Ultrasound contrast developer Photogen Technologies of New Hope, PA, claimed a victory this week in its patent litigation with Amersham Health. Photogen claimed that the European Patent Office has revoked an Amersham patent regarding ultrasound contrast agent technology.
Photogen is trying to have Amersham patents overturned in the U.S. and Europe, charging that the patents either are not valid or infringe on ultrasound contrast patents that Photogen acquired when it bought the assets for the Imagent contrast agent from Alliance Pharmaceutical of San Diego.
According to Photogen, the European Patent Office revoked Amersham’s European Patent 620744 with claims directed to contrast agents. Photogen said the patent was revoked because "fluorinated hydrocarbons which are in gaseous form at 37 degrees C" was insufficiently defined.
Two U.S. patents owned by Amersham are counterparts to the European patent and are part of the subject of an additional suit that Photogen has filed against Amersham in the U.S. The U.S. suit charges that Amersham, principally through its Optison contrast agent, infringes on seven Photogen patents. Amersham has filed counterclaims against Photogen, also charging patent infringement.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersAugust 5, 2003
Related Reading
Photogen sues Amersham, June 23, 2003
Alliance imaging assets acquired by Photogen, June 19, 2003
Alliance revenues sink, May 16, 2003
Alliance to sell off Imagent assets, November 25, 2002
Photogen reports success with CT plaque imaging, March 19, 2002
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