Opinion ID: 765605
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Institut Pasteur, Genetic Systems Corporation, and Related Entities

Text: 4 Institut Pasteur is a scientific research institute headquartered in Paris, France, that specializes in biochemical and biomedical research. Institut Pasteur is among the world's premier institutions involved in HIV research. Genetic Systems Corporation, a biotechnology company located in the United States, acquired via license exclusive rights in the United States under the '861, '391, and '496 patents, including the right to bring suit for infringement. These patents are enmeshed in a complex web of licensing and cross-licensing agreements that have prompted the present dispute. To interpret these agreements, one must understand the corporate structures of which both Institut Pasteur and Genetic were a part during the time period in question. 5 During the relevant time period, Institut Pasteur and the French corporation Sanofi, S.A. owned nearly all of the stock (26% and 72%, respectively) of the company Pasteur Sanofi Diagnostics (PSD, formerly known as Diagnostic Pasteur). PSD, in turn, wholly owned its subsidiary, Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur (SDP, formerly known as Kallestad Diagnostics). SDP ultimately acquired all of the stock of Genetic following a sequence of ownership changes in which: 1) Bristol-Myers transferred all of the outstanding capital stock of Genetic to Elf Sanofi, Inc., a subsidiary of Sanofi, S.A., and 2) Elf Sanofi, Inc. transferred this stock to SDP. In net effect, PSD ultimately owned all of the stock of SDP, which owned all of the stock of Genetic.