HEALTH

Genetics Institute Settles With Amgen: Genetics Institute Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., will pay $14 million to biotechnology leader Amgen Inc. to settle a longstanding dispute over patent rights to a genetically engineered protein. Erythropoietin, or EPO, is a protein produced by the kidneys that regulates the production and release of red blood cells. Both Thousand Oaks-based Amgen and Genetics Institute were granted patents on artificially produced EPO, which is given to kidney dialysis and cancer chemotherapy patients to boost their red blood cell production. Amgen sued Genetics Institute for infringing on its patent on artificially produced EPO in October, 1987, and Genetics Institute sued back. In March, 1991, a court ruled that Amgen’s patent was valid, and that Genetic Institute’s patent had infringed on it.