Swiss Surgeons Fight for Fair Payment of £48.5M for Scoliosis Invention
Two Swiss surgeons, Professor John Webb and Max Aebi, are seeking fair pay for their invention, the Universal Spine System, used to treat scoliosis. They claim they were pressured to sign away intellectual property rights without legal advice, a claim denied by Johnson & Johnson and unaddressed by Hansjorg Wyss, co-owner of Chelsea FC and benefactor of their research.
The surgeons developed the Universal Spine System over two decades ago while working at the AO Foundation, a research institute bankrolled by Hansjorg Wyss. Wyss' company, Synthes, also manufactured the implants. In 2015, Wyss counter-signed a letter asking Johnson & Johnson to consider Webb's request for fair pay, estimated at up to £48.5 million in potential royalties. Despite Wyss' praise for the device as 'the best ever' for spinal deformity, he has not responded to recent requests for comment.
Professor John Webb and Max Aebi's claim regarding intellectual property rights remains unaddressed. Hansjorg Wyss' involvement, as both benefactor and co-owner of the company manufacturing the implants, raises questions about potential conflicts of interest. The surgeons continue to seek fair pay for their invention.
Read also:
- Aerial attacks by Israel result in the death of 11 individuals in Gaza, occurring concurrently with Hamas leader's trip to Cairo.
- Wolf Attack on Alp Muot Selvas Leaves 37 Sheep Affected, Highlights Herd Protection Concerns
- Local Activists 'Chaos Office Osnabrück' Spark Sustainability Debate with Fake Award Site
- Ukrainian Refugees in UK Face Housing Crisis
