Angiotech wins Dutch patent challenge

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Angiotech said Wednesday a Dutch court ruled that Conor's CoStar paclitaxel stent infringes upon its stent patent.

The District Court in The Hague also immediately enjoined Conor from selling CoStar in the Netherlands.

"We are pleased that this important European patent has now been enforced twice by the Dutch Court in two separate court actions, and we will continue to vigorously defend our important proprietary technologies in various jurisdictions around the world," said William L. Hunter, Angiotech's president and chief executive officer.

Angiotech said it anticipates appeals of this decision and further hearings about the various patent claims.