Apr 5 2010
Flexsys, a wholly owned subsidiary of Solutia Inc. (NYSE: SOA), and a leading producer of specialty chemical products for the rubber and tire industry, is pleased to announce recent favorable rulings involving competitor challenges to the validity of patents covering its proprietary PPD2 technology. Flexsys' PPD2 process is the most technologically advanced and economical manufacturing process in the world for the key PPD intermediate 4-ADPA, and is protected by valid patents until 2019.
In March, the Korean Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of a lower court decision which found key claims of Flexsys' Korean patent to be valid, defeating attempts by a Chinese competitor to invalidate those claims. This decision follows similar rulings in January by the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court in China and the Federal Patent Court in Germany, dismissing attempts by the same competitor to invalidate Flexsys' PPD patents in those countries.
Also in March, the European Patent Office rejected an attempt by another competitor to invalidate Flexsys' PPD patent in the European Union.
"Our innovative PPD2 technology provides substantial value for both our customers and our stakeholders. This value was created not only by investments in research and development, but also by investments in our intellectual property rights," notes D. Michael Donnelly, president and general manager of Solutia's Technical Specialties division. "These rulings further strengthen our resolve to remain the world's leading producer of PPDs for the rubber and tire industry," Donnelly explained. "To that end, we will continue to vigorously defend and enforce our intellectual property rights around the world to ensure that our customers and stakeholders realize the full value of those investments."
Flexsys operates the largest 4-ADPA plant in the world as well as PPD manufacturing operations in Antwerp, Belgium. In addition, Flexsys currently owns the largest PPD plant in North America and is the only PPD producer with manufacturing capacity in the growing South American market. Flexsys sells these PPD antidegradants under the Santoflex(R) brand.