Allergan Comments On Lawsuit Against Pharmacia.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers IRVINE, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--March 1, 2001 Allergan, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AGN AGN Again (Amateur Radio) AGN Active Galactic Nucleus AGN Acute Glomerulonephritis AGN Accountants Global Network AGN Air Gabon (ICAO code) ) released the following statement today regarding a declaratory relief declaratory relief n. a judge's determination (called a "declaratory judgment") of the parties' rights under a contract or a statute often requested (prayed) for information in a lawsuit over a contract. lawsuit filed today by Allergan against Pharmacia Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware The United States District Court for the District of Delaware is the Federal district court having jurisdiction over the entire state of Delaware. The Court sits in Wilmington. Currently, three judges and two magistrate judges preside over the court. . Having concluded that Pharmacia planned to file a patent infringement patent infringement n. the manufacture and/or use of an invention or improvement for which someone else owns a patent issued by the government, without obtaining permission of the owner of the patent by contract, license or waiver. lawsuit against Allergan regarding the investigational glaucoma drug, Lumigan(TM), Allergan filed this lawsuit against Pharmacia to seek a ruling that Lumigan(TM) does not infringe certain patents owned or controlled by Pharmacia and also that such patents are not valid. Glaucoma, a disease characterized by an increase in pressure within the eye, afflicts over 65 million people worldwide and is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. There is currently no cure for glaucoma; nor is it preventable. Early detection and treatment is the only means of minimizing optic nerve damage and resultant loss of sight. Allergan has been in the forefront of research, development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals to treat the effects of glaucoma for many years. Lumigan(TM) is the result of Allergan's recognized world-class ophthalmology research and development organization and is currently under review at the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. for the treatment of glaucoma. Lumigan(TM) represents a new class of ocular hypotensive hypotensive /hy·po·ten·sive/ (-ten´siv) marked by low blood pressure or serving to reduce blood pressure. hy·po·ten·sive adj. 1. Of or characterized by low blood pressure. 2. agents that mimic the activity of a newly discovered family of fatty acid amides called prostamides. Prostamides are potent ocular hypotensive agents that have been found as naturally occurring substances in ocular tissue. As a research-based specialty pharmaceutical company, Allergan respects the valid and enforceable patents of others and Allergan's development of Lumigan(TM), which is a unique patent-protected drug, is consistent with that policy. Allergan firmly believes that Lumigan(TM) does not infringe the claims of any valid and enforceable patents of any third party, including Pharmacia. Allergan will vigorously defend against any attempt to block the introduction of this important new tool in the fight against the damaging effects of glaucoma. Allergan anticipates that, hereafter, it will have no further comment on this matter until it is disposed of inasmuch as Allergan's ordinary policy is not, as a general rule, to comment upon pending litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. . About Allergan, Inc. Allergan, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, California, is a technology-driven global health care company providing eye care and specialty pharmaceutical products worldwide. Allergan develops and commercializes products in the eye care pharmaceutical, ophthalmic surgical device, over-the-counter contact lens care, movement disorder, and dermatological markets that deliver value to our customers, satisfy unmet medical needs, and improve patients' lives. |
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