Federal jury rules that Clariant does not infringe patent
A jury in Delaware found on February 2, 2001 that Clariant life science Molecules (Italia), SpA, does not infringe a patent owned by Great Lakes Chemical. Clariant Life Science Molecules (Italia), SpA, which was formerly known as "Archimica", is pleased with the decision of the jury in finding that Clariant's process does not infringe the Great Lakes patent. Clariant developed its innovative process to address the shortcomings of the process taught by the '481 patent.
This decision confirms that the jury recognized the value of Clariant's significant contributions to the development of intermediates for anti-viral drugs used in the fight against HIV.
The parties agreed before trial that Clariant's earlier processes, which were not before the jury, met the claims of the patent. This agreement preserved Clariant's right to contest these issues on appeal. The damages awarded today relate only to these early processes, and reaffirms the jury's decision that the process Clariant currently uses does not infringe.
Clariant no longer uses the earlier processes that are related to the finding of damages, and its predecessor, Archimica, had not used these processes since 1998.
Today's decision will have no impact on Clariant's ability to continue to supply the high quality anti-viral active ingredients used to fight HIV.
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