Natural health and beauty products company, Comvita New Zealand, has succeeded in its appeal against an earlier judgment by UK courts to rule one of its patents invalid.
Apimed Medical Honey (Apimed), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paengaroa-based Comvita, was granted leave by the UK Court of Appeal to appeal the decision made by the English Patents County Court in January 2011 that one of Comvita's UK patents for honey-impregnated wound dressing was invalid.
The Court of Appeal overturned this original ruling and Comvita's patent has been re-instated.
The UK Court of Appeal has also granted a Certificate of Contested Validity, which has the effect of confirming the patent claims were contested in proceedings before a competent court.
Comvita chief executive Brett Hewlett said it means the medical grade Manuka honey gel sheet patent has not only been restored, but has survived comprehensive scrutiny by the UK legal system.