Ortho-McNeil, Inc. Settles Patent Infringement Litigation Against Par/Kali
Generic Manufacturers Acknowledge Patent for ULTRACET(R) is Valid, Enforceable and Infringed
RARITAN, N.J., July 19 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Ortho-McNeil, Inc. announced today that it settled its patent litigation against Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., and Kali Laboratories, Inc., generic drug manufacturers, regarding their infringement of the Ortho-McNeil patent for ULTRACET® (tramadol/acetaminophen).
As part of the settlement, Par/Kali acknowledged that the reissue patent for ULTRACET® is valid and enforceable, and that they infringed it by selling generic versions of ULTRACET® in the U.S. market. Par/Kali will pay to Ortho-McNeil a lump-sum for past damages and will have a royalty-bearing license until its agreed-upon exit from the market on November 15, 2007.
"We are pleased that we were able to reach this agreement with Par/Kali and that the patent for ULTRACET® will not be infringed by this company. We will continue to vigorously defend our patents," said Jeffrey N. Smith, president, Ortho-McNeil, Inc.
Ortho-McNeil, Inc.
Ortho-McNeil, Inc. is committed to providing innovative, high-quality prescription medicines, education and resources for patients, healthcare providers, and other members of the healthcare community in primary care, specialty and hospital settings. Based in Raritan, NJ, the company specializes in the areas of gastrointestinal and infectious diseases, pain management, women's health and urology, and has broad interest in other therapeutic categories. For more information, visit www.Ortho-McNeil.com.
(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Risks and uncertainties include general industry conditions and competition; economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of the Johnson & Johnson Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at www.sec.gov or on request from Johnson & Johnson. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.)
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