Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (Edwards Lifesciences), a cardiovascular devices company, announced that the District Court of Dusseldorf, Germany, determined that it does not infringe on Cook Incorporated (Cook), a division of Cook Medical’s German transcatheter valve patent. A counter-suit by Edwards claiming invalidity of Cook's German patent is expected to be heard in Munich in 2010.
Edwards Lifesciences has a separate lawsuit against Cook in the UK that challenges the validity of Cook’s UK transcatheter valve patent. Cook has counter-sued there, claiming infringement. That case is scheduled to be heard in May 2009.
“We are very pleased with this first infringement decision and believe our invalidity case is even stronger,” said Larry L. Wood, Edwards’ corporate vice president, transcatheter valve replacement. “Edwards has invested substantially to assemble what we believe is the strongest and most comprehensive intellectual property portfolio in transcatheter heart valves, and we are committed to protecting our interests.”