PUMA BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC. Commitments Disclosure
Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies
License Agreements
Pfizer License Agreement
In August 2011, the Company entered into an agreement pursuant to which Pfizer agreed to grant it a worldwide license for the development, manufacture and commercialization of PB272 (neratinib, oral), PB272 (neratinib, intravenous) and PB357, and certain related compounds. The license is exclusive with respect to certain patent rights owned by or licensed to Pfizer. Under the agreement, the Company is obligated to commence a new clinical trial for a product containing one of these compounds within a specified period of time and to use commercially reasonable efforts to complete clinical trials and to achieve certain milestones as provided in a development plan. From the closing date of the agreement through December 31, 2011, Pfizer continued to conduct the existing clinical trials on behalf of the Company at the licensor’s sole expense. At the Company’s request, Pfizer agreed to continue to perform certain services in support of the existing clinical trials at the Company’s expense. These services will continue through the completion of the transitioned clinical trials. The license agreement “capped” the out of pocket expense the Company would be responsible to complete the then existing clinical trials. All agreed upon costs incurred by the Company above the “cost cap” would be reimbursed by Pfizer. The Company exceeded the “cost cap” during the fourth quarter of 2012. In accordance with the license agreement, the Company billed Pfizer for agreed upon costs above the “cost cap” until December 31, 2013.
On July 18, 2014, the Company entered into an amendment to the license agreement with Pfizer. The amendment amends the agreement to (i) reduce the royalty rate payable by the Company to Pfizer on sales of licensed products; (ii) release Pfizer from its obligation to pay for certain out-of-pocket costs incurred or accrued on or after January 1, 2014 to complete certain ongoing clinical studies; and (iii) provide that Pfizer and the Company will continue to cooperate to effect the transfer to the Company of certain records, regulatory filings, materials and inventory controlled by Pfizer as promptly as reasonably practicable.
As consideration for the license, the Company is required to make substantial payments upon the achievement of certain milestones totaling approximately $187.5 million if all such milestones are achieved, of which $102.5 million have been achieved as of December 31, 2025. In connection with the FDA approval of NERLYNX in July of 2017, the Company triggered a one-time milestone payment pursuant to the agreement. In June 2020, the Company entered into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”), with Pfizer relating to the method of payment associated with a one-time milestone payment under the license agreement with Pfizer. The Letter Agreement permitted the Company to make the milestone payment in installments with the remaining amount payable to Pfizer (including interest). The milestone payment accrued interest at 6.25% per annum. The milestone payment including accrued interest of $1.8 million was paid in full in September 2021. In addition, the company reached a commercial milestone by achieving aggregate worldwide net sales of $250.0 million in calendar year 2022, resulting in a payable to Pfizer of $12.5 million as of December 31, 2022. The commercial milestone payable was paid in February 2023.
The Company may trigger additional milestone payments in the future. Should the Company commercialize any more of the compounds licensed from Pfizer or any products containing any of these compounds, the Company will be obligated to pay to Pfizer annual royalties at a fixed rate in the low to mid-teens of net sales of all such products, subject to certain reductions and offsets in some circumstances. The Company’s royalty obligation continues, on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis, until the later of (i) the last to expire licensed patent covering the applicable licensed product in such country, or (ii) the earlier of generic competition for such licensed product reaching a certain level in such country or expiration of a certain time period after first commercial sale of such licensed product in such country. In the event that the Company sublicenses the rights granted to the Company under the license agreement with Pfizer to a third party, the same milestone and royalty payments are required. The Company can terminate the license agreement at will, or for safety concerns, in each case upon specified advance notice.
Takeda License Agreement
In September 2022, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with Takeda to license the worldwide research and development and commercial rights to alisertib, a selective, small-molecule, orally administered inhibitor of Aurora Kinase A. Under the terms of the exclusive license agreement, the Company assumed sole responsibility for the global development and commercialization of alisertib. The Company paid Takeda an upfront license fee of $7.0 million in October 2022 and is eligible to receive potential future milestone payments of up to $287.3 million upon the Company’s achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones over the course of the exclusive license agreement, as well as tiered royalty payments for any net sales of alisertib. The Company recorded in-process research and development expense of $7.0 million in connection with the upfront payment related to the asset acquisition. As of December 31, 2025, no milestones had been accrued as the underlying contingencies were not considered probable.
Clinical Trial Contracts
The Company engages with CROs and contract manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”) in addition to engaging in contracts for the management of its ongoing clinical trials and pre-commercialization efforts. The Company may cancel these agreements with a 30 to 45 day written notice to the outside vendor. The Company would be obligated to pay for services rendered up to that point, which amounts to total contractual obligations of approximately $54.9 million within the next twelve months. The contracts also contain variable costs that are hard to predict as they are based on such things as patients enrolled and clinical trial sites, which can vary, and therefore, are not included in the total obligations amount. Included in the total contractual obligations amount above are payments to be made when milestones are reached. As of December 31, 2025, the Company's obligations for potential milestone payments totaled approximately $15.7 million. This amount will be paid by the Company if all milestones are reached and would reduce the overall contractual obligation if one or more milestone is never reached.
Legal Proceedings
The Company and certain of its executive officers were named as defendants in the lawsuits detailed below. The Company records a liability in the consolidated financial statements for loss contingencies when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If the reasonable estimate of a known or probable loss is a range, and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other, the minimum amount of the range is accrued. If a loss is reasonably possible but not known or probable, and can be reasonably estimated, the estimated loss or range of loss is disclosed. When determining the estimated loss or range of loss, significant judgment is required to estimate the amount and timing of a loss to be recorded.
On September 17, 2020, the Company filed a lawsuit against Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, L.L.P. and David L. Levy, the attorneys who previously represented the Company in Eshelman v. Puma Biotechnology, Inc., et al. in the Superior Court of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The Company is alleging legal malpractice based on the defendants’ negligent handling of the defense of the Company in Eshelman v. Puma Biotechnology, Inc., et al. The Company is seeking recovery of the entire amount awarded in Eshelman v. Puma Biotechnology, Inc., et al. and all legal fees and expenses incurred in appealing from the judgment and retrying the damages phase of the trial. On November 23, 2020, the defendant filed an answer to the complaint denying the allegations of negligence. On August 19, 2022, the Company filed a voluntary dismissal of the legal malpractice action, without prejudice, to allow the Eshelman v. Puma Biotechnology, Inc., et al. to conclude before proceedings. On June 2, 2023, the Company re-filed the lawsuit against Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, L.L.P. and David L. Levy, the attorneys who previously represented the Company in Eshelman v. Puma Biotechnology, Inc., et al. in the Superior Court of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. On August 22, 2023, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the case. These motions were presented at a hearing on February 20, 2024. The Superior Court Judge granted the motions to dismiss on March 20, 2024. The Company appealed this ruling to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. On September 3, 2025, the Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal of the Company’s claim for legal malpractice and remanded the case to the Superior Court for further proceedings. The defendants filed a petition for discretionary review of this decision by the North Carolina Supreme Court on October 8, 2025. The Supreme Court has not decided whether to accept the case for review.
AstraZeneca Litigation
On September 22, 2021, the Company filed suit against AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP, AstraZeneca AB, and AstraZeneca PLC for infringement of United States Patent Nos. 10,603,314 (“the ‘314 patent”) and 10,596,162 (“the ‘162 patent”) (Puma Biotechnology, Inc. et al. v. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP et al., 1:21CV01338 (D. Del. Sep. 22, 2021)). The Company’s complaint alleges that AstraZeneca’s commercial manufacture, use, offer for sale, sale, distribution, and/or importation of Tagrisso® (osimertinib) products for the treatment of gefitinib and/or erlotinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer infringes the ‘314 and ‘162 patents. The Company is an exclusive licensee of the ‘314 and ‘162 patents under the Pfizer Agreement. Wyeth is a co-plaintiff. Plaintiffs seek a judgment that AstraZeneca’s product infringes the asserted patents and an award of monetary damages in an amount to be proven at trial. AstraZeneca AB and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP filed an answer and counterclaims on November 5, 2021, including claims challenging the asserted patents as not infringed and/or invalid, and accusing plaintiffs of unclean hands and patent misuse. The parties stipulated to dismiss AstraZeneca PLC as a defendant and Pfizer as a Counterclaim Defendant on December 10, 2021, which the Court so ordered on December 13, 2021. The Company filed its answer to AstraZeneca’s counterclaims on December 17, 2021, denying those claims. The case was reassigned to visiting Judge Matthew Kennelly of the Northern District of Illinois. A Markman Hearing was conducted on March 17, 2023, and the Court issued its claim construction decision on March 29, 2023. Fact discovery closed on May 19, 2023, and expert discovery closed on November 17, 2023. The Court denied the parties’ respective motions for summary judgment and Daubert motions, other than to clarify that Plaintiffs’ damages cannot extend to any time period before the asserted patents were issued. The Court granted AstraZeneca’s motion to dismiss the Company as a Plaintiff on constitutional standing grounds but denied the motion to dismiss Wyeth as a Plaintiff on constitutional standing grounds. On April 29, 2024, the Court granted AstraZeneca’s motion to dismiss AstraZeneca’s counterclaims against the Company, which removed the Company from the case. Wyeth remained in the case as a Plaintiff and counterclaim-defendant. Under the Company’s worldwide exclusive license agreement with Pfizer, Inc. (the parent of Wyeth) as amended, the Company also maintains contractual rights to recover monetary damages in the AstraZeneca litigation, and those contractual rights are unaffected by the court’s March 18, 2024 and April 29, 2024 orders. A jury trial was held May 13-17, 2024. The jury found in favor of Wyeth and against AstraZeneca. In particular, the jury found that use of Tagrisso® according to each of the three FDA-approved indications infringes the asserted claims of the ‘314 and ‘162 patents, and that AstraZeneca induces that infringement. The jury further rejected AstraZeneca’s challenges to the validity of the patents, finding that they are not invalid. The jury awarded damages to Wyeth for past acts of infringement through December 31, 2023, in the amount of $107,500,000. A separate bench trial related to certain equitable claims and defenses raised by AstraZeneca was held before Judge Kennelly on June 20 and 25, 2024. On August 6, 2024, Judge Kennelly issued his ruling on the issues that were tried in the bench trial, finding for Wyeth and against AstraZeneca on all claims and defenses. The Court found that AstraZeneca had not proved its claim that Wyeth’s asserted patents were invalid as indefinite, or that Wyeth had committed acts that would give rise to findings of unclean hands, implied waiver, or patent misuse. AstraZeneca filed a motion challenging the jury’s verdict and requesting a new trial. Wyeth filed a motion requesting supplemental damages for past infringement from January 1, 2024, through the date of judgment; pre-and-post judgment interest, and ongoing royalties through the remaining term of the patents. Briefing on these motions from both sides was completed on July 16, 2024. On August 14, 2024, Judge Kennelly ruled on AstraZeneca’s motion challenging the jury’s verdict, granting it in part and denying it in part. The Court granted AstraZeneca’s motion for judgment as a matter of law that the '314 and '162 patents are invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 112 for lacking enablement and adequate written description as to a particular claim limitation. In all other respects, the Court denied AstraZeneca’s motion. The Court entered its final and appealable judgment accordingly. The Company respectfully disagrees with the Court’s ruling regarding invalidity with respect to the particular claim limitation. Wyeth filed a notice of appeal on September 12, 2024, appealing the District Court’s judgment as a matter of law, as well as other rulings and opinions of the Court adverse to Wyeth. On December 18, 2024, Wyeth filed its opening brief. On March 13, 2025, AstraZeneca filed its response brief. On March 20, 2025, non-parties Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC filed a motion for leave to file an amicus curiae brief in the Federal Circuit. The motion was granted on May 16, 2025. On June 6, 2025, Wyeth filed its reply brief. Briefing on the appeal is now complete, and the parties await further order from the Court.
Acebright China Litigation
On January 18, 2022, Shanghai Acebright Pharmaceuticals Group Co., Ltd. (“Acebright”) filed an abbreviated new drug application (“ANDA”) with the National Medical Products Administration in China (“NMPA”) seeking approval to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX® (neratinib) tablet, 40mg in China. Acebright seeks approval prior to the expiration of three patents listed on the China Patent Information Registration Platform for Marketed Drugs (“Chinese Orange Book”), namely, Chinese Patent Nos. ZL201410082103.7, ZL201080060546.6, and ZL200880118789.3 (the “’789 patent” and collectively, the “NERLYNX® Patents”), alleging in a Type 4.2 patent declaration that its generic version of NERLYNX does not fall within the scope of the claims of NERLYNX® Patents listed in the Chinese Orange Book. The patent declaration of Acebright was published in the Chinese Orange Book on January 19, 2022. On March 2, 2022, the Company filed petitions with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (“CNIPA”) and requested administrative determination that Acebright’s generic neratinib tablet falls within the scope of the claims of NERLYNX® Patents listed in the Chinese Orange Book. The Company’s request for administrative determination was accepted by CNIPA on March 18, 2022. The Company has notified NMPA of the acceptance of the request for administrative determination for NMPA to institute a stay of Acebright’s ANDA for nine months. On July 11, 2022, CNIPA decided that claims 5 and 6 of Patent No. ZL200880118789.3 are not eligible for registration in the Chinese Orange Book on the ground that these two pharmaceutical method-of-use claims fall within the scope of “patents of crystalline forms,” which are not eligible for listing in the Chinese Orange Book. On September 9, 2022, CNIPA decided that the generic drug in Acebright’s ANDA does not fall within the protection scope of claims 1, 3, 5 and 6 of Patent No. ZL201410082103.7 and claims 1-4, 7 and 9-13 of Patent No. ZL201080060546.6. The three CNIPA administrative decisions on NERLYNX® Patents have lifted the stay of Acebright’s ANDA by NMPA. The Company has appealed each CNIPA administrative decision in January 2023 at the Beijing Intellectual Property Court (“BJIPC”). The three appeals were accepted by BJIPC on February 20, 2023. The Company also filed three civil complaints based on the three NERLYNX® Patents against Acebright with the BJIPC in July 2022 and requested court determination that Acebright’s generic neratinib tablet falls within the scope of the claims of NERLYNX® Patents. On May 6, 2023, the Company withdrew two civil lawsuits and two appeals in relation to Chinese Patent Nos. ZL201410082103.7 and ZL201080060546.6 at the BJIPC. On May 24, 2023, the BJIPC accepted the Company’s withdrawal request. On July 24, 2023, the Company withdrew the one remaining civil lawsuit and one appeal in relation to Chinese Patent No. ZL200880118789.3 at the BJIPC. On August 15, 2023, the BJIPC accepted the Company’s withdrawal request. On September 12, 2023, the NMPA approved Acebright’s ANDA to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX® in China with the approval number of GuoYaoZhunZi H20234141.
On December 28, 2023, the Company filed a civil lawsuit against Acebright for infringement of the ’789 patent under Article 11 of the Chinese Patent Law before Jiangsu Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court. The Company’s complaint alleges that Acebright’s offer for sale of a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX® product infringes the ’789 patent. The Company seeks a judgment that Acebright’s product infringes the ’789 patent and Acebright’s act of offer for sale shall be enjoined. On January 2, 2024, Jiangsu Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court accepted the civil complaint. An oral hearing was held on June 19, 2024, during which the Company amended its complaint to allege that Acebright making, selling and offering to sell the generic version of NERLYNX® infringes the ’789 patent. On July 24, 2024, the Company submitted a request to withdraw the lawsuit. On August 8, 2024, Jiangsu Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court accepted the withdrawal request.
On September 27, 2024, the Company filed an additional claim of infringement of the ‘789 patent against Acebright at Jiangsu Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court. On October 14, 2024, the Court accepted the complaint and designated case number (2024) Su 01 Min Chu 2192 to this case. On December 16, 2024, the Court conducted an evidence exchange hearing. On January 10, 2025, the Court conducted a hearing of party experts on the evaluation of evidence. On July 14, 2025, the Court conducted a hearing to examine evidence and debate merits of party arguments. On September 28, 2025, the Court issued a first-instance decision, deciding that Acebright’s product does not fall within the scope of the ‘789 patent, and Acebright did not infringe the ’789 patent; the Court also decided that the Company’s enforcement efforts were not malicious and did not amount to unfair competition.
Aosaikang China Litigation
On November 17, 2022, Jiangsu Aosaikang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (“Aosaikang”) filed an ANDA with NMPA in China seeking approval to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX®. The ANDA application No. is CYHS2202006. Aosaikang made Type 4.2 declarations against the four Orange Book Patents ZL201410082103.7, ZL201080060546.6, ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9, alleging that its generic version of NERLYNX does not fall within the scope of the claims of the Orange Book patents. Aosaikang also alleged that Patents ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9 are not eligible for Chinese Orange Book listing.
On December 28, 2022, the Company submitted four Article 76 petitions against the Aosaikang ANDA with the CNIPA and requested administrative determination that Aosaikang’s generic neratinib tablet falls within the scope of the claims of the four Orange Book patents. On January 6, 2023, the CNIPA accepted the Company’s request for administrative determination in relation to Patent Nos. ZL201410082103.7 and ZL201080060546.6. Also on January 6, 2023, the CNIPA declined to accept the Company’s request for administrative determination in relation to Patent Nos. ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9, alleging that the listed claims are not eligible for registration in the Chinese Orange Book on the ground that these pharmaceutical method-of-use claims fall within the scope of “patents of crystalline forms,” which are not eligible for listing in the Chinese Orange Book. On January 28, 2023, the Company requested the NMPA to institute a nine-month stay against Aosaikang ANDA starting from the CNIPA’s acceptance of the Company’s request for administrative determination. On June 2, 2023, CNIPA decided that the generic drug in Aosaikang’s ANDA does not fall within the protection scope of claims 1, 3, 5 and 6 of Patent No. ZL201410082103.7 and claims 1-4, 7 and 9-13 of Patent No. ZL201080060546.6. The two CNIPA administrative decisions on NERLYNX® Patents have lifted the stay of Aosaikang’s ANDA by NMPA. On October 22, 2024, the NMPA approved Aosaikang’s ANDA to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX® in China with the approval number of GuoYaoZhunZi H20249180.
Convalife China Litigation
Convalife Pharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (“Convalife”) filed an ANDA with NMPA in China seeking approval to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX®. The ANDA application No. is CYHS2202095. On December 23, 2022, Convalife made Type 4.2 declarations against the four Orange Book Patents ZL201410082103.7, ZL201080060546.6, ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9, alleging that its generic version of NERLYNX does not fall within the scope of the claims of the Orange Book patents. Convalife also alleged that Patents ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9 are not eligible for Chinese Orange Book listing.
On February 1, 2023, the Company submitted four Article 76 petitions against the Convalife ANDA with the CNIPA and requested administrative determination that Convalife’s generic neratinib tablet falls within the scope of the claims of the four Orange Book patents. On February 3, 2023, the CNIPA accepted the Company’s request for administrative determination in relation to Patent Nos. ZL201410082103.7 and ZL201080060546.6. Also on February 3, 2023, the CNIPA declined to accept the Company’s request for administrative determination in relation to Patent Nos. ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9, alleging that the listed claims are not eligible for registration in the Chinese Orange Book on the ground that these pharmaceutical method-of-use claims fall within the scope of “patents of crystalline forms,” which are not eligible for listing in the Chinese Orange Book. On February 24, 2023, the Company requested the NMPA to institute a nine-month stay against Convalife ANDA starting from the CNIPA’s acceptance of the Company’s request for administrative determination. On June 2, 2023, CNIPA decided that the generic drug in Convalife’s ANDA does not fall within the protection scope of claims 1, 3, 5 and 6 of Patent No. ZL201410082103.7 and claims 1-4, 7 and 9-13 of Patent No. ZL201080060546.6. The two CNIPA administrative decisions on NERLYNX® Patents have lifted the stay of Convalife’s ANDA by NMPA. On June 28, 2024, the NMPA approved Convalife’s ANDA to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX® in China with the approval number of GuoYaoZhunZi H20244222.
Kelun China Litigation
Hunan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Kelun”) filed an ANDA with NMPA in China seeking approval to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX®. The ANDA application No. is CYHS2300221. On January 28, 2023, Kelun made Type 4.2 declarations against the four Orange Book Patents ZL201410082103.7, ZL201080060546.6, ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9, alleging that its generic version of NERLYNX does not fall within the scope of the claims of the Orange Book patents. Kelun also alleged that Patents ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9 are not eligible for Chinese Orange Book listing.
On March 13, 2023, the Company submitted four Article 76 petitions against the Kelun ANDA with the CNIPA and requested administrative determination that Kelun’s generic neratinib tablet falls within the scope of the claims of the four Orange Book patents. On March 21, 2023, the CNIPA declined to accept the Company’s request for administrative determination in relation to Patent Nos. ZL200880118789.3 and ZL201710057547.9, alleging that the listed claims are not eligible for registration in the Chinese Orange Book on the ground that these pharmaceutical method-of-use claims fall within the scope of “patents of crystalline forms,” which are not eligible for listing in the Chinese Orange Book. On March 24, 2023, the CNIPA accepted the Company’s request for administrative determination in relation to Patent Nos. ZL201410082103.7 and ZL201080060546.6. On April 17, 2023, the Company requested the NMPA to institute a nine-month stay against Kelun’s ANDA starting from the CNIPA’s acceptance of the Company’s request for administrative determination. On September 14, 2023, the Company withdrew the two requests for administrative determination in relation to Chinese Patent Nos. ZL201410082103.7 and ZL201080060546.6 at the CNIPA. On September 25, 2023, the CNIPA accepted the Company’s withdrawal request. On September 9, 2025, the NMPA approved Kelun’s ANDA to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX® in China with the approval number of GuoYaoZhunZi H20255337.
Demai Litigation
Zhengzhou Demai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (“Demai”) filed an ANDA with NMPA in China seeking approval to market a generic version of the Company’s NERLYNX®. The ANDA application No. is CYHS2402776. On August 26, 2024, Demai made a Type 4.2 declaration against Orange Book Patent ZL201410082103.7, alleging that its generic version of NERLYNX does not fall within the scope of the claims of this Orange Book patent. On September 30, 2024, the Company filed a lawsuit against Demai at the BJIPC based on Nerlynx Patent No. ZL201080060546.6 and on October 8, 2024, the Company filed a lawsuit against Demai at the BJIPC based on Nerlynx Patent No. ZL201410082103.7. On February 13, 2025, the Company withdrew the lawsuits from BJIPC, filed an Article 76 petition with the CNIPA against the Demai ANDA and requested administrative determination that Demai’s generic neratinib maleate tablet falls within the scope of the claims of Nerlynx Patent No. ZL201080060546.6. On February 21, 2025, the CNIPA accepted the Company’s petition and started examination. On March 18, 2025, the Company filed a request with the NMPA to set up a nine-month stay on Demai’s ANDA.
Hexal European Patent Opposition
An opposition was filed by Hexal AG (“Hexal”) on August 3, 2016 against European Patent No. EP2416774 which was licensed from Pfizer in 2011, and which claims neratinib for use in a method for treating HER-2/neu overexpressed/amplified cancer and improving IDFS, wherein the method comprises delivering neratinib therapy to HER-2/neu overexpressed/amplified cancer patients following the completion of at least one year of trastuzumab adjuvant therapy, and wherein the neratinib therapy comprises treating the cancer patients with neratinib for at least twelve months. An oral hearing was held on December 8, 2017, wherein the patent was maintained as granted. Following an appeal filed by Hexal, the Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office rejected the claims as granted and all pending auxiliary requests during the oral hearing of September 2, 2021. Before issuance of a decision, we withdrew approval of the text in which the patent was granted and all pending auxiliary requests, thereby revoking the patent and concluding the appeal. One European divisional application, namely EP15188350.1, was granted with the European patent number EP3000467 on March 1, 2023. Oppositions against EP3000467 were filed by Hexal on November 3, 2023, by Alfred E. Tiefenbacher (GmbH & Co. KG) on November 28, 2023 and by Generics (UK) Limited (“Generics”) on December 1, 2023. EP3000467 is used as the basic patent for Supplementary Protection Certificate applications for the EMA-approved NERLYNX® product, 17 of which have been granted, three proceedings have been stayed, and 11 are in active prosecution. The patentee response to the notice of opposition was filed on April 15, 2024, following which, all three opponents filed additional arguments in reply to the patentee’s submission. On February 6, 2025, the Company filed its response to the summons to attend oral proceedings, including six auxiliary requests. Alfred E. Tiefenbacher and Hexal filed their responses to the summons to oral proceedings on February 6 and 7, 2025, respectively. Hexal filed a further brief on March 19, 2025. Oral proceedings took place on April 9 and 10, 2025. EP3000467 was upheld as amended after the first instance hearing based on Auxiliary Request 1, which covers the EMA approved indication for NERLYNX® as an extended adjuvant therapy for treating early stage hormone receptor-positive HER-2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer. The first instance decision may be appealed. Hexal filed an appeal on June 6, 2025, Generics filed an appeal on June 20, 2025 and Wyeth filed an appeal on June 30, 2025. On September 5, 2025, Wyeth filed its grounds of appeal, including nine auxiliary requests. On the same day, Hexal filed its grounds of appeal. Generics filed its grounds of appeal on September 4, 2025, and Alfred E. Tiefenbacher filed its grounds of appeal on September 1, 2025. On December 16, 2025, Alfred E. Tiefenbacher withdrew its appeal. Wyeth responded to the opponents’ grounds of appeal on January 12, 2026. One European divisional application is pending in the same family, namely EP 23157078.8. A response to the European Search Opinion (ESO) for this application was filed February 14, 2024. The first office action was issued on January 28, 2025 with a response to the first office action filed on July 22, 2025.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 27, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 2, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Mar 3, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Mar 1, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 28, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Mar 1, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Mar 9, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Mar 1, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 29, 2016 | |
About Commitments Disclosures
Commitments and contingencies disclosures catalog a company's off-balance-sheet obligations and legal exposures — purchase commitments, guarantee arrangements, pending litigation, and regulatory proceedings. These items represent potential future cash outflows that may not appear as liabilities on the balance sheet until they become probable and estimable.
Key signals: litigation reserves and disclosed loss ranges quantify management's estimate of legal exposure, but unquantified "reasonably possible" losses often represent the larger risk. Watch for changes in language around pending cases — shifts from "remote" to "reasonably possible" or increases in estimated loss ranges signal deteriorating outcomes. Unconditional purchase obligations and take-or-pay contracts create fixed cost structures that reduce operational flexibility. Guarantee arrangements for subsidiaries or joint ventures can create cascading obligations. Compare the total commitment schedule against projected free cash flow to assess whether the company can meet its obligations without additional financing.