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Medical equipment industry

Boston Scientific Wins Dutch Court Ruling Against Johnson & Johnson Stent Production

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Boston Scientific has achieved a key victory in its patent battle against Johnson & Johnson, with a Dutch court ruling that a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary must end production of its Cypher stents in the Netherlands and halt sales there. The court found that the catheter system used to deploy Cypher infringes on patents owned by Boston Scientific. This development comes just days before the two companies are set to face off in federal court in Delaware over the issue of patent infringement. Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson are vying for control of the multibillion-dollar domestic stent market.

Key Takeaways:

  • A Dutch court has ruled that Johnson & Johnson's Cypher stent production and sales in the Netherlands must be halted, as the catheter system used to deploy Cypher infringes on patents owned by Boston Scientific.
  • Boston Scientific has won a related legal skirmish in the Netherlands, just before the company and Johnson & Johnson are set to face off in federal court in Delaware over patent infringement.
  • The two companies are vying for control of the multibillion-dollar domestic stent market, with Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson being the only device makers currently cleared to sell drug-eluting stents in the United States.
  • The case in Delaware will focus on whether Boston Scientific's stent designs infringe on two Cordis patents, with Boston arguing that the new designs bear no resemblance to the products in question.
  • A second case, starting June 20, will see Boston Scientific argue that Cordis's use of drugs on the stents infringes Boston's patents.

Statistics:

  • The multibillion-dollar domestic stent market is at stake in the patent battle between Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson.
  • Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson are the only two device makers currently cleared to sell drug-eluting stents in the United States.

Sources:

  • [Bloomberg: "Boston Scientific Wins Patent Case as Cypher Stent Sales Halted in Netherlands"]
  • [The Wall Street Journal: "Boston Scientific Wins Dutch Court Ruling Against Johnson & Johnson Stent Production"]
  • [Boston Business Journal: "Boston Scientific to face Johnson & Johnson in Delaware courtroom"]

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