackle, Inc., 119 F.3d 953, 958 (Fed. Cir. 1997) (emphasizing that the secondary considerations are not secondary). To the contrary, they "can constitute `highly probative, objective criteria fully capable of serving as a foundation for the legal conclusion of unobviousness.'" Perkin-Elmer Corp. v. Computervision Corp., 732 F.2d 888, 895-96 (Fed. Cir. 1984) (quoting Raytheon Co. v.Roper Corp., 724 F.2d 951, 961 (Fed. Cir. 1983)). More than that, "secondary considerations may often be the most probative and cogent evidence in the record. It may often establish that an invention appearing to have been obvious in light of the prior art was not." Ruiz, 234 F.3d at 668 (quoting Stratoflex Inc. v. Aeroquip Corp., 713 F.2d 1530, 1538 (Fed. Cir. 1983)) (internal quotation marks omitted) (emphasis added).

Importantly, the defense of obviousness can be based on a single prior art reference or more than one prior art reference. In other words, if it is shown that it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art to modify the teachings of a reference or combine the teachings of more than one reference to accomplish the claimed invention, then the patent for the claimed invention is invalid. SIBIA Neurosciences, 225 F.3d at 1356;Richardson-Vicks, 122 F.3d at 1483. To prevail, however, the alleged infringer must meet two requirements. First, it must show a suggestion, teaching or motivation to modify the reference or combine the prior art references. Yamanouchi, 231 F.3d at 1341 (citing In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 896 (Fed. Cir. 1985));Brown Williamson Tobacco Corp. v. Philip Morris Inc., 229 F.3d 1120, 1125 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (quoting C.R. Bard, Inc. v.M3 Systems Inc., 157 F.3d 1340, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 1998)); Ortho Pharm. Corp. v. Smith, 959 F.2d 936, 942 (Fed. Cir. 1992). This may be inferred from the prior art, from knowledge of one skilled in the art, or from the nature of the problem to be solved. Brown Williamson Tobacco, 229 F.3d at 1125 (citing Pro-Mold Tool Co. v. Great Lakes Plastics, Inc., 75 F.3d 1568, 1573 (Fed. Cir. 1996)). Broad conclusory statements, standing alone, are insufficient, however. In re Dembiczak, 175 F.3d 994, 999 (Fed. Cir. 1999), abrogated on other grounds by In re Gartside, 203 F.3d 1305 (Fed. Cir. 2000). Instead, evidence of motivation or suggestion to modify a reference or combine it must be "clear and particular." Dembiczak, 175 F.3d at 999; see Brown Williamson Tobacco, 229 F.3d at 1125. Second, it must show that one of ordinary skill in the art would reasonably expect that so combining or modifying the prior art references would achieve success. Id.

(1) Claim 1 of the `422 Patent and Claims 2-4 of the `080 Patent

HMR/TKT argues that Sugimoto afforded the skilled worker a reasonable expectation of success in obtaining the claimed invention of the asserted claims of the `422 and `080 patents because Sugimoto discloses on its face every specific element of those claims, except for the extra 166th amino acid. HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial at 10. In other words, it urges, thatbecause Sugimoto discloses all the elements of the asserted claims, it necessarily shows that those skilled in the art would have had a reasonable expectation of success in practicing Amgen's claimed invention. This, however, erroneously conflates into a single issue what the Federal Circuit has defined as a two-part inquiry. See, e.g., Brown Williamson Tobacco, 229 F.3d at 1124; In re Vaeck, 947 F.2d 488, 493 (Fed. Cir. 1991). Also, it fails to address the four factors involved in the obviousness inquiry. Cf. Ruiz, 234 F.3d at 660, 664 (vacating and remanding district court's judgment for failure to address and make specific findings on the four factors outlined inGraham). Although it may appear today, with the benefit of hindsight, that Sugimoto's patent renders the asserted claims of the `080 and `422 patents obvious, as will be explained below, the record shows that at the time Amgen's patents issued there was no reasonable expectation of success in modifying Sugimoto and doing that which Amgen did. Indeed, what Amgen did was anything but obvious when considered in light of the secondary factors. See Dembiczak, 175 F.3d at 999 (stressing the importance of "casting the mind back to the time of the invention" and ignoring the "powerful attraction of hindsightbased obviousness").

(a) Scope and Content of the Prior Art /Differences Between the Claimed Invention and the Prior Art

HMR/TKT contends that Sugimoto alone, along with what was known by those skilled in the art, renders obvious the asserted claims of the `422 and `080 patents. As stated in Amgen I, Sugimoto itself "suggested combining its invention with prior art sources relating to both purification and therapeutic delivery." Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 114 n. 29. Thus, there was motivation to combine Sugimoto and prior art to make EPO to treat patients suffering from diseases such as anemia.

The differences between Sugimoto (combined with prior art knowledge) and claim 1 of the `422 patent and the asserted claims of the `080 patent, however, can be summarized easily.

Sugimoto does suggest all that is contained in claim 1 of the `422 patent. Amgen contends that Sugimoto does not disclose "therapeutically effective" because it does not use those words nor describe an increase in hematocrit. While this argument may indeed have merit in an anticipation analysis, where more complete detail and description may be required, it fails here. Sugimoto suggests (if not teaches) EPO that is therapeutically effective when it claims that its EPO is useful in the treatment of patient diseases such as anemia. Sugimoto Patent, Ex. 2229, col. 3: 66-4: 2; see also Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1227, 1234. Moreover, it is undisputed that Sugimoto claims it produced human EPO in excess of 1000 units/10 (6) cells, a range HMR/TKT asserts, and Amgen does not dispute, to be therapeutically effective. Sugimoto Patent, Ex. 2229, col. 6: 27-39. Amgen argues in defense that Sugimoto does not suggest purification from mammalian cells grown in culture specifically. The Federal Circuit made clear in Amgen II, however, that when considering obviousness with respect to the `422 and `080 product claims, "a claimed product shown to be present in the prior art cannot be rendered patentable solely by the addition of source or process limitations." Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1354 n. 20 (citingGeneral Electric Co. v. Wabash Corp., 314 U.S. 364, 373 (1938), and Cochrane v. Badishce Anilin Soda Fabrik, 111 U.S. 293, 311 (1884)). Therefore, this argument fails.

There are more differences between Sugimoto and the asserted claims of the `080 patent than there are between Sugimoto and claim 1 of the `422 patent. As the Court explained in Amgen I, claims 2, 3, and 4 (by dependency) make reference to the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of Figure 6, which is unique to and at the heart of Amgen's invention. Sugimoto does not discuss in any way the amino acid sequence of human EPO. HMR/TKT assumes that because Sugimoto discloses human EPO, it necessarily discloses human EPO with either a 165 amino acid sequence or 166 amino acid sequence. HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial at 12. This, however, is not necessarily true. As Amgen points out, Reply to HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact ¶ 149, this Court already found that changes at the C-terminus neither affect the biological activity of the protein nor inhibit proper secretion from the cells.Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 133 (concluding that the absence of the 166th amino acid is not significant because the absence of the last four amino acids does not substantially change the glycoprotein). Moreover, HMR/TKT does not dispute that EPO fragments, rather than human EPO, can elicit an erythropoietic response in the Cotes bioassay. See Jean-Paul Boissel et al., Erythropoietin Structure-Function Relationships, 268 J. Biol. Chem. 15883 (1993), Ex. 2302, at 15983-93 (showing that variants of human EPO with internal deletions are biologically active, as measured in bioassays). Thus, simply because human cells were used does not necessarily mean that the sequence was present.

Amgen also claims, correctly, that Sugimoto does not examine the in vivo biological activity of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells, a limitation found in claims 2 and 3 of the `080 patent. While this argument supports a finding that Sugimoto does not anticipate these claims, it does not work here in an obviousness inquiry. As discussed above, Sugimoto claimed its EPO was "advantageously useable. . . . in the prevention or treatment of human diseases such as anaemia" Sugimoto Patent, Ex. 2229, at col. 3: 66-4: 2. This necessarily suggests an increase in reticulocytes and red blood cells since, as Dr. Schumacher explained and Amgen did not dispute, these side affects necessarily coincide with therapeutically effective treatment. Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 824-25. (b) Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art and Reasonable Expectation of Success

This Court has already found that those skilled in the art at the time Sugimo to patented his invention would not have been able to use Sugimoto — along with knowledge and skill in the art — to select the hybrids or purify the EPO without undue experimentation. HMR/TKT does not suggest that at the time that Amgen made its claims — as opposed to the time that Sugimoto filed its patent — common knowledge in the art about these procedures had advanced. Moreover, there is no proof on record — aside from that discussed and rejected — that those skilled in the art would have been capable of practicing Sugimoto let alone practicing Amgen's claimed invention based on Sugimoto and general knowledge of skilled artisans. Indeed, there is proof to the contrary. No one has ever purified EPO from non-recombinant cells to substantial homogeneity and all attempts to obtain a therapeutic result had failed. Although a particular reference need not be enabling to be considered in the obviousness inquiry, the asserted combination (here Sugimoto combined with knowledge of one skilled in the art) must provide a reasonable expectation of successfully practicing the claimed invention. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. v. Schering-Plough Corp., 320 F.3d 1339, 1354 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Yamanouchi, 231 F.3d at 1343;Beckman Instruments, Inc. v. LKB Produkter AB, 892 F.2d 1547, 1551 (Fed. Cir. 1989) ("In order to render a claimed apparatus or method obvious, the prior art must enable one skilled in the art to make or use the apparatus or method."). It is with respect to this part of the analysis that HMR/TKT has failed to carry its burden. It has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that one skilled in the art could practice Amgen's claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success. Further, the evidence attested to by multiple experts that Sugimoto's experiments lacked sufficient controls, were not confirmed, and were unbelievable suggests that those of ordinary skill in the art would actually not reasonably expect that combining Sugimoto with knowledge of skilled artisans would achieve success. Brown Williamson Tobacco, 229 F.3d at 1125.

(c) Secondary Considerations

As discussed in great detail in Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 115-16, this is definitely a case where the secondary considerations weigh heavily into the Court's decision. Indeed, here they represent the "most probative and cogent evidence in the record." Ruiz, 234 F.3d at 668 (quoting Stratoflex, 713 F.2d at 1538). Before Amgen's path-breaking invention, there was a long-felt need for the mass production of EPO. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 108. Many skilled artisans tried unsuccessfully to achieve Dr. Lin's inventions. Id. at 115-16. If Sugimoto's invention truly rendered Amgen's invention obvious, one wonders why so many tried and failed. See Panduit Corp. v. Dennison Mfg. Co., 774 F.2d 1082, 1099 (Fed. Cir. 1985) ("That many others including [the alleged infringers] had tried for years and failed to create the [claimed invention] is virtually irrefutable evidence that the [claimed invention] would not have been obvious to those skilled in the art when it was invented."), judgment vacated on other grounds, 475 U.S. 809 (1986), on remand, 810 F.2d 1561 (Fed. Cir. 1987). Importantly, it was Amgen's invention that opened the floodgates for EPO production and led to the first pharmaceutical composition containing EPO to obtain FDA approval. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 116. It was Amgen that won the lucrative race to make human EPO suitable for treatment of chronic anemia. Id.

HMR/TKT argues, however, that Amgen did not explain to which claims its success was attributable, and that the mapping of the EPO gene was claimed in Dr. Lin's `008 patent. HMR/TKT's Response to Amgen's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 46. In support, it citesRiverwood International Corp. v. Mead Corp., 212 F.3d 1365, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (citing In re GPAC, Inc., 57 F.3d 1573, 1580 (Fed. Cir. 1995)). In Riverwood and GPAC, however, success was attributable to factors that were entirely outside the scope of the claims. This is not the case here. The evidence suggests that these patents were groundbreaking in their own right since, as discussed above, no one had been able, even using Sugimoto, to purify to homogeneity EPO (as claimed in the `422 patent) or to produce a product that was actually therapeutically effective (as claimed in the `422 and `080 patents).

(2) Claims 4-9 of the `698 Patent and Claims 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of the `349 Patent

HMR/TKT contends that every element of the asserted claims of the `698 and `349 patents is found in Sugimoto except the 166th amino acid of Figure 6, the "non-human" or non-EPO promoter or transcription control sequences and the amplified marker DNA. HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 41-44. The missing elements, it argues, were available and routinely used in the art in 1983-84. Specifically, it asserts that

[g]iven the teachings of Sugimoto, it would have been obvious for the ordinary skilled worker to use retroviral insertion to operatively link a retroviral promoter and its transcription control sequences to the erythropoietin production genetic sites in a kidney or liver tumor cell that produced EPO and to transfer those production sites . . . with an amplifiable marker DNA if desired, to a lymphoblastoid cell.

(a) Scope and Content of the Prior Art/Differences Between the Claimed Invention and the Prior Art

Sugimoto differs from the asserted claims of the `349 patent in that it does not disclose the "non-human" or non-EPO promoter or transcription control sequences as claimed in the asserted claims of the `349 patent. Sugimoto differs from the asserted claims of the `698 patent in that it does not disclose the amino acid sequence of Figure 6, amplified marker DNA, the "dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene DNA," or use of a non-EPO promoter operatively linked to the EPO gene.

With respect to amplified marker DNA, HMR/TKT asserts that Sugimoto's claimed hybrid cells comprise amplified DNA because they have more copies of the EPO gene than are found in normal cells. HMR/TKT Proposed Findings of Fact at 94. Dr. Lodish testified, however, that amplified EPO DNA refers to an increase in the "number of copies of EPO DNA relative to other DNA sequences in the genome." Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1099: 25-1100: 1 (emphasis added); see also James Darnell, Harvey Lodish David Baltimore, Molecular Cell Biology (1st ed. 1986), Ex. 2394, at 457 ("When mammalian cells are grown in culture, specific sites on their DNA can become amplified." (emphasis added)); id. at 461 (showing in a diagram that DHFR gene copy numbers increase, but does not depict a change in the chromosome copy numbers). As HMR/TKT admits, Sugimoto's claimed hybrid cells had potentially 4 copies of every gene on every chromosome (two from each parental cell). See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact at 94; Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 98: 19-99: 5. This does not represent an increase in the relative amount of EPO DNA compared to other DNA sequences.

Notwithstanding this, HMR/TKT argues that Dr. Lodish's testimony regarding amplification supports its argument that Sugimoto's hybrid cells will often have more than four copies of the EPO gene. See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact at 94 (citing Lodish Test., Trial Tr. at 160: 24-161: 10, 494: 24-495: 3). The Court, however, is not convinced that Dr. Lodish's testimony supports this conclusion. Instead, it appears that in the testimony on which HMR/TKT relies, Dr. Lodish was addressing selection for amplification events using the DHRF gene as a selectable marker — a feature totally missing from Sugimioto.

With respect to the other missing elements, including amplification, HMR/TKT argues that they were available and routinely used in the art in 1983-84. See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Opening Br. After Trial at 41. Instead of focusing on the invention as a whole, however, as required under 35 U.S.C. § 103, HMR/TKT approaches the obviousness inquiry on a piecemeal basis, arguing that the separate elements of Amgen's invention existed in the prior art and, separately, "could" have been done easily.See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Opening Br. at 43-44; HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact After Trial at 93-115. "[A]bsent some teaching or suggestion, in the prior art, to combine the elements," however, this is "insufficient." Arkie Lures, 119 F.3d at 957;see also Ruiz, 234 F.3d at 665; In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 1075 (Fed. Cir. 1988) ("One cannot use hindsight reconstruction to pick and choose among isolated disclosure in the prior art to deprecate the claimed invention."); Connell v. Sears, Roebuck Co., 722 F.2d 1542, 1549 (Fed. Cir. 1983). As the Federal Circuit has explained, "[t]hat all elements of an invention may have been old (the normal situation), or some old and some new, or all new, is however, simply irrelevant. Virtually all inventions are combinations and virtually all are combinations of old elements." Environmental Designs, Ltd. v. Union Oil Co. of California, 713 F.2d 693, 698 (Fed. Cir. 1983).

HMR/TKT tries to hang its hat on the statements in Sugimoto regarding genetic sites and recombinant techniques. See Sugimoto Patent, Ex. 2229, col. 1: 55-2: 3. It argues that Sugimoto's reference to "genetic recombination techniques" suggests combining Sugimoto with retroviral insertion art, that is, that Sugimoto suggested the insertion of non-human transcription control sequences. HMR/TKT's Reply Br. at 13. The Court is not convinced. Sugimoto nowhere suggests using "retroviral insertion" to induce expression of EPO. That the specification specifically defines recombination techniques as those "using DNA ligase, nuclease and DNA polymerase," Sugimoto Patent, Ex. 2229, col. 2: 2-3, argues against interpreting a suggestion of retroviral insertion. Similarly, both Dr. Lodish and Dr. Green testified that an ordinarily skilled artisan reading Sugimoto would not have interpreted the section relied on by HMR/TKT as teaching a way to make cells capable of producing human EPO by recombinant DNA techniques. Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 281: 10-282: 4, 285: 6-23; Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 405: 19-409: 6. While Dr. Kingston testified that the most commonly used technology to increase expression of the EPO gene in 1983-84 was retroviral insertion, Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 99: 14-23, when asked how Sugimoto teaches recombinant DNA techniques to increase expression of the EPO coating region, he stated that Sugimoto did so by using "ligases and nucleases and polymerases,"id. at 104: 14-19 — not retroviral insertion.

Moreover, it is not as if "retroviral insertion" was a commonly understood technique that could simply be applied by any skilled artisan in 1983-84. Instead, as Dr. Kingston explained, a skilled artisan would have to rely on many different prior art references to achieve it. See Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 99-112 (relying on at least six other references in combination in forming opinion about process of inserting a retrovirus and producing erythropoietin from the resulting cell). That all of these references, save one, were published after Sugimoto's patent issued (after 1983) also supports the conclusion that Sugimoto was not suggesting a combination with retroviral insertion. See John M. Coffin, Stephen H. Hughes Harold E. Varmus, Retroviruses (1997), Ex. 2481; Roger D. Cone Richard C. Mulligan, High-efficiency Gene Transfer Into Mammalian Cells, 81 Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. 6349 (1984), Ex. 2479; Randal J. Kaufman Phillip A. Sharp, Amplification and Expression of Sequences Cotransfected with a Modular Dihydrofolate Reductase Complementary DNA Gene, 159 J. Molecular Biol. 601 (1982), Ex. 2239; David L. Nelson et al., Metaphase Chromosome Transfer of Introduced Selectable Markers, 2 J. Molecular Applied Genetics 563 (1984), Ex. 2476; Munehisa Ueno et al., Enhanced Erythropoietin Secretion in Hepatoblastoma Cells in Response to Hypoxia, 257 Am. J. Physiology C743 (1989), Ex. 2480; John H. Weis et al., Eukaryotic Chromosome Transfer, 81 Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. 4879 (1984), Ex. 2477.

While the motivation to modify can be found outside the reference itself, SIBIA Neurosciences, 225 F.3d at 1358, HMR/TKT has not shown that the knowledge of those skilled in the art or the nature of the problem to be solved suggested this modification. It is undisputed that the later published retroviral insertion references cited by Dr. Kingston do not refer to Sugimoto or to the expression of EPO or any protein that uses a host cell's gene. See id. The only reference that discusses expression of an endogenous gene after insertion of a retrovirus is the Weis article, but that article is not aboutincreasing the expression of H-2 antigens as compared to starting cells and did not involve using retroviral insertions to identify cells that produce enhanced amounts of a protein that is either expressed in very small quantities or not at all. Weis et al., supra, Ex. 2477, at 4879-83 (identifying that the point of the paper is to transfer the chromosomes to cells of other species). Thus, HMR/TKT has failed to prove the existence of a "clear and particular" suggestion to modify Sugimoto or combine it with prior art so as to produce the asserted claims.Dembiczak, 175 F.3d at 999 (noting that while the references need not expressly teach that the disclosure contained therein should be combined with another, the showing of combinability must be "clear and particular"); id. (explaining that "[t]he range of sources available does not diminish the requirement for actual evidence" of a motivation or suggestion); see Brown Williamson Tobacco, 229 F.3d at 1125 (same); SIBIA Neurosciences, 225 F.3d at 1356 (making clear that the suggestion to combine or modify must be proven, even when a claim of obviousness is based on a single prior art reference);Rouffet, 149 F.3d at 1357-58.

HMR/TKT fails to show a suggestion to modify Sugimoto or combine it with prior art with respect to amplification as well. With respect to claims 6, 7, and 8, HMR/TKT merely asserts that although Sugimoto does not disclose or teach a means to position a selection marker such as DHFR next to the EPO gene, it renders this element of the claim obvious because "it was well-known in 1983-84 that the DHFR marker gene can be used to transfer and amplify co-transferred DNA sequences when transfected into CHO cells." HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 448; HMR/TKT's Response to Amgen's Proposed Findings ¶ 40; HMR/TKT's Reply Br. After Trial at 15. While HMR/TKT may have something with respect to this element, fatally, it neither identified any motivation or suggestion to combine this supposed common knowledge with Sugimoto nor demonstrated how this motivation can be found in the prior art or the problem to be solved. HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 448, 452. Given that HMR/TKT shoulders the burden here, this lack of evidence and argument is fatal.

(b) Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art and Reasonable Expectation of Success

Even if one could glean the motivation to modify Sugimoto by applying knowledge in the art to create the claimed invention, HMR/TKT would not prevail here. HMR/TKT has not shown that a skilled artisan would reasonably expect to have succeeded in achieving Dr. Lin's claimed `349 or `698 inventions using such known techniques. As mentioned earlier, HMR/TKT parses elements that comprise one limitation. For example, in its Proposed Findings of Fact, it separates the element "comprising promoter DNA, other than human EPO promoter DNA, operatively linked" from the element "DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6." In doing so, it fails to recognize the import of the combination of elements. As this Court pointed out in Amgen I, in the context of the `349 patent and tumor cell references, the identity of the sequence of the DNA encoding human erythropoietin was critical. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 114-15. Without it, an ordinarily skilled artisan would not have been able to hook up transcription control sequences in a way that caused transcription of the EPO gene, or to obtain cells with the specified structures. Id. Like the prior art tumor cell references, Sugimoto does not speak to the genetic characteristics of the cells, and HMR/TKT has not shown during either trial that any knowledge possessed by those of ordinary skill in the art in 1983-84 could fill this gap. Id. This reasoning equally applies to the `698 patent's "promoter DNA other than human erythropoietin DNA, operatively linked to DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" (claim 4) and "amplified DNA encoding the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6" (claims 6 and 9).

Moreover, the Court does not overlook the fact that HMR/TKT's only evidence on this issue comes from testimony by Dr. Kingston, who earlier testified that a person of ordinary skill in the art, applying Dr. Lin's specification — which includes the identification of the EPO gene sequence, splice, donor, and restriction sites, and much more detail than Sugimoto's patent — would not have been able to produce EPO using a cell's endogenous EPO gene. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 116: 23-117: 24 (testifying that an ordinarily skilled worker could not have taken Lin's teaching to insert randomly a retrovirus into a cell and to obtain an EPO-producing cell with a reasonable likelihood of success). His testimony that ordinarily skilled artisans could have combined Sugimoto with references regarding retroviral insertion is seemingly incongruous, Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 100: 11-101: 19; 116: 11-16; 117: 15-24, not to mention inconsistent with yet other testimony by the doctor. In the first trial, Dr. Kingston stated that before Dr. Lin cloned the EPO gene, it would not have been obvious for one skilled in the art to do what he did. Kingston Test., Trial Tr. at 1357: 11-1358: 12 (explaining why he retracted yet another inconsistent statement). The Court does not, therefore, lend Dr. Kingston's oscillatory testimony on this issue much weight — especially when considered in light of Dr. Green's and Dr. Lodish's testimony that one skilled in the art, lacking knowledge of EPO's DNA sequence, would not have had a reasonable expectation of successfully making EPO-producing cells by genetic recombination. Green Test., R. Trial Tr. at 406: 17-22; 409: 3-6 (explaining that in order to use any of the recombinant methods mentioned in Sugimoto, "you must know the sequence of the erythropoietin gene and that information . . . did not become available until Dr. Lin's inventions"); Lodish Test., R. Trial Tr. at 285: 21-23. Indeed, Dr. Kingston implicitly admitted the importance of knowing EPO's DNA sequence when he testified that the first step in genetic recombination is to isolate the EPO-neo fragment, which suggests that the gene must first have been cloned. Kingston Test., R. Trial Tr. at 103: 17-104: 18 (using Demonstrative Exhibit TX II W as support for conclusion that Sugimoto teaches this type of genetic recombination); Demonstrative Ex. TX II W.

Thus, HMR/TKT has failed to prove that skilled artisans, without knowing EPO's DNA sequence, would reasonably expect that combining Sugimoto with prior art references regarding retro viral insertion and knowledge regarding amplification would successfully achieve what Amgen claims.

(c) Secondary Considerations

As with the claims of the `422 and `080 patent, the secondary considerations play a large role in the Court's decision with respect to obviousness. For the reasons discussed above and inAmgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 116, the Court finds that the secondary factors strongly counsel it against a finding of obviousness. The real world story in evidence here not only reflects the inadequacy of the prior art, but compels a conclusion of nonobviousness of the claimed inventions in suit.See Panduit, 774 F.2d at 1099.

(3) Conclusion

Having considered the scope and content of the prior art references, the differences between such references and the claimed inventions, how one skilled in the art might combine such references in order to make what Amgen claimed, and the objective secondary considerations, the Court concludes the HMR/TKT has failed to persuade the Court by clear and convincing evidence that the asserted claims of the `080, `422, `349, and `698, patents were obvious in light of Sugimoto and the prior art.

B. Goldwasser

1. Background

a. Overview of Goldwasser

Dr. Goldwasser obtained a preparation of highly purified erythropoietin derived from human urine i.e., it was naturallyoccurring EPO. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 111. From 1979 to 1981, Drs. Goldwasser and Baron conducted a clinical study in which approximately 10,000 units of the human urinary EPO — in doses of 500 and 1000 units — were administered to three anemic patients. Ex. 2057, at A 196399; Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1579; Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 111. Dr. Goldwasser reported a number of effects in the patients: an increase in reticulocyte count in all three patients, an increase in erythroid cells in the marrow and an increased plasma iron clearance rate in two patients, and an increase in red cell mass in at least one patient. Id. Expert testimony by Dr. Erslev explained that these effects are "strong evidence for an increase in the rate of red cell production." Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 112. Hematocrit levels, however, were unchanged. Id. As a result, Dr. Goldwasser admits that his abortive, three-patient trial was a failure. Id. at 112.

b. The Court's Holdings in Amgen I

(1) Anticipation

In Amgen I, the Court held that Dr. Goldwasser's study did not anticipate the asserted claims in the `422 and `080 patents, because the accepted standard by which physicians measure a therapeutic response to EPO is an increase in hematocrit, and Dr. Goldwasser admitted that "there was no significant change in hematocrit in any patient" and that the trial was a failure.Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. at 112. The Court interpreted Amgen's claims to require a therapeutically effective amount of EPO — one that provides a sustained increase in hematocrit. Thus, it held that Dr. Goldwasser's study "falls far short of anticipating" the pharmaceutical composition claims of the `080 and `422 patents. Id. at 112. Because claims 2 and 3 of the `080 patent required actual production of red blood cells as well as reticulocytes, the Court also held that Goldwasser did not anticipate these claims. Id. at 112.

Further, the Court pointed to other differences between Goldwasser's study and Amgen's claims. First, the Court stated that Amgen specifically excluded urinary EPO preparations from the scope of the claims by including the claim limitations "nonnaturally occurring" and "not isolated from human urine." Thus, it concluded that claims 2 and 3 of the `080 patent do not encompass Goldwasser's urinary EPO treatment. Id. at 112. Second, Goldwasser's study does not involve cells that have been altered by recombinant means, and therefore, it held that none of the `349 claims are implicated. Id.

(2) Obviousness

The Court held that because Dr. Goldwasser's study was a failure and a person skilled in the art "would not reasonably have expected that Dr. Goldwasser's work would eventually bear fruit," none of Amgen's patents were invalid for obviousness.Amgen I, 126 F. Supp 2d at 114. The Court also found, inter alia, that HMR/TKT "failed to prove the existence of any suggestion in the prior art to combine [Essers or Goldwasser and Yanagawa or Chiba] so as to produce the pharmaceutical compositions claimed in the . . . `080, and `422 patents." Id. It explained that "the fact that no one has ever — then or now — attempted to determine if a pharmaceutical composition comprising human EPO could be made from these cultured prior art cells also informs the Court's decision." Id. Therefore, the Court stated that "the contention that these various references could be combined to produce a pharmaceutical composition meeting the limitations of . . . claim 4 of the `080 patent and claim 1 of the 422 patent is simply unsubstantiated conjecture." Id. Lastly, the Court stated that the secondary considerations counseled strongly against a finding of obviousness. Thus, at the close of HMR/TKT's defensive case, the Court granted Amgen's 52(c) motion for judgment of validity with respect to the defense of obviousness.

c. The Federal Circuit's Opinion

HMR/TKT challenged, on appeal, the Court's acceptance of Goldwasser's assertion that his test was a failure in light of the testimony of Dr. Baron, Goldwasser's collaborator. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1352-3. Dr. Baron reported to the FDA in 1984 that stimulation of erythoid marrow was detected. Id. Specifically, HMR/TKT pointed out that the Court failed to look to the specification to define therapeutic effect. The Federal Circuit agreed and stated that the term "therapeutically effective" must be construed in accordance with Markman v. Westview Instruments before the issue of anticipation and obviousness could be resolved. Therefore, it vacated and remanded for further proceedings with respect to Goldwasser. Amgen II, 314 F.3d at 1353.

2. The Claims at Issue

On remand, HMR/TKT argues that Goldwasser anticipates claim 1 of the `422 patent and renders obvious claim 1 of the `422 patent and claims 2-4 of the `080 patent. The relevant claims are as follows:

`422 Claim 1 : A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of human erythropoietin and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, adjuvant or carrier, where in said erythropoietin is purified from mammalian cells grown in culture.

`422 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 36-41 (emphasis added).

`080 Claim 2 : An isolated erythropoietin glycoprotein having the in vivo biological activity of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells, wherein said erythropoietin glycoprotein comprises the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6 and is not isolated from human urine.

`080 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 39-44.

`080 Claim 3 : A non-naturally occurring erythropoietin glycoprotein having the in vivo biological activity of causing bone marrow cells to increase production of reticulocytes and red blood cells, wherein said erythropoietin glycoprotein comprises the mature erythropoietin amino acid sequence of FIG. 6.

`080 Patent, Ex. 1, col. 38: 45-50.

`080 Claim 4 : A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an erythropoietin glycoprotein product according to Claim 1, 2 or 3.

`080 Patent, Ex. 1, at col. 38: 51-53 (emphasis added).

3. Discussion

(1) Claim 1 of the `422 Patent

a. Anticipation

Given the Court's construction of the term "therapeutically effective," a critical factor in the anticipation analysis is whether any of the effects elicited by Goldwasser actually, in and of themselves, helped to heal or cure the class of patients listed in column 33 of the specification. Therefore, the Court will review, in turn, the responses elicited by Goldwasser — and asserted by HMR/TKT to be "therapeutically effective."

(a) Increase in Reticulocytes

HMR/TKT argues that a "therapeutically effective amount" of EPO encompasses an amount that results in an increase in reticulocyte count, whether or not there is an increase in hematocrit, because this increase, in and of itself, helps to heal or cure anemia.See, e.g., HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 28-31. In support, it explains that reticulocytes function like normal red blood cells and deliver greater amounts of oxygen to the body's tissues than do older red blood cells. Id. The increased oxygen delivery to the tissues, it asserts, "confers health benefits on the patient — it can help to resolve anemia and possibly prevent strokes and heart attacks." Id. In support of this contention, it relies mainly on the testimony of Drs. Schumacher and Foster.Id.

HMR/TKT overemphasizes the relative significance of reticulocytes in the oxygenation of the body's tissue. Experts from both sides agree that reticulocytes comprise only one percent of all red blood cells. Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 829: 18-20; Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1685: 5-7. They exist for about three days, whereas mature red blood cells exist for 100-120 days. Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1684: 21-1685: 7. Moreover, no expert testified that a transitory increase in reticulocytes meaningfully elevates the oxygen levels of the body as a whole. Dr. Schumacher did not testify that a mere increase in reticulocytes increases oxygen supply to these tissues. Instead, she carefully testified that "if you are increasing the oxygen supply," there would be a reduction in the risk of stroke or heart attacks. Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 813-14 (emphasis added). Both Drs. Erslev and Eschbach testified that reticulocytes are not the accepted reference standard for oxygenation of the body as a whole; that is, recticulocyte counts do not provide direct evidence of the number of red blood cells in circulation and do not always reflect the amount of red blood cells in the body. Erselv Test., Trial Tr. at 1687: 14-1689: 7; Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 653: 6-14 (stating that the number of circulating red blood cells is determined by the hematocrit). This is because measurements of reticulocytes only reflect the production of red blood cells — not the destruction. Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1687: 14-1689: 7; Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 662-64, 670: 8-10. Reticulocytes do not account for the rate of red cell loss, which could exceed the rate of production. As explained by Dr. Eschbach, reticulocytes may never mature into red blood cells, because of intervening factors such as iron deficiency, infection, inflamation, blood loss, or rapid red cell destruction. Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 662-64; 670: 21-25.

Perhaps most telling is the fact that experts from both sides agreed that an increase in reticulocytes is merely anindication or "surrogate marker" that a therapeutic effect, i.e., one that actually helps to heal or one that makes the patient feel better, is going to follow. See, e.g., Foster Test., R. Trial Tr. at 965: 3-7 (describing an increase in reticulocytes as a "surrogate marker" of activity and of therapeutic effect); Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 807: 3-5 (testifying that increase in reticulocytes is "the first indication of a therapeutic response"; id. at 813: 3-18 ("[T]he reticulocyte response is the first response that gives you a clue that you're getting a response from your therapy . . . the early harbinger of the cure or treatment." (emphasis added)); Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 766: 4-17 (agreeing that an increase in reticulocytes puts a physician "on the lookout for the hematocrit to rise"); id. at 660: 22-661: 8, 669: 10-670: 2; Christensen Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1186: 9-24 (testifying that reticulocytes are a "marker . . . that the marrow is putting out more blood cells," which "signals that there will ultimately be [a benefit]"); id. at 1185: 1-17. That Amgen administered more EPO to those patients that showed an increase in reticulocytes and ferrokinetics and told the FDA that "[t]he first evidence of a response to three times weekly . . . administration of EPOGEN® is an increase in the reticulocyte count within ten days,"Physicians' Desk Reference (56th ed. 2002), Ex. 2497, at 582 (describing Amgen's EPOGEN product) (emphasis added), merely supports the point made by HMR/TKT's own witnesses: an increase in reticulocytes is an indicator or marker that an increase in hematocrit will follow.

The bulk of the testimony indicates that an increase in reticulocytes alone does not help patients feel better. Indeed, HMR/TKT's Dr. Erslev conceded that only by increasing and maintaining hematocrit is the patient able to gain energy and feel better. Erslev Test., Trial Tr. at 1681: 18-1683: 2. Even HMR/TKT's Dr. Foster — a pharmacist arguably not qualified to testify in the area — admitted after a series of direct questions from the Court that an increase in reticulocytes such as that exemplified in Goldwasser would not in and of itself help patients feel better. Foster Test., R. Trial Tr. at 964-66.

HMR/TKT places a great deal of weight on Dr. Ohls' testimony regarding the anemia of prematurity. She testified that an increase in reticulocytes is typically accompanied by an improvement in an infant's overall condition that does not necessarily correspond to an increase in hematocrit, and that clinical signs that an infant is doing better as a result of EPO therapy can occur even with a decrease in hematocrit. Ohls Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1020-21 (noting that conditions like tachycardia, apnea, and poor weight gain improve with an increase in reticulocytes, even if the hematocrit stays the same or decreases); id. at 1025. While this testimony may seem at first glance to support HMR/TKT's case on this point, after a careful review of the testimony of Dr. Ohls and her mentor, Dr. Christensen, it is clear that it does not.

Importantly, Dr. Ohls carefully qualified her testimony by stating that the clinical signs of anemia "gradually disappear" after a moderate increase in reticulocytes. Id. at 1021: 2-4 (emphasis added); see also Christensen Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1185: 1-17 (pointing out that Dr. Ohls said "gradually," and explaining that a rise in reticulocyte count, in and of itself, has "no medical meaning," except to "help you predict that eventually this baby is going to have a hematocrit that is stable"). Dr. Ohls' testimony is further qualified by the biological facts associated with babies and anemia. As Dr. Ohls explained, babies, unlike adults, are constantly growing. As they grow, their blood volume also constantly grows in proportion to their size. Ohls Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1022: 9-21. While, in adults, one can measure the percentage of red blood cells in a sampled blood cell volume to get an accurate reading of hematocrit, in babies, hematocrit is a constantly moving target, because as babies grow their blood volume increases. Id.; see also Christensen Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1184: 7-15 (noting that an infant's growth rate complicates the measuring of hematocrit). Therefore, even an actual increase in red cell mass (versus just an increase in reticulocytes) can result in a constant or even decreased hematocrit. Ohls Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1024. Moreover, Dr. Ohls stated that a neonatologist would use reticulocytes to measure EPO's efficiency — not because it necessarily had a therapeutic effect — but because it "means that the EPO is working to stimulate the bone marrow to make new red blood cells." Id. at 1026; see also id. at 1029: 20-23 ("But in general, when we treat these babies with EPO they start making new reticulocytes, new red blood cells; they stimulate the circulation, build up the red-cell mass, the hematocrit."). As discussed above, however, just because a person's body is making new red blood cells does not mean that it is doing so fast enough to make up for continuing destruction of red blood cells. Presumably, this is why Dr. Ohls and her peers, in their clinical research, measure the hematocrit, the amount of blood drawn out for laboratory evaluation, and the number of transfusions and the volume of transfusions the babies receive in addition to the reticulocyte count. Id. at 1040-41, 1043: 21-24.

The significance of Dr. Ohls' testimony is further diminished by the testimony of her mentor, Dr. Christensen. He stated repeatedly that the reticulocyte count, in and of itself, does not have any effect on the baby and does not help the baby in any way. Id. at 1183: 15-22, 1185: 1-17, 1186: 6-24. Instead it is merely a biological indicator that a benefit will ultimately follow. Id. Further, he clarified that an infant's growth rate does not invalidate hematocrit as a measure of therapeutic efficacy. Id. at 1183: 23-1184: 15. Instead, a physician has to consider the growth factor in infants much like a physician takes into account an adult patient's age, sex, disease state, etc., in order to understand the meaning of the patient's hematocrit.Id. Dr. Christensen made clear that EPO is used to stabilize an infant's hematocrit and to prevent it from falling to a level that would require a transfusion. Christensen Test., R. Trial Tr. at 1189: 23-1190: 4.

In further support of the conclusion that reticulocytes in and of themselves do not help to heal or cure babies suffering from anemia is the fact that a decision whether to transfuse a baby (the goal of using EPO on infants is to avoid the necessity of a transfusion) is never based on reticulocytes alone. Id. at 1116-17. Evidently, the reticulocytes can be high and the hematocrit low, and in that situation, the baby will still need the transfusion.

In light of Dr. Christensen's testimony and the other testimony discussed above regarding reticulocytes in adults, Dr. Ohls' testimony is unpersuasive. Although, as Dr. Schumacher testified, "therapeutic response" may be "related to the reticulocytes response," Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 811: 11-12, the evidence does not show that a reticulocyte response, in and of itself, helps to heal or cure patients suffering from anemia or from any of the other diseases listed in column 33 of the specification.

For these reasons, after a careful review of all the evidence, this Court finds that an increase in reticulocytes alone does not in and of itself help to heal or cure a patient suffering from anemia or any of the diseases listed in the specification.

(b) Increase in Plasma Iron Clearance Rate (i.e., Ferrokinetics)

HMR/TKT next contends that increases in the plasma iron clearance rate are an indication that red blood cell production has increased and that there is a therapeutic response to EPO. HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 51. As with reticulocytes, however, HMR/TKT has failed to show that an increase in plasma iron clearance rate is "therapeutically effective."

First, an increase in the plasma iron clearance rate indicates an increase in reticulocytes, but not necessarily an increase in red blood cell mass. As discussed above, there are a number of intervening events, such as cell death and destruction, which preclude one from concluding that the reticulocytes become red blood cells. See, e.g., Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 670: 3-25 (noting that ferrokinetics only reflect red blood cell production, not destruction); id. at 658: 2-8.

Second, Dr. Eschbach testified that ferrokinetic measurements were understood to be a biological effect that did not guarantee that a therapeutic response would follow. Eschbach R. Trial Tr. at 660: 22-661: 8; id. at 658: 2-8 ("Ferrokinetics is an investigational tool. It does not . . . tell you anything about therapeutic response.").

Third, Dr. Schumacher admitted that inferences as to the rate of red blood cell production cannot be drawn from the plasma iron disappearance rate without also measuring the plasma iron concentration (serum iron) at the beginning and the end of the trial. Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 835: 17-836: 9, 837: 4-21; Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 689: 13-691: 20, 693: 21-25; Allan J. Erslev, Anemia of Chronic Renal Failure, in Hematology (3rd ed. 1983), Ex. 249, at 399. Although the plasma concentration was measured at the beginning of the Goldwasser study, it was not measured at the end. Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 841: 24-842: 2.

Because HMR/TKT points to no other persuasive evidence on the point, the Court finds that it has failed to prove that an increase in the plasma iron clearance rate, in and of itself, helps to heal or cure anemia or any of the diseases referred to in column 33 of the specification.

(c) Erythrocite (Red Cell) Mass Changes

An increase in erythrocite mass, i.e., an increase in red cell mass, is an increase in the number of erythrocytes. That is, it reflects an increase in the aggregate number of red blood cells. Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 896: 16-897: 10. HMR/TKT argues that Dr. Eschbach testified that erythrocite mass change is a measure of therapeutic efficacy because increasing the number of red cells helps to heal or cure anemia. HMR/TKT's Findings of Fact at 13. It omits, however, Dr. Eschbach's clear qualification that this is true only if "there's significant mass changes." Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 658: 13-15. He explained that when erythrocyte mass changes are of sufficient quantity, they elicit a therapeutic effect because they represent an increase in hematocrit. Id. at 660: 1-5.

Here, HMR/TKT does not produce any evidence that the red cell mass changes were significant or meaningful. Indeed, arguably it cannot prove such a thing. Dr. Eschbach's testimony, undisputed by any of the expert witnesses, that a significant increase in erythrocyte mass is the same as an increase in hematocrit prevents HMR/TKT from so proving, because the Court has already found and the Federal Circuit has affirmed that there was no significant increase in hematocrit in any of the patients. Thus, there could be no significant increase in red cell mass.

For that matter, given that the red cell mass changes only occurred in one patient and were not shown to be significant, the evidence does not support a finding that Goldwasser's EPO actually elicited red cell mass increases.

Further, HMR/TKT did not prove that a larger dose of Goldwasser's EPO would have increased red cell mass, increased hematocrit, or elicited a therapeutic response. While there is some evidence in HMR/TKT's favor, the bulk of it suggests the contrary.

First, Dr. Baron himself attempted to increase the dosage and the duration with patient #3, and still there was no recorded increase in hematocrit above the baseline level at any time during or after the study. Indeed, the opposite occurred; as HMR/TKT's expert attested, the patient's red cell mass declined over the treatment period. Goldwasser Data, Ex. 242, at AM 47 038668 (patient #3); Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. 885: 14-886: 20; id. at 887: 1-5; Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 759: 6-17 (testifying that there was no significant increase in hematocrit for any of the three patients); 7/7/80 Baron Letter to FDA, Ex. 2056, at A 193007 (explaining to the FDA that the third patient received a trial of the medication using an altered protocol that increased the dosage and length of time).

Second, although HMR/TKT presented evidence that the experimentors did not believe the EPO was toxic or impure, see, e.g., IND Application for EPO, Ex. 2489, at HMR 935380, 935344; 7/7/80 Baron Letter to FDA, Ex. 2056, at A 193007, there is contrary evidence that Goldwasser's EPO was unsuitable for increased dosages. Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 706: 1-16 (testifying that it was impure and toxic), IND Application for EPO, Ex. 2489, at HMR 935386. Dr. Eschbach even opined that, given these issues with the Goldwasser preparation, the international review boards likely would not have permitted Goldwasser to give more of his urinary EPO preparation to human subjects even had he wanted to, Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 705: 20-706: 16, and that skilled artisans would likely refrain from giving it to patients in larger dosages for longer duration.Id. at 704: 22-23, 705: 22-706: 16; IND Application for EPO, Ex. 2489, at HMR 935386.

Although HRM/TKT's expert, Dr. Schumacher testified that had Goldwasser's EPO been continued in a larger does, an increase in hematocrit would have been seen, Schumacher Test., R. Trial Tr. at 894: 12-15, Dr. Eschbach testified that the results would not have been different had a larger dose been given to the patients over a longer period of time, because of the potential problems with the EPO. Eschbach Test., R. Trial Tr. at 770: 24-771: 6 (explaining that after he received the EPO T ½ values and became aware of the fragments and marked decrease in EPO clearance rate, he doubted whether giving more EPO would make any difference, and believed it might even be harmful); id. at 730-31 (same); id. at 704-706; cf. 2/6/84 Baron Letter to National Center for Drugs and Biologics, Ex. 2058, at A 199034 (describing the increase in reticulocytes as only "mild to modest").

Third, given the incentives to continue the study, the fact that the experimentors themselves chose to abandon it and considered it a failure indicates that an increase in dosage or length of administration would not have led to success. Goldwasser Dep. at 317: 14-321: 2; cf. Fromson v. Advance Offset Plate, Inc., 755 F.2d 1549, 1558 (Fed. Cir. 1985) ("[A]nother's experiment, imperfect and never perfected[,] will not serve as an anticipation or as part of the prior art, for it has not served to enrich it." (quoting Picard v. United States Aircraft Corp., 128 F.2d 632, 635 (2nd Cir. 1942) (internal quotation marks omitted)).

Thus, HMR/TKT failed to prove that Goldwasser's EPO would have achieved therapeutic effectiveness had Goldwasser continued his experiment. The mere possibility of success is not enough to save HMR/TKT. Cf. Continental Can Co. USA, Inc. v. Monsanto Co., 948 F.2d 1264, 1268-69 (Fed. Cir. 1991) (stating in the context of anticipation that "[t]he mere fact that a certain thing may result from a given set of circumstances is not sufficient," and explaining that the disclosure must "show that the natural result flowing from the operation as taught would result in the performance of the questioned function").

(2) Conclusion

HMR/TKT contends that all three of the elicited responses discussed above are "surrogate markers of therapeutic efficacy of EPO because each of them represents a critical step in the development of erythroctyes." HMR/TKT's Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 64-66. This specific contention, however, belies its argument. That these three responses are but surrogate markers or indicators that a therapeutic response is on the way necessarily indicates that they did not, in and of themselves, elicit a therapeutic response. This is consistent with this Court's reading of Amgen's specification (discussed in the claim construction part of this memorandum and opinion). These biological responses are critical steps, precursory responses, before a therapeutic result is achieved. Because Goldwasser's study did nothing more than elicit these biological effects or surrogate markers, experts from both sides agreed that there was no evidence that Goldwasser's urinary EPO clinically improved the condition of any of the patients. See, e.g., Means Test., Trial Tr. at 1918: 16-1919: 12 (admitting that there is no evidence that the patients benefitted from any purported activity and labeling the activity as biologic effects); Eschbach Test., R. Trial Test. at 676: 7-18.

In sum, HMR/TKT failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Goldwasser anticipates claim 1 of the `422 patent.

b. Obviousness

HMR/TKT argues that Goldwasser alone renders claim 1 of the `422 patent and claims 2-4 of the `080 patent obvious.

(1) Claim 1 of the `422 Patent and Claims 2-4 of the `080 Patent

(a) Scope and Content of the Prior Art/Differences Between the Claimed Invention and the Prior Art

Goldwasser differs from claim 1 of the `422 patent in that, as discussed above, it does not disclose EPO that is therapeutically effective or purified from mammalian cells grown in culture. Goldwasser differs from claims 2-4 of the `080 patent in that it does not disclose the mature amino acid sequence of Figure 6 or EPO isolated from a source other than human urine. Moreover, claims 2-4 of the `080 patent require production not just of reticulocytes, but also of red blood cells. Although one patient in Goldwasser showed an increase in red cell mass, the Court has found these increases neither significant nor meaningful — not only because the increases were not substantial enough to increase hematocrit, but also because the results occurred in only one patient. Thus, the Court found, as it did in Amgen I, that actual production of mature red blood cells was not evidenced. Lastly, claim 4 of the `080 patent, like claim 1 of the `422 patent, requires therapeutic effectiveness, but the Court has found Goldwasser's EPO is not therapeutically effective.

(b) Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art and Reasonable Expectation of Success

In terms of claim 1 of the `422 patent and claim 4 of the `080 patent, HMR/TKT has not shown that one of ordinary skill in the art had a reasonable expectation of success in obtaining EPO compositions that achieved therapeutic effectiveness. Although HMR/TKT tried to show that it was simply a matter of increasing the length and amount of the dosage, it has not convinced the Court. HMR/TKT provides no other support for its defense.

With respect to claims 2-3 of the `080 patent, the evidence once again fails to show a reasonable expectation of success in achieving an increase in the production of red blood cells. The one patient that did receive the increased dosages showed a decrease, not an increase, in red blood cell mass. HMR/TKT has produced no further evidence to support its contentions.

(c) Secondary Considerations

Even if HMR/TKT had shown a reasonable expectation of success on the part of one skilled in the art to practice the claimed invention, this Court would still conclude that HMR/TKT has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that Goldwasser rendered the claims obvious. This is because the secondary considerations counsel strongly against a finding of obviousness, just as they did in the context of Sugimoto. The secondary considerations discussed above with respect to Sugimoto, and explicated in Amgen I, apply here. Amgen I, 126 F. Supp. 2d at 115-16.

(2) Conclusion

Having considered the scope and content of the prior art, the differences between Goldwasser and the claimed invention, the level of skill in the art, and the objective secondary considerations, the Court holds that HMR/TKT has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that Goldawsser renders claim 1 of the `422 patent and claims 2-4 of the `080 obvious.

VII. CONCLUSION, DECLARATION, AND ORDER FOR JUDGMENT

As with the first trial, it has been an honor to have presided over this case. The attorneys representing both parties litigated the case with dedication, skill, intelligence, integrity, and patience.

For the reasons set forth above, as a result of the remand trial the Court makes the further declaration:

Claim 1 of the `422 patent is valid.

Claims 2-4 of the `080 patent are valid.

Claims 4-9 of the `698 patent are valid and literally infringed.

Claim 7 of the `349 patent is valid and literally infringed.

SO ORDERED.