In three related final written decisions, the PTAB ruled that Bayer Healthcare
("Bayer") was not a real party in interest
("RPI") to IPR petitions filed by NOF Corporation,
even though Bayer had a business relationship with NOF and stood to
benefit from the IPR proceedings. NOF Corporation v. Nektar
Therapeutics, IPR2019-01394, Paper 22 (PTAB Feb. 5, 2020);
IPR2019-01397, Paper 24 (PTAB Feb. 10, 2020), IPR2019-01398, Paper
17 (PTAB Feb. 12, 2020).
Nektar Therapeutics had challenged NOF's IPR petitions
contending that NOF failed to identify Bayer as an RPI. Nektar
contended that the petitions were now time barred under 35 U.S.C.
§ 315(b) and should be dismissed. Citing the Federal
Circuit's precedential Applications in Internet Time
("AIT") decision, Nektar argued that Bayer is an RPI
because Bayer "is a clear beneficiary that has a preexisting,
established relationship with the petitioner." The PTAB
acknowledged that AIT's broad statement of what
constitutes an RPI