Illumina ordered to pay BGI subsidiary $333 million in DNA-sequencing patent case

By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) – A Delaware jury on Friday ordered Illumina Inc to pay greater than $333 million to a U.S. unit of Chinese language genomics firm BGI Group after discovering that Illumina’s DNA-sequencing methods infringed two patents.

The jury additionally stated Illumina infringed the patents willfully, and that three patents it had accused BGI’s Full Genomics unit of infringing had been invalid.

BGI and Illumina are each main suppliers of genome-analysis know-how used to detect genetic illnesses. The businesses have been embroiled in a world authorized battle over their respective sequencing applied sciences, with courtroom circumstances in international locations together with Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Illumina’s inventory was down greater than 14% Friday following the decision.

Illumina beforehand gained $8 million from BGI in a jury verdict in San Francisco and a ban on U.S. gross sales of some BGI merchandise.

Within the Delaware case, San Jose, California-based Full Genomics Inc, a BGI subsidiary, had challenged Illumina’s “two-channel” sequencing methods and kits to arrange DNA fragments for sequencing of violating its patent rights.

An Illumina spokesperson stated the corporate plans to attraction and that the decision mustn’t have an effect on its potential to produce its clients.

An legal professional for Full Genomics stated the corporate was happy with the award, which the decide might multiply primarily based the jury’s discovering of willful infringement.

Illumina additionally stated Friday in a submitting with the U.S. Securities & Trade Fee that it could must pay curiosity and an ongoing royalty till the patents expire in 2029 if it loses on attraction.

(The story corrects assertion in paragraph 1 that Full Genomics is a subsidiary of BGI Genomics to mirror that it’s a part of BGI Group.)

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; extra reporting by Raghavi Kasa; Modifying by David Gregorio and Diane Craft)