Court issues restraining order against ZymoGenetics
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee issued three temporary restraining orders prohibiting ZymoGenetics Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGEN) from making certain promotional statements about its Recothrom recombinant human thrombin in relation to a competing hematology drug from King Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE:KG). The orders were handed down after King filed suit against ZymoGenetics in the court seeking damages and injunctive relief for alleged false and misleading statements and promotional activities related to King's bovine-derived Thrombin-JMI.
Specific activities named in the suit and prohibited under the current restraining orders include displaying statements that Recothrom is superior to and/or safer than Thrombin-JMI and that lawsuits have been filed for harm caused to patients who received King's drug. A hearing on King's motions for preliminary injunctive relief is scheduled for Nov. 16. ZymoGenetics said it will oppose the motions and that it disputes the allegations of wrongdoing in King's complaint. ...