In a decision issued on Friday, a Delaware jury found that the DNA-sequencing devices manufactured by Illumina Inc infringed on two patents owned by BGI Group, a Chinese genomics business with a U.S. subsidiary, and ordered the company to pay more than $333 million to BGI Group.
The jury also found that Illumina deliberately infringed on the patents and that three patents that Illumina had accused BGI’s Complete Genomics business of infringing on were found to be invalid.
Genetic illness detection technology is provided by companies such as BGI and Illumina, both of which are important suppliers of genome-analysis technology used to diagnose genetic disorders. In connection with their various sequencing methods, the corporations have been entangled in a worldwide legal war, with court suits pending in countries such as Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Following the decision, Illumina’s shares dropped by more than 14 percent on Friday.
Illumina previously obtained a $8 million judgement against BGI in a San Francisco jury trial, as well as a prohibition on the sale of certain BGI goods in the United States.
BGI subsidiary Complete Genomics, situated in San Jose, California, had accused Illumina of infringing on its patent rights by developing “two-channel” sequencing devices and kits to prepare DNA fragments for sequencing. The case of DNA-sequencing was heard in Delaware, and Complete Genomics was successful.
An Illumina spokeswoman said that the firm intends to appeal the decision and that the decision should not have an impact on the company’s ability to provide its customers.
One of the attorneys representing Complete Genomics expressed satisfaction with the judgement, noting that the jury’s finding of intentional infringement allowed the court to increase the amount by a factor of ten.
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, Illumina may be required to pay interest and an ongoing royalty until the patents expire in 2029 if it is unsuccessful in its appeal of the decision.
