Meridian Bioscience Helicobacter Pylori Patent Validated by Settlement Agreement With Astra S.r.l.
Wednesday April 12, 9:22 am ET
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2006--Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (NASDAQ:VIVO - News) today announced that it has executed a settlement agreement with Astra S.r.l. regarding Meridian's patented technology for detecting H. pylori, the primary cause of peptic ulcers. In the agreement, Astra acknowledges the existence, validity and scope of Meridian's patent, EPO 0806667. Astra further agrees to: 1) cease all promotion and distribution of its infringing products, and; 2) for any existing customers, to replace the Astra product with Meridian HpSA products(s).
John A. Kraeutler, President and Chief Operating Officer, stated, "Meridian's investment in technology for detecting H. pylori bacteria has been significant. We are very pleased to have reached agreement with Astra regarding the validity of our patent and we will continue our focus on the development of new diagnostic technologies for emerging infectious disease markets." |
