Du Pont drops suit against Syncor

Only weeks after filing a patent infringement suit against marketing partner Syncor International, Du Pont Pharmaceuticals this month terminated the litigation. In a joint press release, the two companies announced that their dispute has been resolved. The conflict was a misunderstanding, according to Robert Funari, president and CEO of Syncor. The firms declined to provide further details on the matter.

The decision brings a quick end to a tussle that surprised market watchers. On June 17, North Billerica, MA-based Du Pont filed suit against Syncor with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, alleging that Syncor’s subsidiary, Syncor de Mexico, has illegally bought and sold Cardiolite kits, including counterfeit Cardiolite, in Mexico (SCAN 8/4/99). Syncor of Woodland Hills, CA, issued a strong denial of the charges, and filed a defense.

Both companies emphasized the importance of their U.S. relationship in resolving the dispute. The two firms rely heavily on each other: Syncor has been Du Pont’s primary U.S. distributor of Cardiolite since the product’s launch, and distributes more than 80% of the unit doses sold in the U.S.