New Lawsuit filed by Bio-Rad against 10X Genomics intended for Patent Infringement

Publisher: The Insight Partners

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a life science research and clinical diagnostic products company, has in recent times announced that it has filed a patent infringement suit against 10X Genomics, Inc. within the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

In the lawsuit Bio-Rad asserts that 10X Genomics infringes U.S. Patent No. 8,871,444 that has entirely been licensed towards the Bio-Rad from Harvard University as well as the Medical Research Council. This patent comprises of the techniques for detecting enzymatic reactions within microfluidic droplets and has been a part of Bio-Rad's widespread portfolio of droplet intellectual property. The suit asserts that 10X Genomics infringes through the sale of its recently-announced Next GEM family of products. As stated in Bio-Rad's Complaint, Harvard University is joined in the case as a nominal defendant solely for the legal purposes of jurisdiction and standing. Bio-Rad is seeking all available remedies against 10X Genomics, including damages and injunctive relief.

The suit filed recently is Bio-Rad’s third action against 10X Genomics in Delaware District Court and its second action that is directed to 10X’s Next GEM products. In November 2018, a Delaware jury found that 10X Genomics infringed patents licensed to Bio-Rad by the University of Chicago and awarded damages of $23.9M. In August 2019, the Delaware Court awarded Bio-Rad an additional $10.5 M in supplemental damages and interest and entered a permanent injunction against 10X Genomics.

"Bio-Rad will continue to grow and protect its portfolio of patents in the droplet microfluidics space that deliver differentiated genomics technologies and enable world class research," states Norman Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bio-Rad.