The full commission of the U.S. International Trade Commission(ITC) has denied Genentech Inc.'s request for a temporaryexclusion order barring Bio-Technology General Corp. and NovoNordisk A/S from importing their human growth hormone(hGH) into the U.S. The companies can continue to import hGHfor use in human clinical trials while the ITC considersGenentech's claim that the companies are infringing three of itshGH patents.

The ruling confirms the decision of administrative law judgePaul Luchern (see BioWorld, Feb. 1). Under ITC procedure, alljudges' decisions are reviewed by the full panel of the ITCwithin 30 days. -- Karl Thiel

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