Hologic case takes toll on Lunar

Bone densitometry firm Lunar said its ongoing legal battle withHologic will result in unexpectedly high legal costs that willeat into profits for the fourth quarter (end-June). Lunar willprobably post profits for the quarter that are lower comparedto the same period a year ago, when Lunar had net income of $1.7million. The Madison, WI, company did not project a specific figurefor fourth-quarter earnings.

Lunar said legal costs associated with its patent battle withHologic have been higher than expected (SCAN 6/7/95). The caseis scheduled to go to trial Aug. 14 and is expected to last twoweeks, according to the company.

On the positive side, Lunar said it expects to show sharplyhigher revenues when it makes its full quarterly earnings announcementAug. 4. Revenues are expected to be $12.7 million, up 37% comparedto the $9.3 million in sales reported in the same period in 1994.Medicare reimbursement for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry hasbeen driving sales growth for DEXA scanners this year (SCAN 12/28/94).