Medtronic recently announced that it has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), along with a parallel action in US District Court for the District of Delaware, to block Axonics from “improperly importing and selling products” that infringe two Medtronic patents related to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatibility of implantable medical devices.
“Medtronic is continuing our efforts to stop Axonics from profiting off of their unauthorised use of our innovations and intellectual property,” said Mira Sahney, president of the pelvic health business in the neuroscience portfolio at Medtronic. “The pattern is clear: Axonics uses Medtronic technologies to improperly compete in the market. It is time for Axonics to be held accountable for these unlawful acts.”
In a recent press release, Medtronic notes that it is asking the ITC to investigate and exclude the importation of the infringing Axonics products into the USA.
Medtronic also currently has a separate infringement suit pending in the US District Court for the Central District of California in which it asserts that Axonics has infringed additional technologies developed by and belonging to Medtronic, as detailed in the same press release.
Axonics has since announced in its own press release that it has received notice of Medtronic’s recent complaint to the ITC as well as the parallel action in US District Court for the District of Delaware.
“We believe Medtronic’s claims are designed to stifle competition, limit patient and physician choice, and protect the incumbent’s market position,” said Raymond W Cohen, chief executive officer of Axonics. “For over 20 years, Medtronic took advantage of its monopoly position in this category and chose not to innovate, develop full-body MRI-compatible sacral neuromodulation devices, or invest in creating public awareness of advanced therapies for people with incontinence.
“Axonics took a different path and created a renaissance in sacral neuromodulation therapy by developing long-lived implantable devices and introducing full-body MRI compatibility in this category for the first time. Axonics refuses to be intimidated by Medtronic and intends to defend itself vigorously. In the meantime, we remain focused on innovation for improving the lives of patients with incontinence and continuing on our path to market leadership.”
