UPC CFI 380/2023

At the UPC: Edwards Lifesciences Group (57 cases)·Meril Group (60 cases)

• 2025-07-21
  Infringement ActionPublic

  Summary: Decision of the Nordic-Baltic Regional Division dated 21 July 2025 (anonymised) in Edwards Lifesciences Corporation's infringement action against Meril Life Sciences Pvt Limited and related entities regarding EP 3 769 722 (heart valve delivery system). The decision covers the infringement action and multiple counterclaims for revocation filed by Meril entities, as well as applications to amend the patent. The oral hearing was held on 16 January 2025, with further pleadings submitted after the hearing regarding parallel EPO opposition proceedings. The operative part of the decision is not included in the available excerpt; however given the case involves both infringement claims and revocation counterclaims with patent amendment applications, a substantive ruling on both infringement and validity is expected.

  Show the legal issues (5)

  • Infringement action for heart valve delivery system
  • Counterclaims for revocation
  • Applications to amend patent
  • Preliminary objection
  • Parallel EPO opposition proceedings
• 2024-12-11
  Public

  Summary: Nordic-Baltic Regional Division (full panel) order dismissing defendants' request to stay the main infringement proceedings pending EPO opposition proceedings concerning EP 3 769 722. The Court of Appeal had previously set aside an earlier stay dismissal and referred back for reconsideration under R. 295(a) RoP. On reconsideration, the panel dismissed the stay request again in the Meril/Edwards heart valve case (Edward Lifesciences v Meril entities). The request to stay pending Central Division revocation counterclaim was also refused.

  Show the legal issues (3)

  • Stay of proceedings pending EPO opposition (R. 295(a) RoP)
  • Heart valve / transcatheter aortic valve implantation technology
  • Relationship between UPC and EPO proceedings
• 2024-12-10
  Infringement ActionPublic

  Summary: The Nordic-Baltic Regional Division issued a post-interim conference procedural order in Edwards Lifesciences Corporation v Meril Life Sciences and others (UPC_CFI_380/2023, EP 3 769 722 — a transcatheter heart valve patent). The order resolved multiple procedural disputes including: admissibility of additional invalidity attacks raised in the counterclaim for revocation; how to deal with the public interest defence; request for a CJEU preliminary reference (deferred); request for a Court expert (rejected); and practical arrangements for the oral hearing.

  Show the legal issues (5)

  • Admissibility of invalidity attacks in counterclaim for revocation
  • Public interest defence in medical device patent infringement
  • Preliminary referral to CJEU
  • Court expert request
  • Transcatheter heart valve patent
• —
  revocation counterclaim

  Summary: I) The Court dismisses the preliminary objection. II) The Court decides to uphold EP 3 769 722 as amended by auxiliary request 1' in Annex 1. III) The Court orders the Defendants and each of them to cease and desist from making, offering, placing on the market or using, or importing or storing for these purposes: