By Denny Jacob


Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Tuesday that the U.S. Patent Office board decided to institute a trial filed by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. over a patent related to Lupkynis dosing protocol for lupus nephritis.

The clinical stage biopharmaceutical company said it received a notice regarding the office's patent trial and appeal board's decision to institute trial on the Inter Partes review filed by Sun.

Chief Executive Peter Greenleaf said the decision is disappointing but that the company will "vigorously defend this patent."

Voclosporin, which Aurinia has branded as Lupkynis, is the company's main drug candidate.

Aurinia said it has filed a standard form patent term extension for its existing composition of matter patent regardless of the final outcomes of the review, which would extend the term of the patent by five years to October 2027. A decision is expected on or prior to July 26, 2023, the company said.

Last Friday, Aurinia said the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency adopted a positive opinion recommending voclosporin for marketing authorization to treat adults with active lupus nephritis.


Write to Denny Jacob at denny.jacob@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-26-22 1445ET