Angiotech Gets Favorable Patent Decision

Angiotech has reported that European authorities handed down a favorable decision concerning the company's patents involving drug-coated stents.

The Vancouver, Canada-based company said the European Patent Office Opposition Division maintained the validity of its patents covering paclitaxel-coated stents.

In November 2004, Angiotech entered an exclusive license to supply medical devicemaker Boston Scientific with the cancer drug paclitaxel to coat the Taxus stent. Under the agreement, Angiotech gets royalties on Taxus sales.