Roche signs agreements with Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics and Novartis

Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics granted Roche Diagnostics a worldwide royalty-bearing license under their broad patent portfolio for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the field of immunodiagnostics. The agreement also includes cross-licensing of patents owned by Roche Diagnostics. They further agreed to settle all litigation related to the licensed patents.

HCV represents a wide-spread hepatitis virus which frequently results in chronic liver disease and represents a major cause of death through the development of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. HCV antibody tests are used for the primary diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with suspected liver disease.

Dirk Ehlers, head of Roche Professional Diagnostics said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement that provides Roche Diagnostics worldwide access to HCV immunoassays. This agreement will strengthen Roche’s position in infectious disease diagnostics and will drive further growth of our immunoassay business worldwide.”