- Guardant Health has sued Tempus AI for allegedly infringing five patents related to DNA-based cancer testing.
- The lawsuit, filed in Delaware federal court, claims Tempus’ “liquid biopsy” cancer tests violate Guardant’s patent rights.
- Guardant seeks monetary damages and a court order to block Tempus from infringing its patents.
- Tempus, backed by SoftBank, has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.
- Guardant’s lawsuit highlights ongoing patent disputes in the genomics industry, with significant financial implications.
Main AI News:
Guardant Health has filed a lawsuit against Tempus AI, alleging infringement of five patents related to DNA-based cancer testing, as disclosed in a Delaware federal court on Wednesday. Guardant, a leader in precision oncology, claims that Tempus’ “liquid biopsy” cancer tests violate its patent rights in similar technology.
This legal action is part of a broader landscape of DNA-sequencing patent disputes within the genomics industry, which have previously resulted in significant financial judgments. Guardant asserts that Tempus’ xF, xF+, and xM Monitor liquid-biopsy panels utilize technology identical to its own, thereby infringing upon its intellectual property.
Tempus, a genetic testing company with substantial backing from SoftBank, has yet to publicly respond to the allegations. Guardant, meanwhile, has refrained from commenting further on the lawsuit.
Guardant’s patented tests leverage DNA fragments circulating in patients’ bloodstreams to identify cancer cells, a technology it alleges Tempus has improperly utilized without authorization. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and requests a court injunction to prevent Tempus from continuing to infringe upon its patents.
As Tempus prepares for a significant initial public offering in the United States, valued up to $6.1 billion, Guardant’s legal challenge underscores the high stakes in the competitive and rapidly advancing field of genetic diagnostics.
Conclusion:
This legal dispute between Guardant Health and Tempus AI underscores the intense competition and high stakes within the genetic testing market. Guardant’s assertion of patent infringement against Tempus could potentially impact Tempus’ operations and valuation, especially as it prepares for a major initial public offering in the United States. The outcome of this litigation may set a precedent for intellectual property rights in genetic diagnostics, influencing strategic decisions and market dynamics among industry players.
