Tishcon, Douglas Labs in Litigation Over CoQ10 Claims

Tishcon, Douglas Labs in Litigation Over CoQ10 Claims

PITTSBURGHLitigation ispending in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania betweenTishcon Corp. and Douglas Laboratories/HVL Inc. The companies are at odds overtheir different coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) products. Westbury, N.Y.-based Tishcon (www.tishcon.com) supplies Q-Gel CoQ10 products, whilePittsburgh-based DouglasLabs (www.douglaslabs.com) makes Q-Melt tablets.

Tishcon filed the suit Aug. 20, alleging Douglas Labs ismaking false claims about both CoQ10 products. The suit details several allegedinfractions, including improperly relying on a study that does not support itsclaims in advertising and promotional materials and unfair competition inviolation of the Lanham Act (the federal statutes on trademark law). Tishcon isrequesting Douglas Labs pay legal fees and damages, including punitive damages,and be permanently enjoined from making such false and misleading claims.

Douglas Labs issued a statement calling the lawsuitunsubstantiated and without merit, and expressing support for the clinical dataon its Q-Melt product. HVL/Douglas Laboratories is absolutely certain that itsproducts properties are consistent and accurate with all portrayals in thecompanys marketing materials, the company stated.