“We stole Daewoong Pharmaceutical” “Meditox lies”… Botox war continues

Medytox Building and Daewoong Pharmaceutical headquarters located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [연합뉴스]

Over the source of the strain of a botulinum toxin preparation called’Botox’, Medytox and Daewoong Pharmaceutical once again faced. The two companies said to the other, “You’re lying. Apologize.”

The two companies faced again on the 14th because the US International Trade Commission (ITC) released a 74-page final decision on Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s alleged infringement of trade secrets. On December 16 last year, the ITC issued an order to ban US imports for 21 months, saying, “Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s botulinum toxin formulation’Nabota (US product name bulletin)’ violated Article 337 of the Customs Act.” ITC usually publishes its final decision about 10 working days after the decision.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s botulinum toxin formulation’Nabota’. [중앙포토]

First of all, the sharpest controversy is whether Daewoong Pharmaceutical stole the strain of Medytox. Meanwhile, Medytox filed a lawsuit against ITC, claiming that “Daewoong Pharmaceutical has stolen the strain and manufacturing process of Medytox.”

According to the final decision, the ITC determined that’genetic evidence proves that Daewoong Pharmaceuticals brought the strain from Medytox’ based on the witness statement of Professor Paul Keim of Northern Arizona University in the United States.

With this phrase, Medytox interpreted, “I admitted that Daewoong Pharmaceutical had stolen the Medytox strain.” On the other hand, Daewoong Pharmaceutical denied the evidence itself, saying, “The analysis method (used by US researchers) has limitations and errors in the method.”

Medytox Building and Daewoong Pharmaceutical headquarters located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. yunhap news

The position is also divided over the trade secret of the botulinum toxin strain. Until now, Medytox claimed that “Daewoong Pharmaceutical has not been able to reveal where it acquired the strain.” However, the ITC stated in its final decision that’we judge that the Meditox strain did not qualify as a trade secret’.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical said, “Meditox attacked their strain as if it were the only and special one, but the trade secret was completely denied in this ITC decision.” And attacked.

On the other hand, Medytox said, “The core of this ruling is that the ITC has acknowledged that Daewoong Pharmaceutical has stolen the strain and manufacturing technology of Medytox.” I have no qualifications.”

When ITC decided that’Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s strain was derived from Medytox’ and that’the strain was not a trade secret’, the two companies demanded an apology from each other. Medytox said, “Daewoong Pharmaceutical is deceiving the public with false claims without admitting its wrongdoing, even though the criminal activity was clearly revealed. I will hold Daewoong Pharmaceutical to the end.” On the other hand, Daewoong Pharmaceutical demanded, “Meditox executives apologize for lies and face the truth fairly.”

Reporter Moon Hee-cheol [email protected]