GSK, other drug makers challenge patent office limits on continued applications

WASHINGTON New rules adopted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office discourage drug companies from taking risks that could lead to development of new drugs, GlaxoSmithKline and other drug makers have said in a lawsuit in a federal appeals court they have filed to reverse them.

The Patent and Trademark Office says the rules are meant to stop abuse of the patent system by limiting the number of continuations inventors can file. Continuations are used to amend applications or challenge rejections.