Conor Medsystems Inc v Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc & Anor

Conor Medsystems Inc v Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc & Anor

The patent is invalid for obviousness because the skilled person, in light of the prior art (Wolff, Kopia, Katsuda), would have considered taxol an obvious candidate for testing in drug-eluting stents to prevent restenosis. The patent disclosed only the idea of using taxol, without demonstrating efficacy or safety,...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Claimant: Conor Medsystems Inc.; Defendant: Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Defendant: The University of British Columbia
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
24 February 2006
Procedural Posture
Patent Revocation / Final Judgment
Outcome
Patent revoked for obviousness
Legal Topics
Obviousness, Patent Validity, Drug Eluting Stents, Medical Devices
Intellectual Property Patent Law Obviousness Patent Validity Drug Eluting Stents Medical Devices

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Parties

Conor Medsystems Inc.

Claimant

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Defendant

The University of British Columbia

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Patent Revocation / Final Judgment

  1. 1 Whether European Patent (UK) 706376 is invalid for obviousness
  2. 2 Whether the use of taxol in drug-eluting stents was obvious in light of prior art

Ratio Decidendi

The patent is invalid for obviousness because the skilled person, in light of the prior art (Wolff, Kopia, Katsuda), would have considered taxol an obvious candidate for testing in drug-eluting stents to prevent restenosis. The patent disclosed only the idea of using taxol, without demonstrating efficacy or safety, and thus made no inventive contribution.

Court Disposition

Patent revoked for obviousness

Orders

  • European Patent (UK) 706376 is revoked