By Fineline Cube Sinocare Inc. (SHE: 300298) disclosed that the Court of Appeal of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has overturned a prior decision by The Hague Local Division and granted a preliminary injunction against its iCanCGM App, citing alleged infringement of Abbott Laboratories’ (NYSE: ABT) European Patent EP3988471. The injunction prohibits Sinocare from manufacturing, selling, or importing the disputed products across 17 UPC member states (excluding Romania), effective immediately.
Legal Timeline & Key Developments
| Event | Outcome |
|---|---|
| July 2025 | Abbott files patent infringement claim at UPC over Sinocare’s iCanCGM App |
| Late 2025 | The Hague Local Division denies Abbott’s request for preliminary injunction |
| April 2026 | UPC Court of Appeal reverses lower court, grants injunction |
| Current Status | Injunction in force; main infringement trial pending |
The contested patent relates to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data processing and display technologies used in mobile health applications—a core component of modern diabetes management ecosystems.
Commercial Impact Assessment
- Revenue Exposure: Sinocare stated the affected products accounted for <0.5% of total 2025 revenue in UPC jurisdictions
- Market Presence: Limited commercial footprint in Europe compared to its dominant position in China, Southeast Asia, and Latin America
- Strategic Response: Company emphasized the ruling is interim and non-final, with plans to contest validity and infringement in the main proceedings
“We do not expect this preliminary measure to have a material impact on our operations or financial performance,” Sinocare said in a regulatory filing.
Industry Context
The case underscores the heightened IP enforcement risk for Chinese medtech firms expanding into Europe under the new Unified Patent Court regime, which centralizes litigation across participating EU states. Abbott, a global leader in CGM with its FreeStyle Libre platform, has aggressively defended its IP portfolio worldwide—including prior actions against Dexcom and Medtronic.
For Sinocare, the injunction may accelerate efforts to redesign software architecture or pursue licensing discussions, though no such talks have been confirmed.
Forward‑Looking Statements
This brief summarizes legal developments and company disclosures. Final outcomes depend on the UPC’s main infringement trial, patent validity challenges, and potential appeals. Financial impact remains subject to evolving market dynamics.-Fineline Info & Tech