EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc
("EKF" or the "Company")
Patent trial decision
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (AIM: EKF), which has recently refocused on the in-vitro diagnostic devices market, announces that the German Federal Court of Justice has issued a trial decision on 25 November 2010 following an appeal by Hemocue on an invalidation action by EKF-diagnostic GmbH against Hemocue's European patent 0 821 784 in relation to the protection in Germany. Accordingly, the patent as granted has been found invalid but it has been maintained in a restricted version only.
The relevance of this restriction can only be finally evaluated when the full reasoning of the decision has been issued and this is expected within the next two to three months. Until the full reasoning of the decision has been issued the implications for either party cannot be determined.
Irrespective of the eventual decision, the Board of EKF does not consider that EKF's customer relationships are at risk, because the currently marketed products do not infringe the patent and are not a subject of the current proceedings. The Board remains confident of a positive outcome and will update its shareholders in due course.
Background information on the Patent dispute is contained in the Company's Admission Document dated 15 June 2010
Enquiries:
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc Julian Baines, CEO Paul Foulger, FD
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Mob: 07788 420 859 Tel: 020 7823 1733
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Zeus Capital - Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Ross Andrews Tom Rowley
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Tel: 0161 831 1512 |
Matrix Corporate Capital LLP - Joint Broker |
Tel: 020 3206 7000 |
Robert Naylor Stephen Waterman
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Walbrook PR Paul McManus
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Tel: 020 7933 8780 Mob: 07980 541 893 paul.mcmanus@walbrookpr.com |