IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - 04/01/10) - Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW - News), the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, announced that a federal jury today found that Edwards’ U.S. Andersen transcatheter heart valve patent is valid and that Medtronic CoreValve LLC willfully infringes it. Edwards will move vigorously to enforce this verdict and intends to seek a permanent injunction. The jury also awarded Edwards $74 million in damages, and the willfulness finding allows Edwards to seek increased damages of up to three times that amount.
“This ruling affirms the strength of our Andersen family of patents, as well as our leadership in transcatheter valve intellectual property,” said Larry L. Wood, Edwards’ corporate vice president, transcatheter valve replacement. “Protection of our intellectual property allows us to aggressively innovate this technology that is so important for patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis. We’re actively working with the FDA to bring this therapy to U.S. patients.”
The patent involved in this suit is part of the Andersen family of patents, which relates to a valve prosthesis for implantation by means of a catheter. Filed in February 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, this suit was directed at the manufacture or sale of the CoreValve ReValving System in the United States.
About Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company partners with clinicians to develop innovative technologies in the areas of structural heart disease and critical care monitoring that enable them to save and enhance lives. Additional company information can be found at www.edwards.com.
Edwards is a trademark of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. Edwards Lifesciences and the stylized E logo are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Contact:
Media Contact: Sarah Huoh, 949-250-5070 Investor Contact: David K. Erickson, 949-250-6826
