DUBLIN—In response to concerns arising from its recent patent-transfer agreement with New York’s Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) is asking U.S. senators to take a closer look at the patent review process, or inter partes review (IPR), that pharmaceutical companies work under in the U.S.’s patent dispute process.

Allergan, early in September, announced that the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe had taken ownership of all Orange Book-listed patents for dry eye treatment Restasis, and that Allergan had been granted exclusive licenses in the patents related to the product. The Native American tribe, a recognized sovereign tribal government, has subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the ongoing inter partes review of the patents “based on their sovereign immunity from IPR challenges,” according to Allergan’s announcement at the time.

Allergan’s move to use the patent transfer to hold off generic competition, drew a range of responses from the pharmaceutical industry and government. Indeed, last week, it was reported that four U.S. senators were calling for an investigation of the deal that Allergan struck with the Native American tribe.

The four senators are Democrats Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, according to the Reuters report.

In response, Allergan said it would gladly meet with the senators to present its perspective on the patent issue and ways it believes “innovation” should be protected in the United States. “While we fully recognize their need for clarity, the senators’ focus should not be on Allergan, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and our agreement, which does not shield Restasis patents currently being litigated in federal district court,” Allergan said in a statement that sent to VMail. “The focus should be on the IPR process and its negative impact on life science innovation.”

The statement also noted that Allergan officials already have met to discuss this issue with the staff of senators Hassan and Brown and “welcomes the opportunity” to meet with senators Blumenthal and Casey. “As the Senators are well aware, experts across the legal, biopharmaceutical and business communities have called on Congress to fix the issues inherent within IPR. Congress has failed to act to protect innovation, and the matter is now before the United States Supreme Court.”