10x Genomics Inc. was unable to overturn a ruling by an administrative tribunal that declared its cell-analysis technology patents invalid. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed the company’s appeal, finding no error in the lower body's determination.
In an opinion issued on Wednesday, Judge Tiffany P. Cunningham wrote that substantial evidence supported the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s conclusion. The board had determined that a person with ordinary skill in the relevant field would have been motivated to combine prior teachings to cover the claims of US Patent Nos. 10,155,981, 10,240,197, and 10,697,013.
Judge Cunningham noted that the administrative tribunal had thoroughly reviewed expert testimony and addressed arguments presented by both 10x Genomics and Parse Biosciences Inc. The court found that the board’s findings were well-supported by the record.
The decision effectively maintains the invalidation of the three patents in question. No further details regarding potential next steps for either party were provided in the ruling.
The outcome marks a legal setback for 10x Genomics as it seeks to protect its intellectual property portfolio in the cell-analysis sector.
