By Kevin E. Noonan — The Federal Circuit recently affirmed a district court judgment of invalidity for obviousness and for noninfringement for a series of patents challenged in ANDA litigation, in Genentech Inc. v. Sandoz Inc. In doing so, a majority of the panel illustrated perhaps unintentionally how initial impressions regarding the issues before the Court can influence the final outcome in circumstances where the Federal Circuit is compelled to give deference to the lower court. These issues arose in ANDA litigation brought by Genentech and InterMune against ANDA filer Sandoz and its supplier LEK Pharmaceuticals. The drug at issue…