HAMBURG, Germany — Eppendorf has initiated an import ban for Nanosphere, Inc.’s Verigene(R) and Verigene(R) SP systems for infringement of European patent EP 1 179 180 B2, titled “Method for the identification and/or the quantification of a target compound”. The import ban covers any and all imports of the respective products into any country of the European Union. Customs authorities are required to confiscate any violating products.

The patent covers Eppendorf’s Silverquant(R) microarray technology, offered in Eppendorf’s Silverquant scanner and Silverquant detection kit used e.g. for Eppendorf’s own microarrays. The technology is also licensed to two companies for commercialization with their microarrays.

In addition, Eppendorf has successfully initiated an import ban for the Verigene(R) kits based on the German utility model DE 20023342U1, also covering Eppendorf’s Silverquant products. This ban prohibits imports into Germany either from outside the EU or from within the EU.

“Considering Nanosphere’s announcement of having received the CE mark for the Verigene(R) system, Eppendorf has taken these steps to prevent the introduction of these products that are not licensed to use our patented technology into the European Union”, commented Sven Bulow, Managing Director of Eppendorf Biochip Systems GmbH.

Eppendorf AG was founded in Hamburg in 1945 and has more than 2,450 employees worldwide. The company has subsidiaries in 20 countries and is represented in all other markets by distributors.

In fiscal 2008, the company’s sales revenues amounted to EUR 410 million with earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 71.9 million.