HOLOGIC TO PAY J&J US$12.5M TO SETTLE PATENT SUIT

UNITED STATES – Hologic has settled all litigation with Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Endo-Surgery unit for US$12.5m. The disputes involved patents relating to the Ethicon Endo-Surgery MAMMOTOME Breast Biopsy System and the Hologic ATEC and EVIVA biopsy devices. Both devices are used to detect breast cancer. As part of the settlement both companies will enter into a cross licensing agreement, whereby Hologic will pay ongoing royalties on the sales of ATEC and EVIVA devices, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery will pay royalties on the sales of the MAMMOTOME device.