Chiron Corp. on Friday said that a British court has denied apreliminary injunction against Organon Teknika Ltd. and MurexDiagnostics Ltd. in suits alleging infringement of a Chironpatent in the United Kingdom relating to its hepatitis C virusproducts.

According to Chiron, the court determined that it and itspartners, Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc. and Ortho DiagnosticSystems Ltd., can be adequately compensated for damagesafter the trial. At issue was whether "unquantifiable orirreparable harm" would be suffered prior to the trial, which isscheduled for summer of 1993.The Emeryville, Calif., company alleges that Organon and Murexare marketing hepatitis C tests covered by the U.K. patent.

Chiron shares (NASDAQ:CHIR) were up 38 cents on Friday to$51.75. International Murex Technologies (AMEX:MXX), theToronto-based parent of Murex Diagnostics, closed down 13cents at $14.88.

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