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UPC CFI 189/2024

1. Mai 2024·EP4151181 Einheitspatent · PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE

Verfahrensdetails
Status
Case Closed (Patent geändert aufrechterhalten)
Verfahrensart
Nichtigkeit
Kategorie
Hauptnichtigkeitsklage
Parteien
Kläger
Vertreter
Beklagte
Vertreter
Division
Paris CD
Technologie
  • Instruments
    Medical technology
Sprache
English
Erste Entscheidung
20. Okt. 2025
EPA-Einspruch
Im Vergleich
Die Bilanz des Gerichts für diese Art von Verfahren, gezählt in erstinstanzlichen Entscheidungen. Eine Zahl in Klammern gibt an, auf wie vielen Entscheidungen eine Quote beruht.
Patent nichtigMedian Tage bis zur ersten Entscheidung
Gesamt-UPC37% (34/91)124
Paris CDGesperrtGesperrt
Richter Paolo CatallozziGesperrtGesperrt
Richter Tatyana ZhilovaGesperrtGesperrt
Richter Elisabetta PapaGesperrtGesperrt

Vor dem UPC: Meril Group (60 Verfahren)·Edwards Lifesciences Group (57 Verfahren)

Dieser Streit umfasst 13 weitere Verfahren

UPC CFI 1160/2026·UPC CoA 932/2025·UPC CoA 933/2025·UPC CFI 404/2025·UPC CFI 405/2025 und 8 weitere

1 weitere Beklagte zum selben oder einem verwandten Patent

UPC CFI 676/2024

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Weitere Verfahren: Paris CD·2024

Entscheidungen
  • 2025-10-20
    Revocation ActionÖffentlich

    Zusammenfassung: Decision of the Paris Central Division (Paris Seat) dated 20 October 2025 in the revocation action by Meril entities against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and the counterclaim for infringement by Edwards regarding EP 4 151 181 B1 (prosthetic heart valve technology). The revocation action was rejected; however, the patent was maintained only in the form of Auxiliary Request 2 (amended). The infringement counterclaim was granted: Meril entities were found to infringe claims 1, 4, 6–12 as amended. Edwards was granted an injunction preventing Meril from all infringing acts with products according to those claims in Contracting Member States, with an exception for XL-size valves (exceeding 30 mm) which was denied on proportionality grounds. Meril was ordered to provide information on infringing products, recall and destroy infringing products, and publish the decision in five media. Damages are to be determined in separate proceedings. Costs of the counterclaim were borne by Meril jointly and severally; costs of the revocation action were shared (each party bears own costs given the patent amendment dynamic).

    Rechtsfragen anzeigen (6)
    • Inventive step assessment using holistic approach
    • Revocation action versus patent amendment
    • Infringement counterclaim
    • Proportionality of injunction for XL-size medical devices
    • Public interest exception to injunctive relief under Art. 63(1) UPCA
    • Recall and publication orders
  • 2025-01-08

    Zusammenfassung: Order from the Paris Central Division dated 8 January 2025 on Meril entities' application for costs (App_56782/2024) seeking reimbursement of EUR 15,000 from respondents (SWAT Medical AB and others) incurred in defending a rejected public-access-to-register application. The order clarifies that a 'decision on the merits' under R. 150 RoP means a decision concluding litigation proceedings with res judicata effect; proceedings on a public access application are not 'litigation' in that sense. The court dismissed the costs application on the basis that a public access proceeding does not produce a 'decision on the merits' that triggers the costs provisions.

    Rechtsfragen anzeigen (3)
    • Definition of 'decision on the merits' under R. 150 RoP
    • Costs in public access to register proceedings
    • Nature of R. 262 proceedings (administrative vs. litigation)
  • 2024-09-17

    Zusammenfassung: Central Division (Paris) order dismissing Meril's application to reject Edwards' counterclaim for infringement as inadmissible. The court retrospectively extended the two-month deadline under Rule 49 RoP by one week to 23 July 2024, finding the counterclaim timely. The court declined to hold a hearing before deciding.

    Rechtsfragen anzeigen (3)
    • Admissibility of counterclaim for infringement (Rule 49 RoP)
    • Retrospective extension of time period (Rule 9(3) RoP)
    • Timing of counterclaim
DokumenttitelDatumÖffentlich
Verfahren abgeschlossen2026-01-28Nicht öffentlich
Cover sheet2025-12-09Nicht öffentlich
Application document Claimant2025-12-09Nicht öffentlich
Exhibit document Claimant2025-12-09Nicht öffentlich
Exhibit document Claimant2025-12-09Nicht öffentlich
Receipt2025-12-09Nicht öffentlich
Veröffentlichung der Entscheidung2025-10-21Nicht öffentlich
Entscheidung2025-10-21Nicht öffentlich
Decision2025-10-21Öffentlich
Mündliches Verfahren abgeschlossen2025-10-21Nicht öffentlich
Zusammenfassung in einfacher Sprache

Meril Life Sciences entities sought revocation of Edwards Lifesciences' EP 4 151 181 B1 (prosthetic heart valve), which Edwards defended and pursued via a counterclaim for infringement. The Paris Central Division rejected the revocation action but maintained the patent only as amended by Auxiliary Request 2, then granted Edwards' infringement counterclaim against Meril, issuing an injunction covering all UPC member states except for XL-size valves (diameter exceeding 30 mm) where the court found the remedy disproportionate given the absence of an approved alternative for large aortic annuli.

Angenommene Argumente
Was das Gericht akzeptiert hat — nach Partei.
  • Holistic approach to inventive step assessment, considering the invention as a whole rather than isolated features

    BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPC

    Hinweis: The court explicitly adopted a 'holistic approach' to non-obviousness and applied it in finding that the amended claims involved an inventive step.

  • Infringement of amended claims 1, 4, 6-12 of EP 4 151 181 by Meril's prosthetic heart valve products

    BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 25(a) UPCA; Art. 63(1) UPCA

    Hinweis: Edwards' counterclaim for infringement was granted; Meril entities were found to infringe the patent as amended by Auxiliary Request 2.

  • Injunction should be denied for XL-size valves (diameter exceeding 30 mm) on proportionality grounds given absence of alternative treatment

    KlägerRechtsgrundlage: Art. 63(1) UPCA

    Hinweis: The court refused the injunction for XL-size valves because their exclusion from commerce would harm patients with large aortic annuli where no suitable alternative valve was approved, making the injunction disproportionate until an alternative becomes available.

  • Realistic starting point for inventive step must be a document of interest that addresses the same or similar underlying problem

    BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPC

    Hinweis: Court laid down as headnote that a realistic starting point discloses the main relevant features and has constituted a basis for developing the inventive idea.

Zurückgewiesene Argumente
Was das Gericht nicht akzeptiert hat — und warum.
  • Revocation of EP 4 151 181 B1 as granted for lack of inventive step

    KlägerRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPC

    Begründung: Court dismissed the revocation action, finding sufficient inventive step in the amended claims; patent maintained as amended by Auxiliary Request 2.

  • Edwards' counterclaim for infringement is inadmissible as filed outside the two-month deadline under R. 49 RoP

    KlägerRechtsgrundlage: R. 49 RoP; R. 9(3)(a) RoP

    Begründung: Counterclaim was timely; the JR retrospectively extended the time period to 23 July 2024 under R. 9(3)(a) RoP because CMS technical issues beyond the respondent's control prevented proper lodging.

  • Injunction should extend to XL-size prosthetic heart valves (exceeding 30 mm diameter)

    BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 63(1) UPCA

    Begründung: Court refused the XL-size injunction as disproportionate under Art. 63(1) UPCA: requiring physician compliance mechanisms would be burdensome and inappropriate, and no alternative large-annulus valve is approved, creating a patient-care gap.

  • Costs application for EUR 15,000 arising from rejected public-access-to-register proceedings

    KlägerRechtsgrundlage: R. 150 RoP

    Begründung: Public access proceedings do not produce a 'decision on the merits' capable of res judicata effects and therefore do not trigger the costs provisions of R. 150 RoP.