# United States **Court of Appeals**  **for the Federal Circuit**

______________________ AMGEN INC., AMGEN MANUFACTU RING LIMITED , Plaintiffs

- Appellants

v.

SANDOZ INC., Defendant

- Appellee

______________________

2015

- 1499

______________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in No. 3:14

- cv

- 04741

- RS, Judge Richard Seeborg.

______________________

Decided: July 21, 2015

______________________

N ICHOLAS P. G ROOMBRIDGE , Paul

, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, NY

, argued for plaintiffs

- appellants. Also represented by E RIC A LAN S TONE , J ENNIFER H. W U , J ENNIFER G ORDON , P ETER S ANDEL , M ICHAEL T. W U , A RIELLE K. L INSEY ; W ENDY A. W HITEFORD , L OIS M. K WASIGROCH , K IMBERLIN L. M ORLEY , Amgen Inc. , Thousand Oaks, CA; V ERNON M. W INTERS , A LEXANDER D AVID B AXTER , Sidley Austin LLP, San Fra ncisco, CA

.AMGEN INC

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D EANNE M AYNARD , Morrison & Foerster LLP, Was hington, DC, argued for defendant -appellee. Also repr esented by J OSEPH R. P ALMORE , M ARC A. H EARRON ; R ACHEL K REVANS , San Francis co, CA; J ULIE P ARK , San Diego, CA.

M ICHAEL A. M ORIN , Latham & Watkins LLP, Was hington

, DC

, for amicus curiae AbbV ie Inc. Also represen ted by D AVID P ENN F RAZIER , G REGORY G. G ARRE , M ELISSA A RBUS S HERRY , C ASEY L. D WYER , R OBERT J. G AJARSA

.

G REGORY D ISKANT , Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, New York, NY, for amicus curiae Jan ssen Biotech, Inc. Also represented by I RENA R OYZMAN ; D IANNE B. E LDERKIN , B ARBARA M ULLIN , Akin Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, Philadelphia, PA.

L ISA B ARONS P ENSABENE , O’Melveny & Myers LLP, New York, NY, for amicus curiae Biotechnology Industry Organization

. Also represented by F ILKO P RUGO

.

C ARLOS T. A NGULO , Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, W as hington, DC, for amicus curiae Generic Pharmaceutical Association.

C HARLES B. K LEIN , Winston & Strawn LLP, Washin gton, DC, for amici curiae Hospir a, Inc., Celltrion Healthcare Co., Ltd

. , Celltrion, Inc. Also represente d by A NDREW C. N ICHOL S ; S AMUEL S. P ARK , Chica go, IL; P ETER E. P ERKOWSKI , Los Angeles, CA.

______________________

Before N EWMAN , L OURIE , and C HEN , Circuit Judges

. Opinion for the court filed by Circuit Judge L OURIE

. Opinion concurring in part, dissenting in part f iled by Circuit Judge N EWMAN

. Opinion d issenting in part filed by Circuit Judge C HEN

.AMGEN INC

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L OURIE , Circuit Judge

. This appeal presents issues of first impression rela ting to the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (“BPCIA”), Pub. L. No. 111

- 148, §§ 7001

– 7003, 124 Stat. 119, 804

– 21 (2010). Amgen Inc. and Amgen Manufactur ing Ltd. (collectively, “Amgen”) appeal from the decision of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (1) dismissing Amgen’s state law claims of unfair competition and conversion with prejudice because Sandoz Inc. (“Sandoz”) did not violate the information

- disclosure and notice -ofcommercial

- marketing provisions of the BPCIA, respectively codified at 42 U.S.C. § 262( l )(2)(A) and ( l )(8)(A) ; (2 ) granting judg ment on the pleadings to Sandoz on its counterclaims seeking a declaratory judgment that it correctly interpreted the BPCIA ; and ( 3) denying Amgen’s motion for a preliminary injunction based on its state law claims

. Amgen Inc. v. Sandoz Inc. , No. 14

- cv

- 04741, 2015 WL 1264756 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 19, 2015) (“ Opinion ”)

. For the reasons stated below

, w e affirm the dismissal of Amgen’s state law claims of unfair competition and conversion, vacate the judgment on Sandoz’s counte rclaims and direct the district court to enter judgment consistent with our interpretation of the BPCIA

, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

A. B ACKGROUND

I.

In 2 010, as part of the Patient Protection and Affor dable Care Act, Congress enacted the BPCIA, 1 which

1 Winston Churchill once described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Winston Churchill, The Russian Enigma ( BBC radio broadcastAMGEN INC

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established an abbreviated pathway for regulatory a pproval of follow

- on biological products that are “ highly similar ” to a previously approved product (“reference product”)

. Pub. L. No. 111

- 148, § § 7001

– 7003, 124 Stat. 119, 804

– 21 (2010) (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. § 262
, 35 U.S.C. § 271(e), 28 U.S.C. § 2201(b), 21 U.S.C. § 355 et seq .). Congress established such “a biosimilar pathway balancing innovation and consumer interest s .” BPCIA, Pub. L. No. 111

- 148, § 7001(b), 124 Stat. at 804.

The BPCIA has certain similarities in its goals and procedures to the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoratio n Act of 1984 (the Hatch

- Waxman Act)

, Pub. L. No. 98

- 417, 98 Stat. 1585 (1984) , but it has seve ral obvious differences. We note th is as a matter of histo rical interest, but otherwise do not comment on those similari ties and differences.
Traditionally , t he Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approves a biological prod uct for commercial marketing by granting a biologics license under 42 U.S.C. § 262(a)

. An applicant filing a biologics license applic ation (“BLA”) typically provide s clinical data to demo nstrate the safety and efficacy of its product

. In contrast,

u nder the abbreviat ed pathway created by the BPCIA

, codified at 42 U.S.C. § 262(k), an applicant filing an abbreviated biologics license application (“aBLA” or “subsection (k) application” ) instead submit s information
to demonstrat e that its product is “ biosimilar ” to or “i nterchangeable ” with a previously approved reference

pr od uct, together with “ publicly

- available information regarding the [FDA] ’s previous determination that the reference product is safe, pure, and po tent. ” 42 U.S.C.

Oct. 1, 1939), available at http://www.churchill -societylondon.org.uk/RusnEnig.html

. That is this statute. In th ese o pinion s , we do our best to unravel the riddle, solve the mystery, and comprehend the enig ma.AMGEN INC

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§ 262(k)( 2)

– (5) ; see also id. § 262(i)

. T he BPCIA thus permits a biosimilar applicant to rely in part on the approved license of a reference product

. To balanc e innovation and price competition

, Co ngress enacted t he BPCIA to provide a four

- year and a twelve- year exclusivity period to a reference product

, both beginni ng on the date of first licensure of the reference product

. Specifically , a subsection (k) application “may not be submit ted to the Secretary until the date that is 4 years after the date on which the reference product was first license d under subsection (a), ” i d. § 262(k)(7)(B)

, and approval of a subsection (k) application “may no t be made effective by the Secretary until the date that is 12 years after the date on which the reference product was firs t licensed under subsection (a), ” i d. § 262(k)(7)(A). Thus, a sponsor of an approved reference product ( the “ reference product sponsor ” or “RPS”) receive s up to twelve years of exclusivity against follow -o n products, regardless of patent protection

. Moreover, t he BPCIA established a patent

- dispute

resolution regime by amending Titles 28, 35, and 42 of the United States Code. T he BPCIA amend ed the Patent Act
to creat e an artificial “ act of infringe ment ” and to allow infringement suits based on a biosimilar application prior to FDA approval and prior to marketing of the biological product. See 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C) , (e)(4), (e)(6)

. The BPCIA also es tablished a unique and elaborate process for information exchange between the biosimilar appl icant and the RPS to resolve patent disputes

. See 42 U.S.C. § 262( l).

Under that process, codified at 42 U.S.C. § 262( l )

, the biosimilar applicant grants the RPS confidential access to its aBLA and the manufacturing information regarding the biosimilar product no later than 20 days after the FDA accepts its application for review

. Id. § 262( l) (1)

– (2). The parties then exchange lists of pa tents for which theyAMGEN INC

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believe a claim of patent infringement could reasonably be asserted by the RPS

, as well as their respective positions

on infringement, validity, and enforceability of those patents. Id. § 262( l )(3)

. Following that exchange, which could take up to six months, t he parties negotiate to formulate a list of patents (“listed patents”) that would be the su bject of an immediate infringement action

, i d. § 262( l )(4)

– (5), and the RPS then sues the biosimilar applicant within 30 days

, i d. § 262( l )(6). That information exchange and negotiation thus c onte m pl ates an immed iate infringement action brought by the RPS based only on listed patents

. Subsection 262( l) also provides that the applicant give notice of commercial marketing to the RPS a t least 180 days prior to commercial marketin g of its product licensed under subsection (k) , which then allows the RPS a period of time to seek a preliminary injunc tion based on patent s that the parties initially identified during information exchange but were not selected for the immediate i nfringement action

, as well as any newly issued or licensed patent s ( collectively, “non

- listed patents”)

. Id. § 262( l)(7)

– (8)

. Subsection 262( l) additionally provides, in paragraph ( l ) (9) (A) , that i f the applicant discloses the information “required under paragraph (2)(A) ,” then neither the RPS nor the applicant may bring a declaratory judgment action based on the non

- listed patents prior to the date on which the RPS receives the notice of commercial marke ting under paragraph ( l) (8)(A)

. Id. § 262( l )(9)(A). P aragraph s ( l ) (9) (B) and ( l) (9)(C), however

, per mit the RPS

, but not the applicant, to seek declarato ry relief in the event that the applicant fails to comply with certain provisions of subsection ( l). Id. § 262( l)(9)(B)

– (C).

II

. Amgen has marketed filgrastim under the brand name Neupogen ® (“Neupogen”) since 1991. In May 2014,AMGEN INC

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Sandoz filed an aBLA

, seeking FDA approval of a biosimilar filgrastim prod uct , for which Neupogen is the refe rence product

. On July 7, 2014, Sandoz received notification from the FDA that it had accepted Sandoz’s application for rev iew.

On July 8, 2014 , Sandoz notified Amgen that it had filed a biosimilar application referencing Neupogen; that it believed that the application would be approved in

“ Q1/2 of 2015 ”; and that it intended to launch its biosimilar product immediately u pon FDA appro val. J.A. 1472. Later in July , in response to Amgen’s inquiry , Sandoz confirmed that the FDA had accepted its application for review, but Sandoz informed Amgen that it had “opted not to provide Amgen with Sandoz’s biosimilar application within 20 days of the FDA’s notifi cation of acceptance ” and that Amgen was entitled to sue Sandoz under § 262( l)(9)(C). J.A. 14 95

– 96. Sandoz thus did not disclose its aBLA or its product’s manufacturing information to Amgen according to § 262( l)(2)(A)

. Subsequently, on March 6, 2015, the FDA approved Sandoz’s aBLA for all approved uses of Amgen’s Neupogen. Although Sandoz has maintain ed that it gave

an operative notice of commercial marketing in July 2014, it nevertheless gave a “ further notice of commercial marketing ” to Amgen on the date of FDA approval. J.A. 1774. Sandoz intended to launch its filgrastim prod uct under the trade name Zarxio.

III

. In October 2014, Amgen sued Sandoz in the Nor thern District of California, asserting claims of (1) unfair co mpetition for unlawful business practice s under California Business & Professions Code § 17200 et seq. (“UCL”)

, based on two alleged violations of the BPCIA; (2) conversion for alleged ly wrongful use of Amgen’s approved license on Neupogen ; and (3) in fringement of Amgen’s U.S. Patent 6,162,427 (the “ ’427 patent ”) , which claims aAMGEN INC

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method of using filgrastim

. Amgen alleged that Sandoz violated the BPCIA by failing to disclose the required information under § 262( l)(2)(A) and by giving a prem ature , inef fective , notice of commercial marketing under § 262( l)(8)(A) before FDA approval of its biosimilar pro duct

. Sandoz counterclaimed for a declaratory judgment that it correctly interpreted the BPCIA as permitting its actions , and that the ’427 patent was invalid and not in fringed.
In January 2015, t he parties filed cross

- motions for judgment on the pleadings on Amgen’s state law claims and Sandoz’s counterclaims interpreting the BPCIA

. In February 2015, Amgen also filed a motion for a prelim inary injunction based solely on its state law claims to enjoin Sandoz from launching Zarxio after FDA approval

. Also in February 2015, through discovery, Amgen o btained access to Sandoz’s biosimilar application.

On March 19, 2015, t he district court granted partial judgment on the pleadings to Sandoz on its BPCIA cou nterclaims to the extent that Sandoz’s interpretation of the
statute is con sistent with the court’s interpretation

. Specifically, t he district court concluded that : (1) the BPCIA renders permissible a subsection (k) applican t’s decision not to disclose its aBLA and the manufacturing information to the RPS, subject only to the consequences set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 262( l )(9)(C) ; (2) such a decision alone does not offer a basis for the RPS to obtain injun ctive relief, restitution, or damag es against the appli cant ; and (3) the applicant may give notice of commercial marketing under § 262( l )(8)(A) before FDA approv al

. Opinion

, 2015 WL 1264756, at *8, *11.
Based on its interpretation of the BPCIA, t he district
court then dis missed Amgen’s unfair competition and conversion claims with prejudice because it concluded that Sandoz did not violate the BPCIA or act unlawfully. Id. at *8

– 9. The court also denied Amgen’s motion for aAMGEN INC

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preliminary injunc tion based on its state law claims

, noting that Amgen “ has yet to proceed on its remaining claim for patent infringement .” Id. at *10.
On the parties’ joint motion, the distri ct court entered final judgment as to Amgen’s unfair competition and conversion claims and as to Sandoz’s BPCIA counte rclaims under Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The parties’ claims and counterclaims relating to infringement, validity, and enforceability of the ’427 patent rem a in pending at the district court.
Amgen timely appealed from the final judgment and from the denial of a preliminary injunction ; we have jurisdic tion under 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(1) and § 1292(a)(1) and (c)(1)

. B. D ISCUSSION We apply the procedural law of the regional circuit

, here the Ninth Circuit, when reviewing a district court’s grant of a motion for judgment on the pleadings. Merck & Co. v. Hi

- Tech Pharmacal Co. , 482 F.3d 1317, 1320 (Fed. Cir. 2007). The Ninth Circuit reviews the grant of jud gment on the pleadings de novo

, Peterson v. California , 60 4 F.3d 1166, 1169 (9th Cir. 2010), and “accept [s] all mater ial allegations in the complaint as true and construe [s] them in t he light most favorable to [the non

- moving

par ty ],” Turner v. Cook , 362 F.3d 1219, 1225 (9th Cir. 2004) (third alteration in origin al)

. Issues of statutory interpretation are also reviewed de novo

. Qantas Airways Ltd. v. United States , 6 2 F.3d 385, 387 (Fed. Cir. 1995).
Because Amgen’s state law claims of unfair compet ition and conversion are premised on the proper interpr etation of the BPCIA, w e first inter pret th e relevant provisions of the BPCIA and then consider Amgen’s state law claims in light of that interpretation

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I.

We first consider whether the district court erred in concluding that a subsection (k) appli cant may elect no t to disclose its aBLA and the manufacturing information under 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l)(2)(A) , subject only to the cons equences set forth in § 262( l)(9)(C)

. Paragraph ( l)(2)(A) provides that :
Not later than 20 days after the Secretary notifies the subsection (k) applicant that the application has been accepted for review, the subsection (k) applicant shall provide to the reference product sponsor a copy of the application submitted to the Secretary under subsection (k), and such other i nformation that describes the process or processes used to manufacture the biological product that is the subject of such application . . . .

42 U.S.C. § 262( l)(2)(A) (emphasis added). Paragraph ( l )(9)(C) provides t hat:
If a subsection (k) applicant fails to provide the application and information required under par agraph (2)(A) , the reference product sponsor, but not the subsection (k) applicant, may bring an a ction under section 2201 of Title 28, for a declar ation of infringement, validity, or enforceability of any patent that claims the biological product or a use of the biological product.

Id. § 262( l )(9)(C) (e mphase s added). Additionally, 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii), as amended by the BPCIA, provides that : It shall be an act of infringement to submit . . . if the applicant for the application fails to provide the application and information required under section 351( l )(2)(A) of such Act, an application seeking approval of a biological product for a p a-AMGEN INC

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tent t hat could be identified pursuant to section 351( l )( 3)(A)(i) of such Act . . . .
35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) (emphasis added). 2 Amgen argues that the language “shall provide” in paragraph ( l )(2)(A) suggests that the information discl osure is mandatory, not merely permissible . Amgen co ntends that other provisions of the BPCIA refer to the information as “required” under paragraph ( l)(2)(A) and also refer to non

- disclosure as a fail ure to comply with the Act

. Amgen argues that, by refusing to provide the r equired information, a subsection (k) applicant unlawfully evades the detection of process patent infringement and avoids an immediate infringement action under § 262 ( l)(6). Amgen also argues that paragraph ( l)(9)(C) is merely a limitation on declaratory judgment action, not a remedy , let alone the exclusive remedy, for noncompliance with paragraph ( l)(2)(A)

. Sandoz responds that the “shall” provision in par agraph ( l)(2)(A) is only a condition precedent to engaging in the information- exchange process of paragraphs ( l)(3) through ( l)(6) , not a mandatory requirement in all ci rcumstances. Sandoz contends that this interpretation is consistent with the use of “shall” in paragraph ( l)(6)

, which provides that the RPS “shall” fil e an infringement suit

. Sandoz notes that this use of “shall” cannot mean that the RPS violates the statute if it chooses not to file an infringement suit. Sandoz also resp onds that, under the BPCIA, if a subsection (k) applicant does not disclose the in formation under paragraph ( l)(2)(A) , then the spo nsor may file a n infringement suit under paragraph ( l )(9)(C) and obtain the information in discovery , which Amgen has done . Sandoz also contends that it did not act

2 S ection 351( l)(2)(A) of the Public Health Act co rresponds to 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l )(2)(A).AMGEN INC

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unlawfully by taking a path expressly contemplated by Con gress and the BPCIA.

We conclude that , read in isolation, the “shall” prov ision in paragraph ( l)(2)(A) appears to mean that a subse ction (k) applicant is required to disclose its aBLA and manufacturing information to the RPS by the deadl ine specified in the statute

. Indeed, t he BPCIA refers to such information as “required” in other provisions. See 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l)(1)(B)(i), ( l)(9)(A), ( l )(9)(C); 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii). Particularly, p aragraph ( l)(1)(B)(i) provides that “[w]hen” a subsection (k) applicant submits an aBLA to the FDA, “such applicant shall provide . . . confidential access to the information required to be produced pursuant to paragraph (2) and any other info rmation that the subsect ion (k) applicant determines, in its sole discretion , to be appropriate” (emphases added). Thus, under t he p lain language of paragraph ( l)(1)(B)(i)

, when an applicant chooses the abbreviated pathway for regulatory approval of its biosimilar product , it is required to disclose its aBLA and manufacturing info rmation to the RPS no later than 20 days after the FDA ’s notification of ac ceptance
, but not when the “ when ” crit erion is not met

. Such a reading of “shall” in paragraph ( l)(2)(A) is su pported by the use of “may” in paragraph ( l)(2 )(B), which provides that a subsection (k) applicant “may” provide additional information requested by the RPS by the statutory deadline

. Paragraph ( l )(2)’s use of “shall” in juxtaposition with “may” in the adj acent provision would appear to indicate that “shall” signals a require ment

. However, the “shall” provision in paragraph ( l )(2)(A) cannot be read in isolation. I n other provisions, t he BPCIA explicitly contemplates that a subsection (k) applicant might fail to disc lose the required information by the statutory dead line. It specifically sets forth the

consequence for such failure : the RPS may bring anAMGEN INC

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infringement action under 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l)(9)(C) and 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C) (ii). Those latter provi sions indicate that “shall” in paragraph ( l )(2)(A) does not mean “ must. ” And t he BPCIA has no other provision that grants a procedural right to compel compliance with the disclosure requirement of paragraph ( l)(2)(A)

. Under 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii)

, filing a subsection (k) application and failing to disclose the required info rmation under paragraph ( l )(2)(A) is an artificial “act of infringement” of “a patent that could be identified” purs uant to paragraph ( l ) (3)(A)(i). 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l )(9)(C) furth er provides that “[i]f a subsection (k) applicant fails to provide the application and information required under paragraph (2)(A), ” then the RPS, but not the subsection (k) applicant, may bring a declaratory judgment action on “any patent that claims the biological product or a use of the biological product .” 3 As a direct con sequence of failing to comply with paragraph ( l)(2)(A) , p aragraph ( l )(9)(C) bars the subsection (k) applicant from bringing a declar a3 While it is true that 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l)(9)(C) pre mises the declaration judgment action on “any patent that claims the biological product or a use of the biological product ” (emphasis added), which does not appear to include process patents
, 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) do es contemplate an infringement action base d on “a patent that could be identified pursuant to [ paragraph] (l)(3)(A)(i) ” (emphasis added), which does not exclude process patents. Section 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) allows the RPS to assert process patents
, “ if the [subsection (k)] applicant

. . . fails to provide the application and information ” and “the purpose of [the subsection (k)] submission is to obtain approval . . . to engage in the commercial manufacture, use, or sale of a . . . biological product claimed in a patent or the use of which is claimed in a patent before the expiration of such patent

. ” 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2).AMGEN INC

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tory judgment action on patents that claim the biological product or its use

. Notably, b oth 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l)(9)(C) and 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) are premised on a claim of patent i nfringement , and the BPCIA does not specify any non

patent

- based remedies for a failure to comply with par agraph ( l )(2)(A). Once the RPS brings an infringement suit under those two provisions, it can access the required information through discovery. 4
Importantly , mandating compliance with paragraph ( l )(2)(A) in all circumstances would render paragraph ( l )(9)(C) and 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) superfluous, and statutes are to be interpreted if possible to avoid rende ring any provision superfluous. Marx v. Gen. Revenue Corp.

, 568 U.S. __, 133 S. Ct. 1166, 1178 (2013) (“ [ T] he canon against surplusage is strongest when an interpr etation would render superfluous another part of the same statutory scheme

. ”) ; TRW Inc. v. Andrews , 534 U.S. 19, 31 (2001) (“It is a cardinal principle of statutory construction that a statute ought, upon the whole, to be so construed that, if it can be prevented, no clause, sentence, or word shall be superfluous , void, or insignificant

. ” (internal quotation marks omitted) ).

Moreover

, 35 U.S.C. § 271(e) (4) provides “the only remedies which may be granted by a court for an act of infringement described in paragraph (2) ” (emphasis added). Under § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii)

, filing a subsection (k) application and failing to provide the required info r4 In addition, we note the existence of a rebuttable presumption in actions alleging infringement of a process patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(g) relating to importation of products m ade abroad by a patented process. See, e.g.

, Creative Compounds, LLC v. Starmark Labs. , 651 F.3d 1303, 1314 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citing 35 U.S.C. § 295).AMGEN INC

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mation under paragraph ( l)(2)(A) is such an act of i nfrin gement

. Here, Amgen alleged that Sandoz violated the BPCIA, but the alleged violation is precisely an act of infringement under § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii), for which § 271(e)(4) provides the “only remedies.”
We therefore conclude that, even though under par agraph ( l)(2)(A), when read in isolation, a subsection (k) appli cant would be required to disclose its aBLA and the manufacturing information to the RPS by the statutory deadline , w e ultimately conclude that w hen a subsection (k) applicant fails the disclosure r equirement

, 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l)(9)(C) and 35 U.S.C. § 271(e) expressly provide the only remedies as those being based on a claim of patent infringement. Because Sandoz took a path expressly contemplated by the BPCIA, it did not violate the BPCIA by not dis closing its aBLA and the manufacturing info rmation by the statutory deadline

. II

. We next consider whether the district court erred in concluding that a subsection (k) appli cant may satisfy its obligation to give notice of commercial marketing under 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l )(8)(A) by doing so before the FDA licen ses its product

. Paragraph ( l )(8)(A) provides that “[t] he subsection (k) applicant shall provide notice to the refe rence product sponsor not later than 180 days before the date of the first commercial marketing of the biological product licensed under subsection (k). ” Id. § 262( l)(8)(A) (emphases added).

a. Amgen argues that a subsection (k) applicant may give notice of commercial marketing only after it has a “biological product licensed under subsect ion (k) ,” mea ning only after the FDA has licensed the biosimilar product . Amgen notes that elsewhere subsection ( l ) refers to the biosimilar product as “the biologi cal product that isAMGEN INC

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the subject of ” the application, which supports its inte rpretation of “licensed” in paragraph ( l )(8)(A) . A mgen explains that giving notice a fter FDA licensure provides time for the RPS to seek a preliminary injunction and to resolve patent disputes in a tim ely fashion. Amgen contends that allow ing the applican t to give notice before FDA licensure is irreconcilable with t he statute’s text and

purpose. Sandoz responds that the plain terms of the notice provision are satisfied when an applicant provides notice at least 180 days before it commercially markets its

p roduct. According to Sandoz, the word “licensed” only means that, at the time of commercial marketing, the product must be licensed, but it does not limit the timing of the notice , which can be given before FDA licensure

. Sandoz also argues that Amgen’s construction of the notice provision would transform it into an automatic, additional

, six

- month bar against marketing of every licensed biosimilar product, which improperly extend s the twelve- year exclusivity period under § 262(k)(7)(A)

. We agree with Amg en that, under paragraph ( l)(8)(A)

, a subsection (k) applicant may only give effective notice of commercial marketing after the FDA has licensed its product

. T he statutory language compel s such a n inte rpretation

. It means that notice, to be effective under this statute, must be given only after the product is license d by the FDA.
In subsection ( l ), o nly paragraph ( l)(8)(A) refers to the product as “the biological product licensed under subse ction (k).” In other pr ovisions of subsection ( l ) , the statute

r efers to the product as “ the biological product that is the subject of ” the applica tion, even when discussing its commercial marketing. E.g.

, 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l)(3)(B)(ii)(I), ( l )(3)(C); id. § 262 ( l)(1)(D), ( l )(2)(A), ( l)(3)(A)(i), ( l)(3)(B)(i), ( l )(7)(B). If Congress intended paragraph ( l )(8)(A) toAMGEN INC

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permit effective notice before the product is licensed, it would have used the “subject of ” language.

While it is true that only a licensed product may be

commerc ially marketed, it does not follow that whenever the f uture commercial marketing of a yet

- to -be licensed product is discussed, it is the “licensed” product. It is not yet “the licensed product.” Congress could have used the phrase “the biological product that is the subject of ” the applica tion in paragraph ( l)(8)(A)

, as it did in other prov isions , but it did not do so. See, e.g.

, Russello v. United States , 464 U.S. 16, 23 (1983)

. We believe that Congress intended the notice to follow licensure, at which time the product, its therapeutic use s , and its manufacturing processes are fixed. When a su bsection (k) applicant files its aBLA, it likely does not know for certain when, or if , it will obtain FDA licensure. The FDA could request changes to the produc t during the review process , or it could approv e some but not all sought

- for uses. Giving notice after FDA licensure , once the scope of the approved license is known and the ma rketing of the proposed biosimilar product is imminent

, allows the RPS to effec tively determine whether

, and on which patents, to seek a preliminary injunction from the
court

. Requiring that a product be licensed before notice of commercial marketing ensures the existence of a fully crystallized controversy regarding the need for inj unctive relief. It provides a defined statutory window during which the court and the parties c an fairly assess the parties’ rights prior to the launch of the biosimilar pro duct. If a notice of commercial marketing could be given at any time before FDA licensure, the RPS would be left to
guess the scope of the approved license and when co mmercial marketing would actually begin

. Indeed, filing an aBLA only suggests that a subsection (k) applicant i n-AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 18

tends to commercially market its product someday in the future

. Furthermore, r equiring FDA licensure before notice of commercial marketing does not necessarily conflict with the twelve

- year exclusivity period of § 262(k)(7) (A)

. It is true that in this case, as we decide infra , Amgen will have an additional 180 days of market exclusion after Sandoz’s effective notice date; that is because Sandoz only filed its aBLA 23 years after Amgen obtained FDA approval of its Neupogen product. Amgen had more than an “extra” 180 days, but that is apparently the way the law

, business, and the science evolved. Th at extra 180 days will not likely be the usual case, as aBLAs will often be filed during the 12

- year exclusivity period for other products

. A statute must be interpreted as it is enacted, not esp ecially in light of p articular, untypical facts of a given case. Finally, it is counterintuitive to provide that notice of commercial marketing be given at a time before one knows when, or if, the product will be approved, or l icensed.
We therefore conclude that, under paragr aph ( l )(8)(A)

, a subsection (k) applicant may only give effective notice of commercial marketing after the FDA has licensed its product. The district court thus erred in holding that a notice of commercial marketing under paragraph ( l)(8)(A)

may effectively be given before the biological product is licensed, and we therefore re verse its conclusion relating to its interpretation of § 262 ( l)(8)(A) and the date when Sandoz may market its product

. b.

We next consider the consequence in this case of ou r interpretation of paragraph ( l)(8)(A)

. Paragraph ( l)(8)(A) provides that the subsection (k) applicant “shall provide” notice of commercial marketing to the RPS no later than 180 days before commercial marketing of the licensed product. As we have concl uded, an operative notice ofAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 19

commercial marketing can only be given after FDA lice nsure. Here, Sandoz’s notice in July 2014, the day after the FDA accepted its application for review, was prem ature and ineffective

. However, t he FDA approved Sandoz’s aBLA on March 6, 2015

, and Sandoz gave a

“ further ” notice of commercial marketing on that day. J.A. 1774. These facts are uncontested. Oral Argument at 35:33

– 56, Amgen Inc. v. Sandoz Inc. , No. 2015

- 1499 (Fed. Cir. June 3, 2015), available at http://www.cafc

. uscourts.gov/oral

- argument

- recordings/15

- 1499/all

. Th at notice in March 2015 thus serve s as the operative and effective notice of commercial market ing in this case.

A question exi st s, however, concerning whether the “shall” provision in paragraph ( l )(8)(A) is mandato ry. We conclude that it is. Both paragraph ( l )(2)(A) and ( l)(8)(A) use the word “shall,” which presumptively signals a statutory requirement. See, e.g.

, Nat’l Ass’n of Home Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife , 551 U.S. 644, 661

– 62 (2007) ; Lopez v. Davis , 531 U.S. 230, 241 (2001). As we have noted w ith respect to paragraph ( l )(2)(A)

, however, the BPCIA explicitly contemplates that a subsection (k) applicant might fail to comply with the requirement of paragraph ( l)(2)(A) and further sp ecifies the consequence for such failure in 42 U.S.C. § 262 ( l )(9)(C) and 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii)

. Because of those explicit statutory provisions

, and to avoid construing the statute so as to render them superfluous , we have interpret ed the BPCIA

as a llowing noncompliance with paragraph ( l )(2)(A)

, subject to the consequence specified in those other prov isions

. In contrast, with respect to paragraph ( l)(8)(A)

, we do not find any provision in the BPCIA that contemplates, or

s pecifies the consequence for

, noncompliance with par agraph ( l)(8)(A) here , which would be the case if Sandoz attempts to launch in disre gard of the requirement of paragraph ( l)(8)(A) , as we have interpreted it

. Sandoz argues that § 262( l)(9)(B) does specify the consequence forAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 20

noncom pliance with paragraph ( l)(8)(A). Paragraph ( l)(9)(B ) , entitled “[s]ubsequent failure to act by subse ction (k) applicant,” provides that : If a subsection (k) applicant fails to complete an action required of the subsection (k) applicant u nder paragraph (3)(B)(ii), paragraph (5), paragraph (6)(C)(i), paragraph (7), or paragraph (8)(A) , the reference product sponsor, but not the subsection (k) applicant, may bring an action under section 2201 of Title 28, for a declaration of infringement, validity, or enf orceability of any patent included in the list described in paragraph (3)(A), including as provided under paragraph (7)

. 42 U.S.C. § 262( l )(9)(B) (emphases added).
While it is true that paragraph ( l )(9)(B ) specifies the consequence for a subsequent failure to comply with paragraph ( l)(8)(A) after the applicant has complied with paragraph ( l )(2)(A) , it does not apply in this case, where Sandoz did not comply with paragraph ( l )(2)(A) to begin with. Indeed, the consequence specified in paragraph ( l )(9)(B ) is a declaratory judgment action brought by the RPS based on “any patent included in the list described in paragraph (3)(A), including as provided under paragraph (7).” 42 U.S.C. § 262( l )(9)(B). Here, however, because Sandoz did not provide the required information to Amgen under paragraph ( l )(2)(A) , Amgen was unable to compile a patent list as described in paragraph ( l )(3)(A) or paragraph ( l ) (7)

. P aragraph ( l )(8)(A) is a standalone notice provision in subsection ( l ) , and Sandoz concedes as much

. Oral Arg ument at 39:30

– 52
, Amgen Inc. v. Sandoz Inc. , No. 2015

- 1499 (Fed. Cir. June 3, 2015), available at http://www. cafc.uscourts.gov/oral

- argument

- recordings/15

- 1499/all

. Unlike the actions described in paragraphs ( l)(3) through ( l )(7), which all depend on, or are triggered by, the discl osure under paragraph ( l )(2)(A) , nothing in paragraphAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 21

( l)(8)(A) conditions the notice requirement on paragraph ( l )(2)(A) or other provisions of subsection ( l ). Moreover, nothing in subsection ( l) excuse s the applicant from its obligatio n to give notice of commercial marketing to the RPS after it has chosen not to comply with paragraph ( l)(2)(A). The purpose of paragraph ( l )(8)(A) is clear: requiring notice of commercial marketing be given to allow the RPS a period of time to asses s and act upon its patent rights

. We therefore conclude that, where, as here, a subse ction (k) applicant completely fails to provide its aBLA and the required manufacturing information to the RPS by the statutory deadline , the requir ement of paragraph ( l)(8)(A) is mandatory. Sandoz therefore may not market Zarxio before 180 da ys from March 6, 2015

, i.e. , Septe mber 2, 2015

. III

. We next consider Amgen’s unfair competition and conversion claim s under California law

. After finding that Sandoz did not violate the BPCIA, t he district court dismissed Amgen’s state law claim s with prejudice . We affirm the dismissal based on our interpretation of the BPCIA

. 5

a.
Under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 , “ un fair comp etition ” include s “any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent bus iness act or practice.” Amgen ’s unfair competition claim is based solely on the “unlawful” prong, which requires a

5 In its cross

- motion for judgment on the pleadings, Sandoz did not argue preemption as a defense to Amgen’s state law claims, and thus the district court did not co nsider that issue. We therefore do not address preemption in this appeal.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 22

showing that Sandoz acted unlawful ly by violating anot her law, here, according to Amgen, the BPCIA

. Davis v. HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A. , 691 F.3d 1152, 1168 (9th Cir. 2012) ; see also Farmers Ins. Exch. v . Superior Court

, 826 P.2d 730, 734 ( Cal. 1992). U nder California law, UCL remedies are not available when the underlying law expressly pro vides that the remedies in that law are exclusive. See Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17205; Loeffler v. Target Corp. , 324 P.3d 50, 76 (Cal. 2014).
As one basis of its unfair competition claim, Amgen alleges that Sandoz violated the BPCIA by failing to comply with § 262( l )(2)(A). As we have concluded, Sandoz did not violate the BPCIA by not disclosing its aBLA and the manufacturing information according to § 262( l)(2)(A)

. Sandoz took a path expressly contemplated by 42 U.S.C. § 262( l)(9)(C) and 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C) (ii)

, and 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(4) provides “the only remedies which may be granted by a court ” for th e alleged violation . We therefore affirm the dismis sal of Amgen’s unfair compet ition claim based on the alleged violation of § 262( l)(2)(A).

b.
As another basis of its unfair competition claim, Amgen also asserts that Sandoz violat ed the BPCIA by giving a premature, ineffective

, notice of commercial marketing under § 262( l)(8)(A) in July 2014

, before FDA approval in March 2015

. As indicated, u nde r our inte rpretation of the BPCIA

, the July 2014 n otice is ineffective

, and Sandoz gave the operative notice on March 6, 2015. Thus, a s we have indicated

, Sandoz may not market Zarxio before 180 days from March 6, 2015

, i.e. , Septe mber 2, 2015

. And

, as i ndicated below , we will extend the injunction pending appeal through September 2, 2015. Amgen’s appeal from the dismissal of its unfair compet ition claim based on the alleged violation of § 262( l)(8)(A) is therefore moot.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 23

c.
We now turn to Amgen’ s conversion claim

. To sustain a claim for conversion under California law , Amgen must demonstrate : (1) its ownership or right to possession of the property; (2) Sandoz’s conversion by a wrongful act or disposition of property rights; and (3) damages. Burlesci v. Petersen

, 80 Cal. Rptr. 2d 704, 706 ( Cal. Ct. App. 1998). Amgen asserts that Sandoz wrongfully used Amgen’s approved license on Neupogen by filing an aBLA referen cing Neupogen but refusing to provide Amgen the benefits to which it is entitled unde r § 262( l). Sandoz responds that Amgen failed to show a ny “ wrongful act” or to esta blish an exclusive ownership interest in the approved license on Neupogen to exclude Sandoz ’s aBLA

. We agree with Sandoz that Amgen failed to est ablish the requisite elements to sustain a claim of conversion under California law. As indicated, t he BPCIA explicitly contemplates that a subsection (k) applicant might not disclos e its aBLA and the manufacturing information by the statutory deadline , a nd pro vides that the RPS may sue for patent infringement , which Amgen has done

. Amgen thus failed to show a “wrongful act.”
Moreover, t he BPCIA established the abbreviated pathway for FDA approval of follow

- on biological pro ducts , allowing a subsection (k ) applicant to use “publicly

available information ” regarding the reference product in its application. 6 42 U.S.C. § 262(k)(2). The BPCIA also

6 Amgen emphasizes in its briefs that Sandoz is wrongfully benefitting from Amgen’s establishment of the safety and efficacy of filgrastim. Be that as it may, this is not the first time that Congress has allowed generic applicants to benefit from the early work of innovators

. See Hatch

- Waxman Act, Pub. L. No. 98

- 417, 98 Stat. 1585 (1984) ; s ee also Ruckelshaus v. Monsa nto Co. , 467 U.S.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 24

grants a 12

- year exclusiv ity period to the RPS , during which approval of a subsection (k) application may not b e made effective

. Id. § 262(k)(7)(A). Neupogen’s 12

- year exclusivity period has long expired. Amg en therefore fails to show that it has an exclusive right to possession of its

ap proved license on Neupogen to sustain its claim of conversion under California law.
We therefore affirm the dismissal of Amgen’s unfair competition and conversion claims based on our interpr etation of the relevant provisions of the BPCIA

. IV.
Amgen argues that the district court erred in denying its motion for a preliminary injunction based on an inco rrect reading of the BPCIA and an erroneous finding that Amgen failed to show irreparable harm. Sandoz responds that Amgen’s appeal is moot because it sought an injun ction only until the district court decided the parties’ cross

motions for judg ment on the pleadings, which has already occurred. Sandoz also responds that, even if not moot, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion and did not clearly err in its factual finding s. We agree wi th Sandoz that Amgen’s appeal from the denial of a preliminary injunction is moot. In its motion for a preliminary injunction, filed in the district court after it filed its motion for judgment on the pleadings, Amgen requested a preliminary injunction “until the Court decides the parties’ motions for judgment on the pleadings,” and “if the Court resolves those motions in Amgen’s favor, until . . . the parties have been placed in the position they would be in had Sandoz complied with the BPCIA.” Amgen Inc . v. Sandoz Inc. , No. 14

- cv

- 04741 (N.D. Cal. Feb . 5, 2015), ECF No. 56, at 25.

986 (1984)

. That was a decision that Congress was ent itled to make and it did so.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 25

On March 19, 2015, the district court rendered its decision on the parties’ cross -motions for judgment on the plead ings

, deciding against Amgen on the merit s and dis missing Amgen’s state law claims with prejudice

. In the same order, the court also denied Amgen’s motion for a preliminary injunction , which was based solely on its state law claims

. Because Amgen only requested a pr eliminary injunction until the district court decided the parties’ motions for judgment on the pleadings, and the district court has resolved those motions against Amgen

, Amgen’s appeal from the denial of a preliminary injun ction is moot. We therefore dismiss that aspect of Amgen’s appeal.

V.

After the district court granted partial judgment on the pleadings in favor of Sandoz and denied Amgen’s motion for a preliminary injunction, Amgen sought an injunction pending appeal, which the district court denied. Amgen then filed an emergency motion in thi s court for an injunction pending appeal . W e granted the motion

. In light of what we have decided concerning the proper interpretation of the contested provisions of the BPCIA,

we accordingly order that t he injunction pending ap peal be extended through September 2, 2015

. C. C ONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the dismissal of Amgen’s unfair comp etition and conversion claims

, vacate the district court’s judgment on Sandoz’s counterclaims interpreting the BPCIA

, and direct the district court to

e nter judgment on those counterclaims consistent with this opinion . We also remand for the district court to consider the patent infringement claim and counterclaims relating to the ’427 patent and any other patents properly brought into the district court action.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 26

AFFIRM ED IN PART, VACATE D IN PART, AND REMAND ED

C OSTS Each party shall bear its own costs.

# United States **Court of Appeals**  **for the Federal Circuit**

______________________ AMGEN INC., AMGEN MA NUFACTURING LIMITED, Plaintiffs

- Appellants

v.

SANDOZ INC., Defendant

- Appellee

______________________

2015

- 1499

______________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in No. 3:14

- cv

- 04741

- RS, Judge Richard Seeborg.

______________________

N EWMAN , Circuit Judge, concurring in part , dissenting in part.

The immediate issue relates to the Biosimilar Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) and certain obligations of the innovator/ patentee ( called the “refe rence product sponsor ,” or “S ponsor” ) and the subsection (k) applicant

. Subsection (k) authorizes a biosimilar applicant to use the Sponsor ’s clinical safety and efficacy data in order to obtain FDA license approval for comme rcial marketing of the biosimilar product. By acting under subsection (k) the applicant need not obtai n its own clinical data for its biosimilar product, and can receive FDA l icensure by showing that “ the biological product isAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 2

biosimilar to a reference product ,” 42 U.S.C. §262(k), and has the same characteristics of safety, efficacy, and pur ity

. Id.

To f acilitate identification of and resolution of any p atent issues

, the BPCIA requires the subsection (k) appl icant to notify the Sponsor at two critical stages of FDA review of the subsection (k) application. I agree with the
court that notice of issuance of the FDA license is mand atory, and that this notice starts the 180

- day stay of co mmercial marketing, in acco r dance with 42 U.S.C. §262 ( l )(8)(A)

. Thus I join Part A, Part (B)(II) , and Part B(V) of the court’s opinion

. However, notice of acceptance of the fi ling of the su bsection (k) application is also mandatory, along with the accompanying documentary and information exchanges set in the BPCIA in accordance with 42 U.S.C. §262 ( l )(2)(A)

. I respectfully dissent from the court’s holding that this activity is not required because the Sponsor might file an infringement s u it in which it might learn this information though discovery

. Sandoz did not comply with either of these statutory requirements. These deliberate violation s of the requir ements of the BPCIA forf eit Sandoz’ access to the benefits of the B P CIA.

I

P atent d ispute resolution under the BPCIA has two phases . The “early phase” start s when the subsection (k) applica tion is accepted by the FDA for review , and tec hnical and patent information are then exchanged. The “late r phase” start s when the FDA approves the biosim ilar for commercial marketing

. I comment only briefly on this late r phase, for I agree , as the court holds, that 42 U.S.C. §262 ( l )(8) requires that this phase of inq u iry and dispute resolution commences when the subsection (k) applicant notif ies the Sponsor

, after the FDA license isAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 3

granted . My concern is that my colleagues on this panel do not apply , t o the earlier “shall provide” words, the same mandatory meaning as for subsection ( l )(8)(A):
§262 ( l )(8)(A) Notice of commercial marketing

. -- The subsection (k) applicant shall provid e n otice to the reference product sponsor not later than 180 days before the date of the first comme rcial marketing of the biological product licensed under subsection (k).
(E mphases added)

. The BPCIA explicitly states that after licensure and before commercial marketing the Spon sor may seek a preliminary injunction while the patent aspects are resolved : §262( l )(8)(B) Prelimi nar y in junction .— After r eceiving the notice under subparagraph (A) and b efore such date of the first commercial marketing of such biologic a l product, the reference product

sponsor may seek a preliminary injunction prohibiting the subsection (k) applicant from e ngaging in the commercial manufacture or sale of

suc h biologic a l product unt i l the court decides the issue of patent validity, enforcement, and i nfringement [of any patent identified in the early stage or oth er defined proceedings .]
(E mphasis added)

. Sandoz proposed to circumvent this provision and l aunch its biosimilar product immediately

upon its FDA licensure.

I share the court’s inte rpretation of this statutory provision, which implements the purpose of t he BPCIA “ to ensure that litigation surrounding relevant patents will be resolved expeditiously and prior to the launch of the biosimilar product, providing certainty to the applicant, the reference product manufacturer, and the public at large .” Biologics and Biosimilars: Balancing Incentives for Innovation: Hearing Before the Subcomm ittee OnAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 4

Courts and Competition Policy of the H ouse Comm ittee On the Judiciary , 111 th Cong. 9 (July 14, 2009) (statement of Rep. Eshoo) (emphasis added)

. The BPCIA r equires the
court to give effect to the intent of Congress

. See Inge rsoll

–

Rand Co. v. McClendon , 498 U.S. 133, 138 (1990) (“To discern Congress ’ intent we examine the explicit statutory language and the structure and purpose of the statute.”)

II
The BPCIA provides for part i cipants’ recognition of potential patent issues at an early stage, and requires that as soon as the FDA accepts the biosimilar application for review, the subsection (k) applicant shall notify the Sponsor, and exchange s of paten t- relat ed information shall commence . De tails are set forth in 4 2 U.S.C. §262( l )(2)

. My colleagues hold that compliance with these early notice and information provisions is not mandatory

. I cannot agree, for: “The word ‘shall’ is ordinarily the language of command.” Alabama v. Bozeman , 533 U.S. 146, 153 (2001).
The purpose of subsection 262 ( l) is to in i tiate patent

related activity, to exchange relevant information, to facilitate negotiations, and to expedite any litigation. S ubs ection ( l)(2)(A) requires the subsection (k) applicant to notify the Sponsor within 20 days after the FDA a ccepts the subsection (k) application for review , and to describe the manufacturing process : § 262( l )(2)(A) Subsection (k) application info rmation

. -- Not later than 20 days after the Secr etary notifies the subsection (k) applicant that the application has been accepted for review, the su bsection (k) applicant shall provide to the refe rence product sponsor a copy of the application submitted to the Secretary under subsect ion (k), and such other information that describes the process or processes used to manufactureAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 5

the biological product that is the subj ect of such application

. (Emphases added)

. Sandoz did not provide this info rmation , although it is required

, and t he BPCIA provides for confidentiality : §262( l )(1)(B)(i) Provision of confidential info rmation

. -- When a subsection (k) applicant submits an application under subsection (k), such appl icant shall provide to the persons described in clause (ii), subject to the terms of this paragraph, confidential access to the information r equired to be produced pursuant to paragraph (2) and any other information that the subsection (k) applicant determines in its sole di scretion to be appropriate

. (E mphases added)

. This designated exchange of information is fundame ntal to the BPCIA purposes of efficient resolution of patent issues

. However, m y colleagues hold that compliance by the applicant is not mandatory, citing § 262 (l )(9) ( C) , which authorizes suit by the Sponsor if the applicant does not provide the paragraph (2)(A) information:
§262 ( l )(9)(C) Subsection (k) application not pr ovided.

-- If a subsection (k) applicant fails to provide the application and information required under paragraph (2)(A), the reference product sponsor, but not the subsection (k) applicant, may bring an action under section 2201 of Title 28, for a declaration of infringement, validity, or enforc eability of any patent that claims the biologica l product or a use of the biological product.
( Emphases added). This provision for declaratory action by the Sponsor is limited to “product” and “use” claims, and does not include manufacturing process patents, although the legislative r ecord makes clear that for bi o-AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 6

similars such patent s may be highly material , and were so recognized during enactment

. Amgen states that its patents here at issue relate primarily to manufacture.

I cannot agree that this provision excuses compliance by the subsection (k) app licant , even when such declar atory action is brought. Subsection ( l)(9)(C) provides declaratory jurisdiction only for product or use claims

. Absent adequate factual support in a compl a int for man ufacturing method claims, declaratory jurisdiction may be unsupported. S ee Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (“To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Tw ombly , 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)).

The bal ance established in th e BPCIA requires the statutorily identified disclosures at the thresh old, in order both to avert and to expedite litigation. This purpose pervades the legislative record, as interested persons debated which provisions would be mandatory, and which permissive. See, e.g.

, Biologics and Biosimilars: Balan cing Incentives for Innovation: Hearing Before the Su bcommittee on Courts and Competi tion Policy of the House Committee on the Judiciary , 111th Cong. passim (2009) (debating the provisions of H.R. 1548, which provided for mandatory patent exchange, and H.R. 1427, which pr ovided for discretionary patent exchange). Compare also S. 623, 110th Cong. § (3)(a)(2)(k)(17)(E) (2007) (“nothing in
t his paragraph requires an applicant or prospective applicant to invoke the [patent notification and exchange] procedures set forth in this paragraph”) with S. 1695, 110th Cong. § (2)(a)(2)( l )(2)(A) (2007) (the subsection (k) applicant “shall provide” appli cation and manufacturing information)

. See Chickasaw Nation v. United States , 534 U.S. 84, 93 (2001) (“We ordinarily will not assume that Congress intended ‘to enact language that it has earlierAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 7

discarded in favor of other language.’” (citations omi tted) ).

T he B PCIA as enacted leaves no uncertainty as to which of its provisions are mandatory and which are permissive. For example, i mmediately after the “ shall ” provision of sub section (l)(2)(A), ante , sub section ( l)(2)(B)
states that a subsection (k) appli cant

may provide to the reference product sponsor a dditional information requested by or on behalf of the reference product spon sor. (Emphases added)

. “[W] hen the same Rule uses both ‘may’ and ‘shall’, the normal inference is that each is used in its usual sense

— the one act being permissive, the other mandatory.” Anderson v. Yungkau , 329 U.S. 482, 485 (1947).

In United States ex rel. Siegel v. Thoman , 156 U.S. 353, 359

– 60 (1895)

, the Court stated that when Congress uses the “ special contradistinction” of “shall” and “may,” no “liberty can be taken with the plain words of the sta tute .” As reiterated in Sebelius v. Cloer , 133 S. Ct. 1886, 1894 (2013), “[w]here Congress includes particular la nguage in one section of a statute bu t omits it in another section of the same Act, it is generally presumed that Congress acts intentionally and purposely in the dispa rate inclusion or exclusion.” (alteration and internal quot ation marks omitted). The BPCIA gestated during more than four ye ars of study and debate. The record contains frequent reference to the experience of the Hatch

Waxman Act, as the BPCIA departed from that Act in seeking to “b alance innovation and consumer interests” in the new and promising scientific era of biosimilars

. BPCIA, Pub. L. No. 111

- 148, §7001(b), 124 Stat. 119, 804 (2010). Fidelity to that balance is the judicial obligation.

The details enacted and included in the BPCIA demonstrate the rigor of the statute and its com promises

.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 8

The BPCIA requires judicial i mplementation that co nform s to “the design of the statute as a whole and to its object and policy .” Crandon v. United States, 494 U.S. 152, 158 ( 1990)

. Subsection (k) and subsection ( l ) are components of an integrated framework ; t o enjoy the benefits of subsection (k), the biosimilar applicant is obligated to comply with subsection ( l ). Even on the district court’s (and my colleagues ’ ) misplaced theory that subsection ( l )(9)(C) excuse s compliance with subsection ( l )(2)(A), this would extend only to product and use claims , i t does not excuse compliance as to manufacturing and process claims.

The BPCIA reflects an explicit balance of obligations and benefits. When a beneficiary of the statute withholds compliance with provisions enacted to benefit others, the withholder violate s that balance

. T he consequences of the majority’s ruling are significant

, for the structure of the BPCIA requires that the subsection (k) applicant comply with the information exchange pro visions, as a threshold to resolution of the Sponsor’s patent rights. 1 Subsection ( l)(9) provides jurisdiction in the district court when a su bsection (k) applicant fails to comply with

s ubsection ( l ) , but it does not ratify non

- compliance

. While “a party may waive any provision, either of a

1 The record recites the benefits of subsection (k) for biosimilar applicants. A study for the Congressional Research Service cites a Tufts report that found in 2006 the “average cost to develop a new biotechnology product is $1.2 billion.” Follow

- On Biologics: The Law and Inte llectual Property Issues, CRS Report for Congress , Profe ssor John Thomas, January 15, 1014, passim , n.32. The record explains t hat clinical safety and efficacy studies constitute the major portion of this development cost, and that subsection (k) authorizes the biosimilar applicant to rely on these data that the S ponsor provided to the FDA.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 9

contract or of a statute, intended for his benefit,” United States v. Mezzanatto , 513 U.S. 196, 201 (1995)

, the party cannot waive or disregard a provision that benefits those in an adverse position

. The provisions of 35 U.S.C. §262( l )(9) function as a continuing prohibition on a party who fails to comply with some aspect of the patent e xchange provisio ns . That is, subsection ( l )(9)(C) prevents a

non

- compl ia nt party from obtaining relief through a declaratory judgment action, while that prohibition is lifted as to the aggrieved party. Subsection ( l)(9)(C) states that a “reference product sponsor, but n ot the subsection (k) applicant, may bring” a declaratory jud gment action “for a declaration of infringement, validity, or enforceability for any patent that claims the biological product or use of the biological product” when a subse ction (k) applicant fa ils to provide the information required under subsection ( l )(2)(A).

35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) similarly states that it shall be an act of infringement if the applicant fails to provide the information required under paragraph (l)(2)(A). However, this does not diminish the obligation set by section ( l )(1 )(B)(i) that the subsection (k) applicant

“ shall provide

... confidential access to the information required to be produced pursuant to paragraph (2).” Such obligation is mandatory.
Departure from the statutory obligation , to achieve

purposes that the legislation intended to curtail, should not be judicially ratified. See Cannon v. Univ. of Chicago

, 441 U.S. 677, 690 (1979) (disregard of a statute is a wrongful act). It is not d enie d that Sandoz obtained the benefit of the Amgen data in filing under subsection (k). Sandoz should be required to respect its obligations, in fidelity to the statute. I r espectfully dissent from the majority’s failure to req u ire compliance with the oblig ations of the BPCIA.

# United States **Court of Appeals**  **for the Federal Circuit**

______________________ AMGEN INC., AMGEN MA NUFACTURING LIMITED, Plaintiffs

- Appellants

v.

SANDOZ INC., Defendant

- Appellee

______________________

2015

- 1499

______________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in No. 3:14

- cv

- 04741

- RS, Judge Richard Seeborg.

______________________
C HEN , Circuit Judge , dissenting

- in

- part

. I join the majority opinion except for Parts B.II.b and B.V. To properly interpret the BPCIA’s patent litigation management process described in section 262( l ), I agree that none of subsection ( l )’s provisions may be read in isolation. In other words, to understand the meaning of any one provision in § 262( l) , one must first recognize how it interrelates with the rest of subsection ( l ) and the rest of the BPCIA

. Based on this understanding, I agree that a subsection (k) applicant’s failure to supply the info rmation described in ( l)(2) to the reference product sponsor ( RPS ) is not a violation of the BPCIA, because the BPCIA itself, in ( l )(9) and § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) , provides the RPS theAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 2

remedial course of action in such circumstances. Contr ary to the major ity, however, I view this context- based interpretation as applying with equal force to the inte rpretation of ( l)(8). W hen reading ( l )(8) in the context of subsection ( l ) as a whole, it becomes clear that ( l )(8) is simply part and parcel of the integrated litigation ma nagement process contemplated in ( l)(2) –( l )(7). Moreover, just as all the “shall” obligations set forth in ( l)(3) –( l )(7) are contingent on the (k) applicant’s performance of the first “shall” step in ( l )(2), this is also true of the “shall” notice obligation in ( l)(8). What this means is when, as here, the (k) applicant fails to comply with ( l )(2), the provisions in ( l )(3) –( l)(8) cease to matter. In such a situ ation, as recognized by the majority opinion, the RPS’s course of action is clearly defined in ( l)(9) and § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) : the unfettered right to immediately pursue patent infringement litiga tion unconstrained by any of the timing controls or limits on the number of patents it may assert that would result from the ( l )(2)

– ( l)(8) process. Based on this understanding, I do not view ( l)(8)(A) a s a “standalone provision” that provide s , impli citly, the RPS a 180

- day injunction beyond the express twelve- year statutory exclusivity period. Because the majority opinion interprets ( l )(8) differently, giv ing Amgen, the RPS, an extra

- statutory exclusivity windfall, I respectfully dissent.

I “It is a fundamental canon of statutory construction that the words of a statute must be read in their context and with a view to their place in the overall statutory scheme.” Davis v. Mich. Dep’t of Treasury , 489 U.S. 803, 809 (1989). To that end, the S upreme Court has instruc ted that “statutory language cannot be construed in a vacuum.” Id. ; see also Yates v. United States , 135 S. Ct. 1074, 1081

– 82 (2015) (instructing courts to interpret statutory text by reference to “the specific context in which tha t language is used, and the broader context ofAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 3

the statute as a whole.” (quotation marks omitted)). In Part B.I, t he majority properly recognizes that “the ‘shall’ provision in paragraph ( l )(2)(A) cannot be read in isol ation.” Majority Op. at 12

. The majority carefully exa mines the larger statutory context

— subsection ( l ) and § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii)

— and correctly concludes that “ ‘shall’ in paragraph ( l)(2)(A) does not mean ‘must.’” Majority Op. at 1 3. As the majority recognizes, nothing in the BPCIA grants the RPS a procedural right to compel the (k) appl icant’s compliance with ( l )(2)(A). In Part B.II, however, the majority holds that the word “shall” in ( l)(8)(A) carries a different meaning than it does in ( l ) (2)(A). To reach that inconsistent result, th e majority takes the view that ( l)(8)(A) should be read in a vacuum, apart from the context and framework of subsection ( l), including the language of ( l)(8)(B). I respectfully disagree.

A
Entitled “Patents,” § 262 ( l) of the BPCIA concerns one thing: patent litigation. Specifically, it specifies an elab orate information exchange process between the (k) appl icant and the RPS that leads up to the expected patent infringement suit that comes during the pendency of a subsection (k) application

. This proc ess begins in ( l )(2)(A) with the requirement that the (k) applicant disclose to the RPS its biosimilar application (aBLA) and manufacturing

process information. Compliance with s ubsection ( l)(2)(A) triggers a cascade of events contemplated by subsection ( l )

, with each successive step reliant on the performance of one or more preceding step s. This intricate process includes : the exchange of patent lists that each party believes the RPS has reasonable grounds to assert against the (k) applicant, as well as the exchange of respective infringement, validity, and enforceability positions (§ 262( l)(3 )); a process by which the parties may limit the patents in the infringement lawsuit (§ 262 ( l)(4)

– (5) ) ; a pate nt infringement lawsuit , filed by the RPS, limited to the patents listed in ( l)(4) or ( l )(5) (§ 262 ( l )(6) ) ; a proc e-AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 4

dure for updating the RPS’s previously created ( l)(3) patent list with newly issued or licensed patents (§ 262 ( l)(7) ) ; a requirement that the (k) applicant provide a 180

- day notice ah ead of commercial marketing thereby giving the RPS time to seek a preliminary injunction on any ( l )(3) listed patents not asserted in the limited ( l )(6) patent infringement suit (§ 262 ( l)(8) ) ; and authorization for the RPS to file a n immediate declaratory judgment action for patent infringement if the (k) applicant fails to comply with its specified obligation s recited in ( l)(2), ( l )(3), ( l )(5), ( l )(6), ( l)(7), or ( l)(8) (§ 262( l )(9 ) (B)

– (C)). Importantly, s ubsection ( l ) does not relate to the FDA approval process (for that see subsection (k)). Nor is the approval process contingent on any events related to a possible patent dispute occurring in parallel with that approval process.
By enacting the provisions in subsection ( l ) , Congress created a comprehensive, integrated litigation manag ement system. These provisions also demonstrate that Congress anticipated the situation before us here, in which the (k) applicant refuses to engage in this litigation management process . Rather than forcing the (k) appl icant, by court order or some other mean s , to engage in the subsection ( l ) process, or conditioning the (k) application’s approval on the (k) applicant fulfilling the requirements set forth in subsection ( l ), Congress instead authorized the RPS in th is situation to immediately file an infring ement action. See § 262( l)(9) and 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C) (ii)

. Focusing on ( l )(8 ), Congress account ed for the possibi lity (perhaps strong likelihood) of a situation in which the (k) applicant has received FD A approval and is on the verge of commercially marketing its biosimilar product but the RPS was unable to assert all of its ( l )(3) listed patents against the (k) applicant in the limited ( l)(6) patent litigation . E ntitled “ N otice of commercial marke t-AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 5

ing and preliminary injunction ,” ( l )(8) , in relevant part, is set forth below:
8) Notice of commercial marketing and pr eliminary injunction
(A) Notice of commercial marketing
The subsection (k) applicant shall provide notice to the reference product sponsor not later than 180 days before the date of the first commercial marke ting of the biologi cal product licensed under subsec tion (k).
(B) Preliminary injunction
After receiving the notice under subparagraph (A) and before such date of the first commercial m a rketing of such biological product, the reference product sponsor may seek a preliminary injun ction prohibiting the subsection (k) applicant from engaging in the co m mercial manufacture or sale of such biological product until the court decides the issue o f patent validity, enforcement, and i nfringement with respect to any patent that is — (i) included in the list provided by the reference product sponsor under paragraph (3)(A) or in the list provided by the subsection (k) applicant under paragraph (3)(B); and
(ii) not included, as applicable, on — (I) the list of patents described in paragraph (4); or
(II) the lists of patents described in par agraph (5)(B).
Subsection ( l)(8)(A) requires the (k) applicant to give the RPS at least 180 days’ notice of its intent to begin commercially marketing the biosimilar product. One of the key questions in this appeal is

, “Why would CongressAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 6

insert a 180

- day commercial marketing notice provision in a subsection devoted to organizing patent litigation?” Paragraph ( l)(8)(B) provides the answer. As mentioned above, t he process in ( l)(4)

– (5) can result in restricting the ( l )(6) infringement action to a subset of the RPS’ s patents identified in ( l)(3). Rather than permit the (k) applicant
to launch its biosimilar product while the RPS is blocked from enforcing some of its patent rights

, subsection ( l )(8)(B) addresses that problem by authorizing the RPS to seek a preliminary injunction prohibiting commercial manufacture or sale based on the patents t hat were excluded from the ( l )(6) action. Thus, the entirety of ( l)(8)

, including ( l)(8)(A)’s notice provision, serves to ensure that

an RPS will be able to assert all relevant patents before the (k) applicant launches its biosimilar product

. Amgen confi rmed this understanding of ( l )(8)’s purpose at oral argument. Oral Argument at 20:10

– 20:05, Amgen, Inc. v. Sandoz Inc. , No. 2015

- 1499 (Fed. Cir. June 3, 2015), available at http://www.cafc.uscourts .gov/oral- argument

recordings/ 15

- 1499/all.

Given the purpos e of ( l)(8) and its express assumption that the parties have already performed the steps in ( l)(3), and ( l)(4) –( l )(5), the most logical conclusion when reading ( l )(8) in context is that ( l )(8) ’s vitality is predicated on the performance of the preced ing steps in subsection ( l )’s litigation management process

. Without first engaging in these procedures, ( l)(8) lacks meaning

. Similarly, for example, the statutory requirement in ( l)(3) for the pa rties to exchange detailed positions on infringement and

v alidity for the patents listed under ( l)(3) no longer a pplies if the (k) applicant fails to comply with ( l )(2). Par agraph ( l )(8)’s interdependency on the preceding steps in subsection ( l ) is further reinforced by ( l)(7)’s cross

reference to ( l)(8). Paragraph ( l )(7) , which sets forth a process for the RPS to updat e its ( l )(3) patent list with any newly issued or licensed patents , states that any such patents “shall be subject to paragraph (8).” 42 U.S.C.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 7

§ 262( l )(7)(B). The interwoven structure of s ubsection ( l ) indicates that Congress viewed the procedures of ( l )(8) as inseverable from the preceding steps in ( l).

The majority, on the other hand, views ( l )(8)(A) as a standalone notice provision that is not excused when the (k) applicant fails to co mply with ( l)(2). 1 Yet, no one disputes that the requirements of ( l )(3) through ( l )(7) are certainly excused in such a case. I recognize that ( l)(8)(A), unlike ( l)(3) through ( l)(7), is not expressly conditioned on the earlier steps. I cannot, however, read ( l)(8)(A) in complete isolation from ( l)(8)(B) , which does reference

, and is predicated on the performance of, ( l )(3) and ( l)(4)

– ( l )(5). Thus, ( l)(8) does not serve as a standalone prov ision; it is part and parcel to, and contingent upon, the precedi ng steps in the ( l )(2) –( l )(8) litigation management regime. The most persuasive reading of subsection ( l) as a whole is that Congress provided two paths to resolve patent disputes : (1) the intricate route expressed in ( l)(2 )– ( l )(8); and (2) the immediate

, more flexible route provided in ( l)(9) , should the (k) applicant falter on any of its obl igations recited in ( l )(2) –( l)(8)

. B The majority is also concerned with the absence of an express consequence for noncompliance with ( l)(8)(A) in situations in whi ch the (k) applicant does not comply with ( l )(2)

. I agree with the majority that the remedy in

1 The majority states that Sandoz “concedes” that ( l )( 8)(A) is a standalone notice provision, citing to the oral argument. I understand Sandoz’s position as accepting that ( l )(8)(A) as a standalone provision is one possible interpretation. Oral Argument at 39:30

– 40:30, Amgen Inc. v. Sandoz Inc. , No. 2015

- 14 99 (Fed. Cir. June 3, 2015), available at http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral

argument

- recordings/15

- 1499/all.AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 8

( l)(9)(B) does not provide relief in this scenario because the RPS’s right to pursue additional patent litigation at this stage under ( l)(9)(B) is contingent on using the p atents that have been “included in the list described in paragraph (3)(A). ” If a (k) applicant never carrie s out ( l)(2), the RPS will never create an ( l)(3) patent list . Such a failure to adhere to ( l )(2) would defeat the RPS’s opportunity to invoke ( l )(9)(B ) if the (k) applicant refuse s to comply with ( l)(8)(A)’s notice provision

. Contrary to the majority’s conclusion, however, t he absence of such a remedial provision in ( l )(9)(B) confirms that Congress deemed an y additional remedy to be u nnecessary

. Congress created the fallback provision of ( l )(9)(C) for just these circumstances. An RPS does not need the remedy in ( l)(9)(B) because ( l )(9)(C) and § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii) already grant the right to file, immed iately, an unrestricted patent infri ngement action when the (k) applicant fail s to comply with ( l)(2). At this point, the RPS possess es the statutory right to seek a prelim inary injunction for any of its patents that “could be ident ified pursuant to section [262]( l ) (3)(A)(i).” 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii). It therefore would have been superfl uous for Congress to provide the RPS with authorization to initiate an additional, redundant infringement action under ( l )(9)(B) 2 if the (k) applicant later does not comply

2 I t is worth examining ( l)(9)(B) closely for it shows how Congress understood the ( l )(8) notice provision to be

one part of the entire subsection ( l ) litigation manag ement process. Under ( l )(9)(B), if a (k) applicant fails to comply with any of its obligations recited in “paragraph (3)(B)(ii), paragraph (5), paragraph (6)(C)(i), paragraph (7), or paragraph (8)(A) ,” the RPS may immediately bring

an infringement action on any patent the RPS listed in (l)(3). 42 U.S.C. § 262( l)(9)(B) (emphasis added). By grouping ( l)(8)(A) with ( l )(3), ( l )(5), ( l )(6), and ( l) (7), all ofAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 9

with ( l )(8)(A). Not only is compliance with ( l)(8)(A) u nnecessary under such a circumstance, but no additional remedy is needed. Thus, a fter Sandoz failed to perform the ( l )(2) requirement, the only relevant provision in subsection ( l ) became ( l)(9) (C) and § 271(e)(2)(C)(ii)

. C

The practical consequence of the majority’s interpr etation is that ( l )(8)(A) provides an inherent right to a n automatic 180

- day injunction. T he majority provides no basis in the statutory language to support this automatic injunction. 3 This relief is analog ous to the thirty

- month stay of the Hatch

- Waxman Act , which provides for an automatic stay during which the FDA cannot approve the ANDA unless the patent infringement suit is resolved or the patent expires. See 21 U.S.C. § 355(j)(5)(B)(iii). If Congress intended to create a 180

- day automatic stay it understood how to do so. It could have tied FDA approval to the notice provision. Yet, Congress declined to link FDA approval to a single provision in subsection ( l). At bottom, t he majority’s view is in te nsion with the defined

which are unquestionably part of the litigation manag ement regime, and defining the scope of any infringement action by the patents listed in ( l)(3), Congress evidenced that ( l )(8)(A) is not a provision that stands apart from the others, but is instead part of an integrated regime with each part serving a common purpose.

3 The majo rity believes that ( l)(8)(A)’s notice prov ision plays a necessary role, when the (k) applicant fails to comply with ( l )(2), to provid e the RPS ade quate notice of the aBLA and therefore a meaningful opportunity to assert its patent rights. I n my view, the ma jority reads too much into ( l )(8)(A) by empowering it with an injun ction right in the limited circumstance when a (k) appl icant fails to comply with ( l)(2).AMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 10

purpose of ( l)(8) while providing the RPS with an atextual 180

- day exclusivity windfall

. Notably, nothing in the majority opinion suggests that this automatic injunction remedy would be available in cases where the applicant complie d with ( l)(2)(A) by providing its aBLA to the RPS, but later failed to provide notice under ( l )(8)(A). In fact, the majority’s opinion creates an uncomfortable result in which the language of ( l)(8)(A) is interpreted in two different ways, based on the (k) applicant’s actions. In a situation like the present case, the (k) applicant cannot refuse to provide the 180

- days’ notice, because under the majority’s reading, ( l)(8)(A) authorizes an automatic entitlement to a 180 day injunction. But if a (k) appl icant complies with all the requirements specified in ( l )(2) –( l)(7), then the (k) appl icant may still refuse to comply with the 180

- day notice provision. In this scenario, there would be no automatic injunction because ( l )(9)(B) provides the RPS with the authorization to immediately file suit on any patent it listed under ( l )(3). Thus, in one scenario, ( l )(8)(A) pr ovides a 180

- day injunction, but in the second scenario it does not. While the result in the latter scenario comes from the plain language of the statute, not so with the former. Nothing in the statute supports this peculiar outcome. As explained above, in my view, the better reading of ( l)(8) is that it does not apply, just as ( l )(3)

– ( l)(7) do not apply, when the (k) applicant fails to compl y with ( l)(2).

II
To be sure, ( l )(8)(A) is an integral part of the proc edures for managing patent litigation that arises as a result of a party filing an aBLA. Nevertheless, ( l)(8)(A) is simply one piece of subsection ( l )’s integrated patent dispute puzzl e that ceases to matter, just like all the other pieces preceding ( l )(8) cease to matter, once the (k) appl icant fails to comply with ( l )(2)

. I do not find support inAMGEN INC

. v. SANDOZ INC

. 11

the statutory language to create an automatic 180

- day injunction. Just as “shall” in ( l )(2) does not mean “must,” the same is true for the “shall” provision in ( l )(8)(A), once it is read in context with the entirety of subsection ( l ).
As the majority opinion recognizes, this case requires us to “unravel the riddle, solve the mystery, and compr ehend the enigma” that is the BPCIA. Majority Op. at 3 n.1. To fulfill our judicial obligation “to say what the law is,” we must choose from a series of imperfect choices. In my view, the most coherent interpretation of ( l)(8)(A) that is consistent with the rest of the BPCIA is the one I have described above. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s holding that ( l)(8) is a standalone provision with an inherent right to a 180

- day injunction. Accordingly, I would dissolve the i njunction pending appeal.