NASDAQ: NVCN
TSX: NVC
VANCOUVER, Nov. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Neovasc Inc.
("Neovasc" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: NVCN) (TSX:
NVC) reported today the findings of the Federal District Court
regarding several post-trial motions stemming from a trial jury's
verdict in May 2016. CardiAQ
filed suit against Neovasc in the United States District Court for
the District of Massachusetts in 2014.
In the order, Judge Allison D.
Burroughs ruled in favor of CardiAQ on the issue of
inventorship of Neovasc's '964 Patent. At the same time, the
judge denied CardiAQ's motion for an injunction that would have
shut down the development of Tiara™, thus allowing Neovasc to
continue development and commercialization of Tiara™, while also
denying Neovasc's motions for a new trial. Judge Burroughs
upheld the jury's verdict and US$70
million award against Neovasc, and awarded US$21 million in enhanced damages to that
award.
"While we are disappointed with this outcome, we believe this
decision affirms Neovasc's rights to advance the Tiara program and
treat patients with this innovative technology and look forward to
doing so," said Alexei Marko, CEO of
Neovasc. "We are very pleased with the clinical results to
date and will continue to work with selected centers to implant
Tiara in suitable patients in our TIARA-I Early Feasibility Trial
and compassionate use programs."
Upon entry of a judgment by the trial court, Neovasc will
immediately seek to stay the payment of the US$70 million damages award, and the enhancement
to that award, until after an appeal of the basis for that award
and enhancement is complete. The Company will appeal the
validity of the award, as well as the ruling on inventorship.
The appellate process may take up to a year to complete.
About Neovasc Inc.
Neovasc is a specialty medical device company that develops,
manufactures and markets products for the rapidly growing
cardiovascular marketplace. Its products in development
include the Tiara™, for the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve
disease and the Neovasc Reducer™ for the treatment of refractory
angina. The Company also sells a line of advanced biological tissue
products that are used as key components in third-party medical
products including transcatheter heart valves. For more
information, visit: www.neovasc.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws regarding: the
Company's intention to seek to stay the payment of the US$70 million damages award as well as the
enhancement to that award pending the Company's appeal; the
Company's intention to appeal the validity of the award, as well as
the Court's ruling on inventorship; the Company's expectations with
respect to the length of the appellate process; and the Company's
ability to continue to develop and commercialize Tiara, and its
plans and expectations with respect to Tiara, including the
continued enrolment in the TIARA-I Early Feasibility Trial and
compassionate use programs. Words and phrases such as "we
believe", "look forward", "will", "continue", "seek to stay", "will
appeal", and "may take up to a year", are intended to identify
these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
are based on estimates and assumptions made by the Company in light
of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current
conditions and expected future developments, as well as other
factors that the Company believes are appropriate in the
circumstances. Many factors and assumptions could cause the
Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements, including, without limitation: the conduct or possible
outcomes of any actual or threatened legal proceedings, including
the Company's ability to stay the payment of the award in the
CardiAQ litigation and its ability to successfully appeal the
validity of the award as well as the ruling on inventorship, which
are inherently uncertain and which create material uncertainty that
casts substantial doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a
going concern; the potential impact on the Company's business of an
adverse decision in the appeal on the question of inventorship even
if the Company prevails on its appeal of the award; potential
changes in circumstances relating to the Company's financing
requirements, whether as a result of the CardiAQ litigation,
unforeseen circumstances or otherwise; the Company's ability to
raise additional funding; the potential benefits of the Neovasc
Reducer™ and Tiara™ as compared with other products; successful
enrollment of patients in studies and trials for the Neovasc
Reducer™ and Tiara™; results of the trials and studies for the
Neovasc Reducer™ and Tiara™ that meet the Company's expectations;
the Company's receipt of any required local and institutional
regulatory approvals and the timing and costs of obtaining such
approvals; European enrollment in our clinical trials, studies and
compassionate use cases and the success of applications in
Europe; the Company's ability to
protect its intellectual property; changes in business strategy or
development plans; existing governmental regulations and changes
in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations and
general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in
the regions in which the Company operates. These risk factors and
others relating to the Company are discussed in greater detail in
the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information
Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F and
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations (copies of which filings may be obtained at
www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be
considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance
on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company has
no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
SOURCE Neovasc Inc.