Re: Silence patent, and murder.
I don't think dispute between Silence and Alnylam is based upon newly issued patents but based on old patents held by Silence. It is not uncommon for companies to challenge the validity of competitors' newly issued patents. Some of the newly issued patents of Alnylam have also been challenged by competitors in Europe but they were rejected in favor of Alnylam. Alnylam's challenging the newly issued patents of Silence is separate issue from the on going dispute between Alnylam and Silence.