IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 7, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Interpore Cross International (Nasdaq:BONZ) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Cross Medical Products, Inc. ("Cross"), has filed suit in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, against Depuy AcroMed, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, for infringement of Cross' U.S. Patent Nos. 5,466,237 and 5,474,555. These patents relate to the VLS(tm) or Variable Locking Screw technology embodied in certain components of the company's Synergy(tm) Spinal System. The Complaint seeks damages for willful past and continuing infringement of the patents.
Joseph A. Mussey, Interpore Cross' president and chief operating officer, commented on the lawsuit, "Interpore Cross will aggressively enforce its patent portfolio and protect the interests of its shareholders. We believe strongly that certain Depuy AcroMed products infringe our VLS patents, and we intend to seek an end to the infringement and appropriate compensation."
Depuy AcroMed has responded to the Complaint denying all claims, alleging that Cross' patents are invalid, and alleging that it does not infringe.
The company is conducting a conference call with analysts to review financial results and this development today at 5:00 pm (EST). Audio access to the conference call will be available through a live webcast via a link provided in the Corporate & Financial/Events section of Interpore Cross' website at www.interpore.com. The webcast of Interpore Cross' conference call will also be available for replay through March 6, 2001 by accessing the same link.
Interpore Cross International is a medical device company that designs, manufactures and markets spinal implant devices and orthobiologic products on a worldwide basis. The spinal products are used to treat degenerative conditions, deformities and trauma of the spine. The orthobiologic products are used for bone and soft tissue repair in orthopedic and other applications.
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking and may involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: the costs of patent litigation, the risk that a court would invalidate our patents and/or rule against our claims of infringement, and risk that litigation will distract management from the operation of our business. Additional information on factors that could affect the company's financial results and growth prospects is disclosed in the company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.