1
 MedChem Products Inc. said 
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a U.S. District Court in Boston ruled 
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that a challenge by MedChem to the validity of a U.S. patent 
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held by Pharmacia Inc. 
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was without merit.
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 Pharmacia, 
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based in Upsala, Sweden, 
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had charged in a lawsuit against MedChem 
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that MedChem's AMVISC product line infringes on the Pharmacia patent. 
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The patent is related to hyaluronic acid, a rooster-comb extract 
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used in eye surgery.
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 In its lawsuit, Pharmacia is seeking unspecified damages and a preliminary injunction 
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to block MedChem from selling the AMVISC products.
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 A MedChem spokesman said 
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the products contribute about a third of MedChem's sales and 10% to 20% of its earnings.
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 In the year 
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ended Aug. 31, 1988, 
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MedChem earned $2.9 million, or 72 cents a share, on sales of $17.4 million.
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 MedChem said 
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the court's ruling was issued as part of a first-phase trial in the patent-infringement proceedings 
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and concerns only one of its defenses in the case.
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 It said 
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it is considering all of its options in light of the decision, 
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including a possible appeal.
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 The medical-products company added 
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that it plans to assert its other defenses against Pharmacia's lawsuit,
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 including the claim 
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that it hasn't infringed on Pharmacia's patent. 
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 MedChem said 
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that the court scheduled a conference for next Monday 
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-- to set a date for proceedings on Pharmacia's motion for a preliminary injunction.
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