Cook Biotech Resolves to Pursue Life Sciences Patent Infringement Case Against ACell Inc

Business Wire, August 28, 2006

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently overturned the verdict reached by a jury in the Federal Court for the Northern District of Indiana concerning biomaterials derived from bladder tissue for use as medical products. The patent at issue is one in a portfolio of patents that protects both breakthrough technology discovered at Purdue University and numerous newly-created medical products that are manufactured by Cook Biotech at its facility in the Purdue Research Park.

"We believe that the Court of Appeals decision is flawed because it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the complex anatomy of bladder tissue that is the basis of the patented tissue graft technology," said Mark Bleyer, President of Cook Biotech. "The jury and the district court understood the patented technology and reached the right result. Cook Biotech will pursue correction of the appellate court's decision and will continue to protect its rights to this important technology." Joe Hornett, Senior Vice President/Treasurer & COO of Purdue Research Foundation stated, "Protection of Purdue inventions is one of Purdue Research Foundation's missions, and we support Cook Biotech's continuing efforts."

Cook Biotech Incorporated (www.cookbiotech.com) founded in 1995 with shared ownership by Cook Group, Purdue Research Foundation and Methodist Hospital/Clarian produces tissue-engineered biomaterials and is actively manufacturing and developing extracellular matrix (ECM) technologies for numerous medical purposes. This tissue-engineered biomaterial forms a natural, acellular scaffold that provides a framework for tissue repair. Cook has developed this ECM technology into a range of medical products used daily by surgeons to help patients around the world.

Purdue Research Foundation (www.purdueresearchpark.com) is responsible for Purdue University's technology-transfer program, the development of Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, and the management of that park's business development services and flagship incubator.