ITC TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT OVER ROCHE'S ANEMIA DRUG

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) plans to investigate Amgen's claim that Swiss drugmaker Roche's importation of the anemia drug Cera violates Amgen's patents on its anemia treatment Epogen, Amgen reported.

Amgen filed a complaint April 11 with the ITC asking it to permanently block importation of Cera (or peg-EPO) into the U.S. Amgen contends that importing Cera is illegal because the drug and its manufacturing method are covered by the company's patent.

Amgen has filed suit against Roche for patent infringement though Roche has already received two patents on the product.