NIR Announces OCD Patent License Reverts to Nonexclusive Status

NIR Diagnostics, a developer of handheld reagentless medical instruments based on its proprietary near infrared light technology, announced a change in the status of the patent licenses issued by NIR Diagnostics to Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (OCD) under the terms of the Nov. 1, 2000, worldwide license agreement. The license agreement stipulates that OCD was required to have sold a predefined quantity of VITROS 5,1 FS units within the first four years of the license agreement (term expiring Oct. 31, 2004) to maintain the exclusive license status. Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics confirmed on April 20 that this unit sales target was not achieved prior to the expiration date.

Canada NewsWire Group (http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2005/04/c4698.html)