Business
Microbix Sues Novartis for Infringement of its VIRUSMAX® Patent
TORONTO , Jan. 6, 2014 /CNW/ - Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX) ("Microbix" or the "C...
About this update from Microbix Biosystems Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\nTORONTO, Jan. 6, 2014 /CNW/ - Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX)\n (\"Microbix\" or the \"Company\"), an innovator of biological products and\n technologies, announced today it has commenced a patent litigation\n against Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, headquartered in Basel,\n Switzerland, alleging infringement of its proprietary VIRUSMAX\n technology. The complaint was filed in the Eastern District of Texas.\n Microbix was granted patents for the VIRUSMAX technology in twenty-one\n countries between 2006 and 2011.\n\n\nThe Company's VIRUSMAX technology is useful for increasing virus yields\n in egg-based vaccine manufacture. The patent application was first\n published internationally in 2004 when the global market for influenza\n vaccine was US $1.6 billion. At that time, governments, the WHO and\n public health authorities worldwide expressed growing concern about\n limited global vaccine manufacturing capacity and supply, especially in\n light of a potential influenza pandemic.\n\n\nThe influenza vaccine market has experienced significant growth in the\n past ten years and is predicted to reach US $4 Billion in 2014. An\n independent study published in the Journal of Vaccine in 2006 reported\n that the application of VIRUSMAX technology led to a significant\n increase in flu virus production in eggs. These trials used methods\n comparable to those employed in seasonal influenza vaccine manufacture.\n The Company has also demonstrated substantial yield increases over\n conventional manufacturing processes for a number of influenza vaccine\n strains using its technology.\n\n\nVaughn Embro-Pantalony, President and Chief Executive Officer said,\n \"VIRUSMAX is a novel technology that was developed by our Company at\n significant cost.  The technology provides significant efficiencies to\n the influenza vaccine industry and it benefits the global supply of\n vaccine.  We intend to enforce our intellectual property rights\n surrounding this technology.\"\n\n\nAbout Microbix Biosystems\n\n\nMicrobix Biosystems Inc. specializes in the development of biological\n solutions, including products for vaccine and diagnostics markets\n worldwide.  The company owns intellectual property for an approved\n biological drug, a vaccine technology and an animal reproduction\n technology.  Established in 1988, Microb...