ChemGenes Sues Over Patented Chemicals for Building DNA, RNA

ChemGenes Corp. sued Hongene Biotechnology Ltd. alleging that its sales of at least 20 “highly specialized chemicals” used in the building of DNA and RNA molecules—“a vitally important part of the biotechnology industry” called oligonucleotides—infringe three of its patents.

ChemGenes says its patents cover the chemicals, known as phosphoramidites, and methods for using them to make oligonucleotides, according to a complaint filed Feb. 18 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

“Hongene has no authority” to “make any” of the compounds listed in the 44-page complaint, which are for sale on Hongene’s website, ChemGenes says. The company, ...