Patent trial decision

RNS Number : 9800W

EKF Diagnostics Holdings PLC

29 November 2010

 



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	Mob: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Zeus Capital - Nominated  Adviser and Joint Broker Ross Andrews Tom Rowley	Tel: [phone]
Matrix Corporate Capital LLP - Joint Broker	Tel: [phone]
Robert Naylor Stephen Waterman
Walbrook PR Paul McManus	Tel: [phone] Mob: [phone] [e-mail]

 

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