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Acquisition of Bead Technology Patents

  • Acquisition of Bead Technology Patents
  • Removal of Obligation to pay future Royalties

Farnham UK, 6 July 2010: Biocompatibles International plc (LSE:BII), the medical technology company, is pleased to announce that it has acquired certain patents protecting its Bead Products, which were previously licensed from Biocure, Inc

In 2002 Biocure granted Biocompatibles a licence to patents which now protect the Bead Product portfolio – DC Bead®, LC BeadTM and Bead BlockTM. These products accounted for sales of £12.7m in 2009. The agreement required that, until March 2021, Biocompatibles pay BioCure a royalty of 5% on sales of the Bead Products. This acquisition removes the obligation to pay further royalties to Biocure.

The Bead Products portfolio is also protected by patents describing further inventions made by Biocompatibles, principally in the field of drug delivery, subsequent to the original licence from Biocure.

Biocompatibles will pay cash consideration of $4.5m (£3.0m) to BioCure, of which $2.5m will be paid in July 2010 and the remaining $2.0m in January 2011. The 2010 payment is covered in the cash guidance which was revised on 16 June 2010. The acquisition will be earnings enhancing from the outset.

Commenting on the patent acquisition, Crispin Simon, Chief Executive, added;

"I am pleased to announce this transaction, which will improve margins in our Oncology Products division and will be earnings enhancing from the current year."

-Ends-

Contact:

Biocompatibles
Crispin Simon, Chief Executive
Ian Ardill, Finance Director
+44 (0) 1252 732706
   
Anna Keeble +44 (0) 7879 818876

 

Regulatory notices and product safety data

Worldwide (excluding USA)

Bead Block™ is CE marked and indicated for the treatment of a variety of hypervascular tumours (including Uterine Fibroids) and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). For full prescribing information please refer to Bead Block instructions for use.

DC Bead® is CE marked and is indicated for the treatment of malignant hypervascular tumours and loading with doxorubicin drug. DC Bead® is also indicated for loading with irinotecan for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Both indications may not be available in your territory. For full prescribing information please refer to DC Bead instructions for use.

DC BeadM1™ is indicated for loading with irinotecan for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). For full prescribing information please refer to DC Bead M1 instructions for use.

USA

In the USA, Bead Block™ is indicated for the treatment of hypervascular tumors and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). For full prescribing information please refer to Bead Block USA Instructions for use.

LC Bead™ is cleared by the FDA for the embolization of hypervascular tumors and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). For full prescribing information please refer to LC Bead instructions for use.

LC Bead M1™ is cleared by the FDA for the embolization of hypervascular tumors and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). For full prescribing information please refer to LC Bead M1 instructions for use.

DC Bead is not currently available for sale or distribution in the USA. Both indications may not be available in your territory. 

DC Bead M1 is not currently available for sale or distributions in the USA. 

Canada

DC Bead® with doxorubicin is indicated for trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DC Bead are also intended to be loaded with irinotecan for the purpose of embolization of vessels supplying malignant colorectal cancer metastasised to the liver (mCRC), and delivery of a local, controlled, sustained dose of irinotecan to the mCRC. For full prescribing information please refer to DC Bead Canada Instructions for Use 

DC BeadM1 is primarily intended as an embolic agent to treat vessels supplying malignant colorectal cancer metastasised to the liver (mCRC). DC BeadM1 is also compatible with irinotecan, which can be loaded prior to embolisation and then, as a secondary action, elute a local, controlled and sustained dose to the mCRC after embolisation. For full prescribing information please refer to DC BeadM1 Canada Instructions for Use  

Tawain

DC Bead is approved by the Department of Health and is intended to be loaded with Mayne (Hospira) doxorubicin HCI for the purpose of embolisation of vessels supplying malignant hypervascularised tumour(s), and delivery of a local, controlled, sustained dose of doxorubicin.  DC Bead is also indicated for the embolisation of nidus vessels without medication.  Approved size ranges in Taiwan are 300-500µm and 500-700µm.

Hong Kong

PRECISION Bead™ is indicated for the delivery of Doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of malignant hypervascular tumours, where Trans Arterial Embolisation (TAE) is not contraindicated.