German Federal Patent Court invalidates Wake Forest NPWT patents licensed to KCI

Smith & Nephew Inc.'s Advanced Wound Management division announced that the German Federal Patent Court in Munich has held the Wake Forest patent for negative pressure (NPWT) licensed to Kinetic Concepts, Inc. invalid in Germany.

"Having cleared this legal hurdle in Germany ensures our ability to provide patients with the optimal care and clinicians with choice when utilizing NPWT," said Robin Carlstein, Senior Vice President of Advanced Wound Devices at Smith & Nephew. "Smith & Nephew takes intellectual property rights seriously and considers such issues carefully before any new product launches. We are extremely pleased with the German Federal Court's decision."

Smith & Nephew and KCI have been engaged in litigation in the US in connection with KCI's NPWT patents. As part of the U.S. legal process, three of KCI's U.S. patents relating to NPWT stand rejected as unpatentable by the U.S. Patent Office.

For more information regarding Smith & Nephew, please visit our Web site at www.smith-nephew.com.