BOSTON SCIENTIFIC AND ANGIOTECH WIN PATENT INFRINGEMENT CASE

Boston Scientific and Angiotech Pharmaceuticals have received a favorable decision from a Dutch court in a patent dispute against India-based Sahajanand Medical Technologies, the companies reported. Boston Scientific and Angiotech alleged that Sahajanand's Infinnium paclitaxel-eluting stent infringed two claims of an Angiotech patent directed to paclitaxel stents.

The court found that the asserted claims were infringed and valid. It granted the companies an injunction against Sahajanand, prohibiting the company from selling, bringing onto the market and delivering -- as well as importing, offering or keeping in stock for one of these purposes -- the Infinnium stent in the Netherlands. The court also ordered Sahajanand to pay damages and/or surrender profits resulting from the infringement. The court's decision can be appealed by Sahajanand.

"We are pleased the Dutch court upheld the validity of this important patent and found that it had been infringed," said Paul LaViolette, chief operating officer of Boston Scientific.