Axis-Shield Settles Litigation with Diazyme

DUNDEE, SCOTLAND - Axis-Shield Plc., the international in vitro diagnostics company, announced in a press release that it has entered into an agreement with Diazyme Laboratories, a division of General Atomics (a Californian corporation), ending the current litigation between the companies regarding Axis-Shield’s homocysteine patents.

Under the agreement, the parties have agreed that, in all countries outside of the US where Axis-Shield holds the patents for homocysteine, Diazyme will withdraw its opposition to the existing Axis-Shield homocysteine patents and will take a license from Axis-Shield under these patents.

Additionally, the parties agreed that Axis-Shield will immediately withdraw all patent infringement litigation against Diazyme and its partners.

Finally, both companies agreed to promote and educate the worldwide market regarding the potential of homocysteine as a health marker.

“We are pleased that these costly litigation proceedings are now at an end and that we can concentrate on building the homocysteine testing business,” Axis-Shield CEO Ian Gilham said.

“Each company’s products will compete in the marketplace on the basis of assay performance and utility and we are confident that our range will meet current and future customer requirements,” Gilham concluded.