Novo Nordisk (NYSE:
NVO) announced today that the company filed a lawsuit against Pfizer
claiming that Pfizer's product Exubera(R) infringes patents owned by Novo
Nordisk. The patents cover inhaled insulin treatment for diabetes.
The lawsuit, filed in United States Federal Court in the Southern
District of New York, alleges that Pfizer willfully infringed the patents
and seeks compensatory damages. Novo Nordisk also announced it intends to
file a motion for preliminary injunction seeking a court order that would
prohibit Pfizer from continuing its unlawful conduct while the lawsuit is
in progress.
"Novo Nordisk has been leading the fight against diabetes for more than
80 years," said Jim Shehan, vice president and general counsel of Novo
Nordisk Inc. "We are the only company in the industry with a complete
portfolio of insulin analogues to help patients achieve improved control at
any stage of their diabetes. We have been able to realize this
accomplishment because the patent system enables pioneering companies like
ours to continue innovating and pushing for progress in the fight against
diseases like diabetes.
"The patents we are asserting are for groundbreaking research on new
approaches to treat diabetes," he added. "As all research-based companies
recognize, patent protection is necessary to safeguard the investment that
biomedical research requires."
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 80-year history of
innovation and achievement in diabetes care. In addition to diabetes care,
Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as hemostasis
management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for women. Novo
Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to
economic success, environmental soundness, and social responsibility to
employees and customers. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 22,000 full- time employees in 79 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For global information, visit
novonordisk; for United States information, visit
novonordisk.
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