The FTC is investigating one of the patents for Skelaxin listed by Elan in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Orange Book, a listing of drugs still protected from generic competition by patents or other regulatory mechanisms.
To even begin testing its Alzheimer's vaccine in humans, Elan will have to convince regulators in the U.S. and Europe that the new version is likely to be safe.
Tellingly, while Elan will still formally be based in Dublin, Martin plans on relocating from New York to the West Coast of the U.S., where Elan's research operations are based.