University of Massachusetts v. Forte Biosciences, Inc. — Fed. Cir. (argued September 8, 2026)
The Federal Circuit reviews a Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruling that claims 1–5 of UMass's vitiligo-treatment patent lack adequate written description and enablement. Written description asks whether the inventors showed they possessed what they claimed; enablement asks whether they taught a skilled reader how to make and use it. UMass says Forte's experts did not meet the Board's own definition of that reader. Forte says they were qualified and the evidence supports the ruling. The judges also ask whether UMass raised that objection in time.
University of Massachusetts v. Forte Biosciences, Inc. (No. 25-1342) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued September 8, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1342_09082026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/
Argument calendar and counsel — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/OralArguments/PublicCalendar-September2026.pdf
Final written decision — Forte Biosciences v. University of Massachusetts, PGR2023-00014:https://ptacts.uspto.gov/ptacts/public-informations/petitions/1550812/download-documents?artifactId=n6lL20rHxg7BcNvb1JnmZG9HB4gkclyGZKQKlxdbrordDciyYIS0DGs
Rehearing decision — Forte Biosciences v. University of Massachusetts, PGR2023-00014:https://ptacts.uspto.gov/ptacts/public-informations/petitions/1550812/download-documents?artifactId=4uSoCII3Xqjwa45BJ7eoGCZFE1jdz_GGiTHYyHyP9Xgt6TCP1-MRBNs
35 U.S.C. § 112 — U.S. House of Representatives:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A35+section%3A112%28a%29+edition%3Aprelim%29
Written-description and enablement standards — U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s2103.html
Appeal docket and counsel — University of Massachusetts v. Forte Biosciences, No. 25-1342:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cafc/25-1342
Mark J. Feldstein — Finnegan:https://www.finnegan.com/en/professionals/mark-j-feldstein-ph-d.html
Mark J. Feldstein — Georgetown Law:https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/mark-j-feldstein/
Richard Torczon — Wilson Sonsini:https://www.wsgr.com/en/people/richard-torczon.html
Richard Torczon biography — U.S. House of Representatives:https://www.congress.gov/117/meeting/house/115027/witnesses/HHRG-117-JU03-Bio-TorczonR-20220721.pdf
Patent-review history — Forte Biosciences SEC filing:https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1419041/000119312526346787/fbrx-20260630.htm
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:50Advocate — Mark Feldstein
- 17:12Advocate — Richard Torczon