Novartis Fails to Invalidate Patent Claims
TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX), an
innovator of biological products and technologies, announces that it
has successfully defended all of its VIRUSMAX patent claims against a
challenge by Novartis at a hearing today at the European Patent Office
(EPO) in Munich, Germany.
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland,
challenged Microbix' invention of its manufacturing process trademarked
VIRUSMAX, on several grounds. The EPO Tribunal agreed with Microbix'
position and ruled that all claims are novel and inventive. Microbix
therefore retains all of its patent claims as originally granted.
Vaughn Embro-Pantalony, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "We
were surprised when Novartis filed their challenge in 2011, however we
remained confident in our position and we expected this outcome. The
EPO's decision reinforces that VIRUSMAX is a novel and inventive
technology that provides significant manufacturing efficiencies to the
influenza vaccine industry, thereby increasing global vaccine supply.
Defending intellectual property rights is a strategic imperative for
Microbix and we are pleased with this outcome."
Microbix has previously announced that it has filed a patent
infringement proceeding against Novartis in the United States and this
action is proceeding.
About Microbix Biosystems
Microbix Biosystems Inc. specializes in the development of biological
solutions, including products for vaccine and diagnostics markets
worldwide. The company owns intellectual property for an approved
biological drug, a vaccine technology and an animal reproduction
technology. Established in 1988, Microbix is headquartered in Toronto.
Microbix' pipeline of innovative technologies and products includes
LumiSort® semen sexing technology for the livestock industry,
Kinlytic®, a thrombolytic drug with several approved and potential
applications including the treatment of life-threatening blood clots,
and VIRUSMAX®, a proprietary technology for increasing virus yields in
influenza vaccine manufacture.
Disclaimer
This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking
statements including the risks associated with litigation, operations
in foreign jurisdictions, foreign currency and exchange rate risk, and
risks of raising capital on acceptable terms or at all. These
statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions
and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The
Company cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently
uncertain and the actual performance may be affected by a number of
material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control.
Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ
materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations
expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All
statements are made as of the date of this news release. The Company
is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking
information.
Please visit www.sedar.com for recent Microbix Biosystems Inc. filings on its pipeline products
and financial information.
SOURCE Microbix Biosystems Inc.
