Amgen wins ruling on arthritis drug royalties

Amgen Inc. won an appeals court ruling that prevents an Israeli company from seeking royalties on Enbrel, a rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Israel Bio-Engineering Project sued Thousand Oaks-based Amgen and its marketing partner Wyeth, claiming they infringed a U.S. patent that covers Enbrel.

The appeals court upheld a finding that Yeda Research and Development Co., which licenses inventions of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, was at least a part owner of the patent, blocking a suit by Israel Bio-Engineering.