Becton Dickinson
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Files suit against Unilever, American Home Products and Carter- Wallace for infringement of patents covering the testing process used in B-D's Precise hCG home pregnancy test. B-D alleges that Unilever's Clearblue Easy pregnancy test, Clearplan Easy ovulation test and Clearview rapid tests for pregnancy, group A streptococcus and chlamydia violate the patents. American Home distributes Clearblue and Clearplan products in the U.S.; Carter- Wallace markets the Clearview line. B-D says it filed the suit after trying for more than a year to negotiate a royalty/licensing agreement with the firms. The company has successfully negotiated "several" such pacts with other firms using the testing process, according to a spokesperson.