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ITC Begins Section 337 Investigation on Thyroid Hormone Receptors

The International Trade Commission has instituted a Section 337 investigation on imported thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonists (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1352), it said in a Federal Register notice.

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A Dec. 9 complaint by Viking Therapeutics alleged Ascletis Pharma, Ascletis Bioscience, Ascletis Pharmaceuticals, Gannex Pharma and Jinzi Jason Wu have misappropriated Viking’s trade secrets related to the development of Viking's "most valuable drug candidate." The drug, VK2809, is designed for the treatment of metabolic disorders, including high cholesterol, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and is currently in stage two clinical trials. Viking says the five named respondents had a scheme plotted as early as 2016 to unfairly compete with Viking by entering into a confidential nondisclosure agreement with Viking. Once the proposed respondents had access to Viking’s trade secrets, they breached the agreement, sharing and using the trade secrets to develop and import similar drugs, Viking alleged.

Viking asked the ITC for a permanent limited exclusion order, permanent cease and desist orders, and "any other remedy" appropriate to prohibit the respondents from engaging in the unfair use of Viking’s misappropriated trade secrets.