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Contingencies and commitments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies and commitments Contingencies and commitments
Contingencies
In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various legal proceedings, government investigations and other matters that are complex in nature and have outcomes that are difficult to predict. See our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors—Our business may be affected by litigation and government investigations. We describe our legal proceedings and other matters that are significant or that we believe could become significant in this footnote; and in Note 19, Contingencies and commitments, to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022; and in Note 14, Contingencies and commitments, to the condensed consolidated financial statements in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023.
We record accruals for loss contingencies to the extent that we conclude it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the related loss can be reasonably estimated. We evaluate, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings and other matters that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the liability that has been accrued previously.
Our legal proceedings involve various aspects of our business and a variety of claims, some of which present novel factual allegations and/or unique legal theories. In each of the matters described in this filing; and in Note 19, Contingencies and commitments, to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022; and in Note 14, Contingencies and commitments, to the condensed consolidated financial statements in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, in which we could incur a liability, our opponents seek an award of a not-yet-quantified amount of damages or an amount that is not material. In addition, a number of the matters pending against us are at very early stages of the legal process, which in complex proceedings of the sort we face often extend for several years. As a result, none of the matters described in this filing; and in Note 19, Contingencies and commitments, to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022; and in Note 14, Contingencies and commitments, to the condensed consolidated financial statements in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, in which we could incur a liability, have progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or the development of important factual information and legal issues to enable us to estimate a range of possible loss, if any, or such amounts are not material. While it is not possible to accurately predict or determine the eventual outcomes of these matters, an adverse determination in one or more of these matters currently pending could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
Certain recent developments concerning our legal proceedings and other matters are discussed below.
Repatha Patent Litigation
Patent Disputes in the International Region
On December 6, 2023, oral proceedings will commence before the Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office in the appeal from Amgen’s opposition to European Patent No. 2,756,004.
In Amgen’s lawsuit before the Unitary Patent Court against Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Sanofi-Aventis Groupe S.A., Sanofi Winthrop Industrie S.A. (collectively, Sanofi) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron), on August 25, 2023, the Central Division of the Unitary Patent Court in Germany rejected Amgen’s objections to the admissibility of Sanofi’s revocation action against Amgen’s European Patent No. 3,666,797. Accordingly, Amgen filed its Statement of Defense on September 12, 2023.
On September 15, 2023, the Japanese Supreme Court declined to hear Amgen’s appeal from the decision of the Japanese High Court finding Amgen’s patent claims invalid for lacking adequate support. The case will be remanded to the Japan Patent Office for further proceedings.
In Amgen’s lawsuit for patent infringement damages against Sanofi K.K., on September 27, 2023, the Tokyo District Court found Amgen’s patent claims invalid and dismissed Amgen’s lawsuit for damages.
Prolia/XGEVA Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) Litigation
Amgen Inc. et al. v. Sandoz Inc., et al.
On August 23, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (New Jersey District Court) entered a stipulation and order dismissing without prejudice Sandoz GmbH, Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Novartis Pharmaceutical Productions d.o.o. and Novartis AG (collectively “Foreign Defendants”) from the action. Pursuant to the stipulation entered by the New Jersey District Court, the Foreign Defendants agreed to be bound by any judgment order or decision in the matter (including appeals) as if the Foreign Defendants were named as defendants and parties to the judgment order or decision. Sandoz Inc. (Sandoz) is now the sole named defendant in the action.
On October 30, 2023, the New Jersey District Court commenced a hearing on Amgen’s motion for a preliminary injunction to prohibit Sandoz from engaging in the commercial manufacture, use, offer for sell or sale within the United States, or importation into the United States of its proposed denosumab biosimilar until judgment is entered after trial on the merits.
Antitrust Actions
Sensipar Antitrust Class Actions
On October 17, 2023, Amgen submitted its initial brief in its appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Antitrust Action
On August 28, 2023, Regeneron filed its amended complaint, and on September 20, 2023, Amgen filed a counterclaim, alleging Regeneron’s own anticompetitive conduct with respect to formulary position for Regeneron’s drug, PRALUENT®, at CVS.
U.S. Tax Litigation and Related Matters
Amgen Inc. & Subsidiaries v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
See Note 5, Income taxes, for discussion of the IRS tax dispute and the Company’s petitions in the U.S. Tax Court.
Securities Class Action Litigation
On August 31, 2023, plaintiff filed an amended complaint. Amgen’s motion to dismiss is due November 6, 2023.
Shareholder Derivative Litigation
On October 2, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted a stay of the matter pending an outcome on the motion to dismiss in the federal securities class action filed by plaintiff.
ChemoCentryx, Inc. Securities Class Action Litigation
The due date for our subsidiary ChemoCentryx to file its opposition to class certification is November 22, 2023.
FTC Litigation re the Horizon Therapeutics plc Acquisition
On September 1, 2023, the FTC, the six state plaintiffs and Amgen announced that they entered into a consent agreement that resolved the matter, and both the federal litigation and the FTC administrative case were dismissed.