According to Medytox on Monday, the pharmaceutical company filed a lawsuit in Seoul Central District Court against Daewoong Pharmaceuticals after the accused allegedly stole Medytox’s manufacturing technology to produce Botox products from botulinum toxin, calling for a ban on the use of the substance for Daewoong Pharmaceuticals as well as compensation for damages. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean pharmaceutical firms Medytox and Daewoong Pharmaceuticals are heading to court to settle a dispute surrounding the use of botulinum toxin, a highly poisonous substance used to make Botox, with the South Korean media branding the legal battle as the ‘Botox War’.
According to Medytox on Monday, the pharmaceutical company filed a lawsuit in Seoul Central District Court against Daewoong Pharmaceuticals after the accused allegedly stole Medytox’s manufacturing technology to produce Botox products from botulinum toxin, calling for a ban on the use of the substance for Daewoong Pharmaceuticals as well as compensation for damages.
Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein, one of the key ingredients in so-called Botox.
Currently in the South Korean market, Medytox is selling Meditoxin, while its rival Daewoong Pharmaceuticals released Nabota.
Medytox claims Daewoong’s Nabota was made with copied strains of botulinum toxin from the company, and announced the lawsuit was based on its assessment that Daewoong is using pirated technology.
Previously, Medytox tried to file a similar lawsuit but a U.S. court struck down the attempt, saying the issue shouldn’t be dealt with in the U.S. and that Medytox may pursue legal action in South Korea, which prompted the pharmaceutical company to file a lawsuit.
Medytox has also asked Daewoong Pharmaceuticals to delete all the documents and files containing information regarding what Medytox claims are strains of botulinum toxin that belong to them as part of the lawsuit, while calling on Daewoong to dispose of all Nabota products both on the market and in the making.
“As we have secured sufficient evidence to prove the charges against Daewoong Pharmaceuticals, we believe the matter will be settled in the near future,” a Medytox official said, while reaffirming the company’s willingness to hold a public hearing to put to rest the rumors surrounding the controversy.
The dispute between the two pharmaceutical companies goes all the way back to last year, and each time Medytox has asked Daewoong to participate in a public discussion to settle the matter, Daewoong has refused and called it ‘slander’ against competitors.
With Daewoong Pharmaceuticals doubling down on its defense and accusing Medytox of defamation, the conflict between the two companies is only expected to worsen.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
