Angiotech to appeal judgement regarding UK patent

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals has announced that it intends to appeal a UK trial court decision to revoke Angiotech's UK designation of its European Patent No. 0,706,376.

The UK trial court ruled today that Angiotech's UK Patent lacked inventive step in light of certain prior art in a challenge brought by Conor MedSystems (Conor) filed in February 2005. This Patent, which applies to the UK only, is only one of a number in Angiotech's portfolio of patents protecting its pioneering paclitaxel stent technology, which cover the Boston Scientific TAXUS stent.

The Angiotech European Patent remains valid and enforceable in the other designated States in Europe, in light of Angiotech's successful defense of the patent at the January 2005 European Patent Office Opposition Division decision which maintained the validity of this Patent, including claims related to stents coated with paclitaxel and a polymeric carrier. The UK decision affects only the UK version of the maintained European Patent.

Angiotech President and CEO William L. Hunter, MD, MSc commented: "This UK decision is contrary to the thorough consideration of the European Patent Office, which after extensive Opposition proceedings, upheld the validity of Angiotech's European counterpart of this UK Patent. We are committed to protecting our intellectual property rights and intend to appeal the UK trial court's judgment."