JSC „Grindeks” fights with unfair competition


This year, on the 19th of July, JSC „Grindeks” has submitted a statement of
claim to Riga District Court against the JSC „Olainfarm” concerning the
nullification of the registration of the trademark MIDOLAT МИДОЛАТ
(registration number M 60 991) and the prohibition to use the textual
designations MIDOLAT and МИДОЛАТ; besides, an application concerning the
assignation of temporary means of protection has also been submitted. JSC
„Grindeks” considers, that “Olainfarm” has purposefully created the mentioned
trademark, using the mentioned textual designations in commercial activities,
so that the customers would have associations with the widely recognized trade
marks MILDRONĀTS, МИЛДРОНАТ and MILDRONATE of the JSC „Grindeks”. This is done,
in order to acquire unfair advantage for the distribution of their identical
medications in Latvia through solid reputation of the trademarks of the JSC
„Grindeks”. 

Having evaluated the application on the assignation of temporary means of
protection  against the JSC „Olainfarm”, which has been submitted by the JSC
„Grindeks”, on 26 July, 2010, Riga District Court has decided to satisfy the
application of the JSC „Grindeks” concerning the assignation of temporary means
of protection - to seize and recall from trade all available medications of the
joint-stock company „Olainfarm”, which are labeled with textual designations
MIDOLAT and МИДОЛАТ, as well as to forbid the usage of textual trademark
MIDOLAT МИДОЛАТ to the joint-stock company „Olainfarm”. 

The JSC “Grindeks” considers, that the illegal and unfair activities of the JSC
“Olainfarm” might cause major losses and damages to the reputation and
discernibility of the widely recognized trade marks MILDRONĀTS, МИЛДРОНАТ and
MILDRONATE of „Grindeks” in Latvia, as well as in the European Union. 

The chairperson of the board of JSC “Grindeks” Jānis Romanovskis points out:
“Mildronate® is the most demanded original product of „Grindeks” in the group
of heart and cardiovascular medications. It has gained wide recognition among
the doctors and patients of Latvia, Lithuania, as well as Russia and other CIS
countries. “Grindeks” has made significant investments in the research and
development of Mildronate® throughout many years. It constantly works to
provide the invariably high quality and effectiveness of the product. And we
will do everything in order to defend our intellectual property rights, as we
consider, that „Olainfarm” has acted in an illegal and unfair manner by
creating a product with a similar name, thus using the high reputation and name
of Mildronate®, which is a well-known and appreciated product on the market, as
well as by decepting customers”. 

Mildronate® is the most demanded original product of the joint-stock company
“Grindeks”, the leading medication in the group of agents for the heart and
blood vessels. The market has Mildronate® for over 20 years, and during the
last 5 years alone more than 12 millon patients have used this medication. Due
to its unique mechanism of action Mildronate®, depending on the prescribed
dose, is widely used for the treatment of different heart and cardiovascular
diseases, as well as for the improvement of work capacity of healthy people at
physical and mental overloads and during rehabilitation period. The doctors and
patients evaluate positively the impact of Mildronate®. For many years,
Mildronate® has also been acknowledged as the most export-capable product of
Latvia. 

In 2010, „Grindeks” has successfully finished the clinical studies on the
influence of Mildronate® on the treatment of angina. The studies confirm the
effectiveness of Mildronate® in the treatment of angina, when combined with
standard therapy and high reliability of a medication. 

On “Grindeks”

“Grindeks” is the leading pharmaceutical company in the Baltic states. Its main
fields of action are: research, development, manufacturing and sale of original
products, generics and active pharmaceutical ingredients. “Grindeks”
specializes in the heart and cardiovascular, CNS and anti-cancer medication
therapeutic groups. 

Group consists of four subsidiary companies in Latvia, Estonia and Russia, as
well representatives and representative offices in fourteen countries. Products
of the company are exported to more than 40 countries and its export comprises
more than 96% of the total turnover. The main markets are: the Baltic States,
Russia and other CIS countries, Japan, USA. JSC “Grindeks” shares are listed in
the Official List of “NASDAQ OMX Riga”. 

Further information:

Ilze Kreicmane
Deputy Manager of the Communications Department, JSC „Grindeks”
Phone.: +371 67083336; +371 26466681
E-mail: ilze.kreicmane@grindeks.lv
www.grindeks.lv