Appeals Court Stays Judgment in HemCon's Patent Infringement Case

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted HemCon's motion to stay the injunction and final judgment (including the damages award) obtained against it in a patent infringement case brought by Marine Polymer Technologies, Inc. The stay halts any enforcement of the lower court’s injunction and damages award while HemCon attempts to have both overturned on appeal, a process expected to take on the order of 12 to 18 months to complete. As a result, HemCon can continue selling its chitosan-based wound care products and will not be required to pay financial damages during this appeal process.
"HemCon is extremely pleased that the appellate court agreed that HemCon could continue selling its product line during the pendency of the appeal. We will urge on appeal that the lower court decision finding infringement was incorrect, in part because the Marine Polymer patent is invalid when properly interpreted," said John W. Morgan, HemCon's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The stay is a victory for HemCon's customers, including military personnel whose lives are being saved by HemCon products, and hospital patients who benefit from reduced infection risk and better hemostasis."
The stay is the most recent decision in the patent infringement action instituted by Marine Polymer Technologies, Inc. "In imposing the stay, the Court of Appeals concluded that HemCon had shown a strong likelihood of succeeding on appeal, or at least a substantial case on the merits and that any potential harm weighed in HemCon’s favor," Morgan explained. "We believe the appeals court will ultimately agree with our conclusion that our products do not infringe the Marine Polymer patent. We look forward to further presenting our case to the Court.”
HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc. (www.hemcon.com) founded in 2001, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative technologies to control bleeding and infection resulting from trauma or surgery. HemCon products are designed for use by military and civilian first responders as well as medical professionals in hospital, dental and clinical settings where rapid control of bleeding is of critical importance. HemCon is headquartered in Portland, Ore., with additional commercial operations in Ireland and the Czech Republic.

Baxter buying hemophilia business for up to $285M

Baxter International Inc. said Friday that it will pay as much as $285 million to buy a hemophilia drug candidate and other assets from privately held biotechnology company Archemix.Baxter currently sells the hemophilia drug Advate. The new deal gives the company all of Archemix's hemophilia assets, including an early-stage drug candidate called ARC19499. ARC19499 is a subcutaneous hemophilia therapy that is intended to improve blood clotting. An early clinical trial is being performed in the U.K.Baxter said the value of the deal could rise to $285 million including milestone payments. The drug and medical device maker said it will take a $30 million charge in the fourth quarter for the value of the hemophilia unit's research and development activities. Baxter expects the purchase to close by the end of 2010.