US trade commission rules in favor of Medytox over Daewoong in botox dispute

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) upheld its preliminary ruling saying that South Korean drugmaker Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. copied the manufacturing process of a botulinum toxin strain by local rival Medytox Inc. in Medytox Medytox

Consequently, the US trade panel ordered a 21-month ban on imports of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's botulinum products into the US.

ITC's ruling, however, reduces the initial 10-year ban prescribed by the preliminary panel that ruled that Daewoong's misappropriated trade secrets belonging to Medytox.

Medytox Inc. claimed that Daewoong's Jeuveau was developed using a trade secret stolen from it that turns the deadly botulinum toxin into a wrinkle treatment.

Daewoong denied any theft allegations or that any trade secret was involved and argued the US agency is not the proper forum to decide on the dispute.