Corcept Loses Patent Appeal Against Teva Over Korlym Generic

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has found that Teva Pharmaceuticals' marketing of a generic version of Korlym does not infringe two of Corcept's patents concerning methods of safely co-administering Korlym and drugs that inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme, including drugs that are commonly prescribed to patients with Cushing's syndrome. The ruling affirms a December 2023 verdict by the Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey.

The court's decision found "no infringement" of Corcept's U.S. patents concerning methods of safely administering Korlym with drugs that are strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Korlym is approved to treat people with Cushing's syndrome.

In 2018, Corcept first sued Teva over its application to market a generic version of Korlym. A judge found in favor of Teva in 2023, and Corcept appealed the ruling.

The Chief Executive Officer stated the company is disappointed in the Court's ruling. "The patents we asserted in this case cover methods of safely treating patients with Cushing's syndrome that physicians rely on every day. We will vigorously defend our rights and are currently considering the best way to pursue judicial review of this decision."

Corcept's stock fell 18%, to $32.60, on Thursday, at one point touching a 52-week low of $28.66. Shares have lost half their value over the past 12 months.

Teva has counter-sued, alleging Corcept is monopolizing the market for Korlym.

In 2012, Corcept introduced Korlym, the first medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with endogenous hypercortisolism. Corcept is a commercial-stage company engaged in the discovery and development of medications to treat severe endocrinologic, oncologic, metabolic and neurologic disorders by modulating the effects of the hormone cortisol.