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.
