B&L wins victory for PureVision in Europe

Last week the European Patent Office (EPO)revoked the exclusive Novartis patent for extended wear lenses, a decision which cements Bausch & Lomb's ability to sell its PureVision lenses in Europe.
The decision was a much needed victory for B&L after it lost the right to sell or even manufacture its lenses in the US, where the Night & Day lenses of Novartis are the only silicone hydrogel lenses currently on the market.
B&L had also been forbidden to sell the lenses in Germany, although marketing director John Doherty said this week that it might appeal against the German decision using the EPO judgement as an argument.
But as soon as the decision was announced Novartis said it would appeal to the EPO.
The dispute between the two is also due to be taken to the High Court in Ireland. Bausch & Lomb moved the manufacture of PureVision to Waterford after it was forced out of the US and Novartis wants to stop it operating there as well.
Doherty said this week that B&L believed that the EPO decision should convince the Irish High Court that it should be allowed to continue producing and selling the lenses in Ireland.
Novartis said this week it was determined to continue its legal battle, not just in the EPO but also in Dublin and Australia.
Neither company was willing to reveal the cost of the legal dispute, although Doherty admitted that so far it had been greater than the money made from selling the lenses. 'I'm sure a lot of patent lawyers are licking their lips with glee,' he said.
A Novartis spokeswoman said: 'We spent millions on developing this technology, so naturally we are willing to spend a lot to defend it.'Bausch & Lomb has won the latest round in its worldwide legal battle with Ciba Vision's parent company Novartis for the right to sell silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
Last week the European Patent Office (EPO)revoked the exclusive Novartis patent for extended wear lenses, a decision which cements Bausch & Lomb's ability to sell its PureVision lenses in Europe.
The decision was a much needed victory for B&L after it lost the right to sell or even manufacture its lenses in the US, where the Night & Day lenses of Novartis are the only silicone hydrogel lenses currently on the market.
B&L had also been forbidden to sell the lenses in Germany, although marketing director John Doherty said this week that it might appeal against the German decision using the EPO judgement as an argument.
But as soon as the decision was announced Novartis said it would appeal to the EPO.
The dispute between the two is also due to be taken to the High Court in Ireland. Bausch & Lomb moved the manufacture of PureVision to Waterford after it was forced out of the US and Novartis wants to stop it operating there as well.
Doherty said this week that B&L believed that the EPO decision should convince the Irish High Court that it should be allowed to continue producing and selling the lenses in Ireland.
Novartis said this week it was determined to continue its legal battle, not just in the EPO but also in Dublin and Australia.
Neither company was willing to reveal the cost of the legal dispute, although Doherty admitted that so far it had been greater than the money made from selling the lenses. 'I'm sure a lot of patent lawyers are licking their lips with glee,' he said.
A Novartis spokeswoman said: 'We spent millions on developing this technology, so naturally we are willing to spend a lot to defend it.'Bausch & Lomb has won the latest round in its worldwide legal battle with Ciba Vision's parent company Novartis for the right to sell silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
Last week the European Patent Office (EPO)revoked the exclusive Novartis patent for extended wear lenses, a decision which cements Bausch & Lomb's ability to sell its PureVision lenses in Europe.
The decision was a much needed victory for B&L after it lost the right to sell or even manufacture its lenses in the US, where the Night & Day lenses of Novartis are the only silicone hydrogel lenses currently on the market.
B&L had also been forbidden to sell the lenses in Germany, although marketing director John Doherty said this week that it might appeal against the German decision using the EPO judgement as an argument.
But as soon as the decision was announced Novartis said it would appeal to the EPO.
The dispute between the two is also due to be taken to the High Court in Ireland. Bausch & Lomb moved the manufacture of PureVision to Waterford after it was forced out of the US and Novartis wants to stop it operating there as well.
Doherty said this week that B&L believed that the EPO decision should convince the Irish High Court that it should be allowed to continue producing and selling the lenses in Ireland.
Novartis said this week it was determined to continue its legal battle, not just in the EPO but also in Dublin and Australia.
Neither company was willing to reveal the cost of the legal dispute, although Doherty admitted that so far it had been greater than the money made from selling the lenses. 'I'm sure a lot of patent lawyers are licking their lips with glee,' he said.
A Novartis spokeswoman said: 'We spent millions on developing this technology, so naturally we are willing to spend a lot to defend it.'