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University of Iowa Sues Abbott Laboratories For Patent Infringement
June 24, 2009
Grant Schulte
DesMoinesRegister.com
A pharmaceutical company that made billions from its blockbuster arthritis drug Humira violated a University of Iowa patent when it used a professor's invention without permission, according to a new federal lawsuit.
The infringement claim filed by the university alleges that Abbott Laboratories, one the world's largest biotech companies, used a DNA cloning technique patented by U of I microbiology professor Mark F. Stinski.
The technique is "a fundamental tool used in the biotech industry" used to improve vaccines and many life-saving drugs, according to the lawsuit.
At issue are two patents held by Stinski, one since 1992 and the other since 1995. The patents have generated untold millions of dollars for the university, which grants companies and research institutions permission to use the technique and receives royalty payments.
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Photo of Humira under a Creative Common License by Sarah on Blogspot.com