RITA Medical Systems Says Recent Boston Scientific Patent Lawsuit Is Without Merit
RITA Medical Systems Says Recent Boston Scientific Patent Lawsuit Is Without Merit
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RITA Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: RITA) announced today that a patent infringement lawsuit was filed against the Company on July 9, 2002, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by a competitor, Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) and the University of Kansas. The suit alleges that certain of RITA's products infringe a patent licensed by Boston Scientific from the University of Kansas (U.S. Patent No. RE 35,330). The Company said it believes the lawsuit is without merit, and it will vigorously defend against it."This lawsuit is just another reaction by Boston Scientific to our previously filed lawsuit in which we asserted six of our issued patents against them. It appears that Boston Scientific is now engaging in a desperate search of their patent portfolio in an effort to strengthen their litigation position. We continue to believe that our intellectual property position is extremely strong," said RITA Medical Systems President and Chief Executive Officer Barry Cheskin. "Further, we remain pleased that our superior product performance and features allow us to routinely beat our competitors in the marketplace."
About RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
RITA Medical Systems develops, manufactures and markets innovative products for patients with solid cancerous or benign tumors. The proprietary RITA system uses radiofrequency energy to heat tissue to a high enough temperature to ablate it or cause cell death. While the Company's current focus is on liver cancer, the Company believes that its minimally invasive technology may in the future be applied to other types of tumors, including tumors of the lung, bone, breast, uterus, prostate and kidney. The Company has received regulatory clearance in major markets worldwide, including the United States. In March 2000, RITA became the first radiofrequency ablation company to receive specific FDA clearance for unresectable liver lesions in addition to its previous general FDA clearance for the ablation of soft tissue. The Company has sold over 35,000 of its disposable devices throughout the world.
The statements in this news release related to the Company's plans to extend its technology to applications beyond the liver are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
RITA is a trademark of RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
For further information please contact: Matt Clawson (investors), matt@allencaron.com, or Len Hall (media), len@allencaron.com, both of Allen & Caron Inc, +1-949-474-4300, for RITA Medical Systems, Inc.; or Don Stewart, Chief Financial Officer of RITA Medical Systems, Inc., +1-650-314-3400, dstewart@ritamed.com
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SOURCE RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.ritamedical.com
CONTACT: Matt Clawson (investors), matt@allencaron.com, or Len Hall (media), len@allencaron.com, both of Allen & Caron Inc, +1-949-474-4300, for RITA Medical Systems, Inc.; or Don Stewart, Chief Financial Officer of RITA Medical Systems, Inc., +1-650-314-3400, dstewart@ritamed.com