Cook Biotech Remains Determined to Uphold Life Sciences Patent Rights.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Cook Biotech's petition to reconsider the Court's earlier decision to overturn the verdict reached by a jury in the Federal Court for the Northern District of Indiana concerning biomaterials derived from bladder tissue for use as medical products. Despite the decision, Cook Biotech officials remain determined to protect their patent rights to this advanced medical technology.

The patent at issue is only one in a large portfolio of patents that is owned or licensed by Cook Biotech. These patents describe and provide rights to inventions related to breakthrough technology discovered at Purdue University and numerous newly created medical products that Cook Biotech manufactures at its facility in the Purdue Research Park.

Cook Biotech produces tissue-engineered biomaterials and actively manufactures and develops extracellular matrix (ECM) technologies for numerous medical purposes. ECM biomaterials were discovered to have a unique scaffold structure and composition that supports tissue ingrowth. ECMs have many potential uses for implants and grafts that reinforce or repair damaged or diseased tissue structures.

Cook Biotech has successfully developed more than 100 medical products from the technology. These products are now available in over fifty countries for use by medical professionals to treat patients suffering from fistulas, hernias, urinary incontinence, and hard-to-heal chronic wounds. More than 500,000 patients around the world today have benefited from the breakthrough technology developed by Cook Biotech under its licensing agreement with Purdue Research Foundation.

Cook Biotech's and Purdue Research Foundation's efforts to develop this technology for patient benefit have contributed significantly to the economic development of West Lafayette and have enhanced Indiana's reputation as one of the nation's leading areas for job development in the life sciences and product research.

Cook Biotech now employs more than 100 highly skilled scientists, engineers and manufacturing employees in a state-of-the-art biotech manufacturing plant in the Purdue Research Park. Recently, the original facility was expanded by more than five times in order to meet the worldwide demand for Cook's products.

"This amazing technology is bringing healing and hope to patients around the world. Issues regarding patents may seem complex, but resolving these matters is important since these patents describe the technology that we have paid for and invested in to bring products to patients. Our desire is to properly resolve these matters so we can continue to invest in this technology. In light of this latest development, Cook Biotech will review its options for correcting the appellate court's decision and remains determined to upholding its rights to this important technology," said Mark Bleyer, President of Cook Biotech.

Joe Hornett, Senior Vice President/Treasurer & COO of Purdue Research Foundation stated, "Protection of Purdue inventions is one of Purdue Research Foundation's missions, and we support Cook Biotech's continuing efforts."

Cook Biotech Incorporated (www.cookbiotech.com) was founded in 1995 with shared ownership by Cook Group, Purdue Research Foundation and Methodist Hospital/Clarian.

Purdue Research Foundation (www.purdueresearchpark.com) is responsible for Purdue University's technology-transfer program, the development of Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, and the management of that park's business development services and flagship incubator.