Context:
- Last year, Enanta’s patent enforcement campaign against Pfizer’s Paxlovid product (which was used to treat COVID-19 symptoms) expanded to the UPC (August 25, 2025 ip fray article).
- In the U.S., the appeals court affirmed the invalidation of the relevant patent (June 24, 2026 ip fray article).
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Court and counsel
Presiding Judge Dr. Daniel Voss (“Voß”), Judge-rapporteur Dr. Georg Werner, Judge Rute Lopes (Lisbon, Portugal), and Technically Qualified Judge Dr. Rudi Goedeweck.
Counsel for Enanta: Hoffmann Eitle’s Dr. Dirk Schuessler-Langeheine (“Schüßler-Langeheine”).
Counsel for prevailing defendant Pfizer: Clifford Chance’s (ip fray firm profile) Dr. Tobias Hessel, David Por, Lea Prehn, Matteo Martini, and Dr. Andrea Abele.
This is a rare case in which attorneys-at-law (here, Pfizer’s counsel) litigated without involving outside patent attorneys. In some cases, in-house patent counsel provides all the input that is needed. In various other cases, Clifford Chance has collaborated with patent attorney firms.