Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia sued the man it hired to develop markets for medical breakthroughs, claiming he "misappropriated" confidential research findings, according to the Cherry Hill Courier-Post.
Four things to know:
1. CHOP alleges Miami Beach, Fla.-based ViaGenetics, a company run by Richard Postrel, "uses deceptive means to extract confidential information from scientists and other inventors, and then attempts to beat the legitimate inventors in a race to the Patent Office." ViaGenetics began as a technology company in 2013 and has transitioned to research and drug development, according to its website.
2. According to the lawsuit, Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, director of CHOP's Center for Applied Genomics, provided his research findings to ViaGenetics under a confidentiality agreement. He believed ViaGenetics would help him "commercialize" his research, according to the report.
3. CHOP alleges some of the confidential information "was subsequently incorporated into patent applications that list Postrel as the only inventor without permission from CHOP or Dr. Hakonarson."
4. Mr. Postrel denies the allegations. "We were surprised by the lawsuit, which is completely without merit," he told the Cherry Hill Courier-Post. "And we intend to vigorously defend the case."
Access the full Cherry Hill Courier-Post article here.
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