Injunction against sales of Medtronic’s transcatheter heart valves becomes effective in Germany

Edwards Lifesciences announced that the injunction imposed by the District Court of Mannheim, Germany against the sales of Medtronic's transcatheter heart valves has become effective.

In July 2013, the court ruled that Medtronic’s CoreValve and CoreValve Evolut systems infringe Edwards’ Spenser patent for transcatheter heart valve technology.

It issued an injunction prohibiting the sale of Medtronic’s transcatheter heart valves in Germany, and ordered a recall of these products.

The Edwards SAPIEN XT valve is currently used by more than 80% of the transcatheter valve centers in Germany.

Edwards will forgo the compensation in instances where its SAPIEN XT valve is not indicated to ensure that people have continuous access to life-saving transcatheter therapy.

Edwards’ Spenser patent EP 2 055 266 B1 is in effect until 2022.

Medtronic, however, is contesting the validity of the Spenser patent and is appealing this ruling at the European Patent Office.