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Novo Nordisk sues Sanofi-Aventis for insulin delivery device patent infringement

Novo Nordisk (Princeton, NJ) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis claiming that the OptiClik pen system infringes a Novo Nordisk United States Patent.

Martin Soeters, president of Novo Nordisk said, "Novo Nordisk is an innovator and leader in insulin delivery technology, changing diabetes by providing people with access to the best diabetes care and quality insulin delivery devices. We developed the world's first insulin pen in 1985, and our advanced devices offer precise dosing and may help people better comply with their insulin regimens." He added, "As a pioneer in diabetes treatment for 80 years, we have amassed a large patent portfolio that we are committed to defending."

The lawsuit was filed against Sanofi-Aventis and certain of its U.S., German, and Swiss affiliates on September 2, 2005, in United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint accuses Sanofi-Aventis of willful and deliberate patent infringement and seeks an injunction against the OptiClik pen system. The Novo Nordisk patent is part of a large portfolio of patents issued to Novo Nordisk covering insulins and insulin delivery products.

Novo Nordisk's FlexPen is the leading insulin delivery device in the United States and is used with Novo Nordisk's NovoLog Mix 70/30 (70% insulin aspart protamine suspension and 30% insulin aspart injection, (rDNA origin)), NovoLog (insulin aspart (rDNA origin) injection) and soon-to-be-launched Levemir (insulin detemir (rDNA origin) injection). The OptiClik pen system is sanofi-aventis's only FDA-approved insulin delivery device and is used with all its United States insulin products.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 80-year history of innovation and achievement in diabetes care. With the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems, Novo Nordisk is a world leader in diabetes care. In the United States, Novo Nordisk's ambition is Changing Diabetes. Working as a catalyst to improve diabetes prevention and treatment, the company strives to be the preferred partner for employees, patients, healthcare providers, and others in the healthcare system who share its vision to defeat diabetes. In addition to diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for women. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social responsibility to employees and customers. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 21,000 full-time employees in 78 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries.

Novo Nordisk
+1-609-919-7776
www.novonordisk.com