Akebia obtains favorable preliminary decision in invalidity proceedings at JPO

Client(s) Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.

Jones Day's client Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. received a preliminary trial decision in connection with a patent invalidation proceeding at the Japan Patent Office. Akebia is challenging the validity of FibroGen Inc.'s JP4804131 patent, which claims the use of certain heterocyclic carboxamides to suppress HIF prolyl hydroxylase and treat anemia. The preliminary trial decision found that all of the challenged claims were invalid for lack of inventive step and lack of enabling description.