Newsroom
FOR RELEASE Friday, March 11, 2005
ROCHESTER, NY - Bausch & Lomb (NYSE:BOL) today announced today that it is dismissing without prejudice a patent infringement lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Rochester against Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc., (AMEX:IMA) of Waltham, Mass., and its wholly owned subsidiary IVC Industries, Inc., of Freehold, N.J.
Bausch & Lomb is withdrawing the action after receiving a written representation from Inverness Medical Innovations that neither it nor its subsidiaries manufactured or distributed certain private-label eye vitamins that infringe Bausch & Lomb's patent rights to the unique high-potency antioxidant and mineral formula in Bausch & Lomb's Ocuvite® PreserVision nutritional supplements. This matter was able to be clarified quickly as a result of Inverness' thorough internal review and prompt, direct communication.
Bausch & Lomb co-developed the formula with the National Eye Institute and holds its worldwide patent rights under a license agreement with the National Institutes of Health.
Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company, dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers around the world. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the Company is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Bausch & Lomb's 2004 revenues were $2.2 billion; it employs approximately 12,400 people worldwide and its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information about the Company can be found on the Bausch & Lomb Web site at www.bausch.com . Copyright Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
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