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In 1995, Behring Diagnostics and Boehringer Mannheim entered into a cross-licensing agreement for HIV-O patents and patent applications. HIV-O represents a recently discovered, but genetically distinct member of the HIV-1 family of viruses. It is the intention of the two companies to sublicense patents to other major diagnostics companies, so that state-of-the-art diagnostics tests could be developed to reliably recognize HIV-O infections. Infections of HIV-1 and HIV-2 are detected by antibody-based HIV tests, yet some HIV-O infections escape detection by some current commercially available test kits.
Since 1993, the HIV-O virus has been found in a growing number of AIDS patients in Africa, France, Belgium, Spain, and Germany, and more recently, in the United States. In fact, health authorities in the United States, Europe and Japan are now requesting that HIV-O specific antigens be included in all new standard HIV tests.
HIV, the retrovirus that causes AIDS, was first isolated in 1983. The virus is categorized as HIV-1, the most prevalent type of HIV, and in 1986 a new human immunodeficiency virus, termed HIV-2, was isolated.
In 1988, in cooperation with researchers at the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine, Innogenetics NV discovered another strain of HIV, which, at that time, was termed HIV-3. The patents and patent applications relating to this virus were licensed exclusively to Boehringer Mannheim. Independently, in 1992, Professor Gurtler and his collaborators together with scientists of Behring Diagnostics discovered and characterized a virus (MVP 5180), which was classified as HIV-1 group O. Scientists determined that HIV-3 of Innogenetics also belonged to the same group O viruses (HIV-O). Professor Gurtler's invention has been exclusively licensed to Behring Diagnostics.
Boehringer Mannheim is a diversified international high-tech healthcare company with over 18,000 employees worldwide. Founded in 1859, the company is a leader in research and development of innovative therapeutics, diagnostics, and biochemicals.
With headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, Behring Diagnostics GmbH, manufactures and markets in vitro diagnostic systems used by healthcare professionals in hospitals and laboratories throughout the world. Behring Diagnostics acquired the former Syva Company in 1995. Behring Diagnostics had sales of DM 930 million, in 1996, and employs approximately 3,000 worldwide. On August 18, 1997, Behring Diagnostics announced that it received clearance from the U.S. FTC to move forward with the planned merger of Dade International. Clearance from government authorities in Europe is still pending.
All products trademarked in this announcement are registered trademarks of Behring Diagnostics GmbH.
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CONTACT: Norbert Dedner, Behring Diagnostics telephone: + (49) 6421-39-4511 fax: + (49) 6421-39-4972
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