Helicos Adds Illumina and Life Technologies to Suit
The allegations against Life Technologies cite the company’s single molecule sequencing technology based on Quantum-dot Nanocrystals. The amended complaint comes shortly after Helicos announced the launch of a technology-licensing program (see IBO 10/15/10).
Cambridge, MA 10/25/10—Helicos BioSciences has amended its patent infringement suit against Pacific Biosciences (see IBO 9/30/10), naming Illumina and Life Technologies as additional defendants. The suit alleges willful infringement of four patents for sequencing-by-synthesis methods using labeled nucleotides. “After a careful examination of the sequencing products and technologies offered by Illumina and Life Technologies, we are convinced that they, in addition to Pacific Biosciences, infringe the Helicos patents, which are in full force and effect up through 2028,” stated Dr. Ivan Trifunovich, president and CEO of Helicos BioSciences. Helicos also claims that detection components in Illumina’s Genome Analyzer and HiSeq 2000 infringe US Patent No. 7,593,109 (Apparatus and Methods for Analyzing Samples). The suit seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages.
