Harvard has filed a complaint against Abbott Laboratories, Inc. for an alleged infringement of a University-held patent on a polypeptide found in the HIV.

The University claims that Abbott is selling the patented polypeptide in a product designed to test for the presence of HIV in human blood, according to a statement issued on Thursday.

"The support owed by the University to its scientists and to the public includes the full and energetic defense of the legitimate rights of the legitimate rights afforded by patent protection," Dean of the School of Public Health Harvey V. Fineberg '67 said in a statement on Thursday.

The polypeptide was discovered by two professors at the School of Public Health, Lasker Professor of Health Sciences Myron E. Essex and Associate Professor of Virology Tun-Hou Lee.

The polypeptide "represents an important product in the battle against AIDS," according to Fineberg.

Fineberg underscored the importance of protecting patents on scientific discoveries for both academics and those who benefit from their work.

"The public interest and the University's interest are both served when scientists are fully supported in their efforts to discover new knowledge that can be reduced to practical knowledge," he added.