GE Sues Bio-Rad for Patent Royalties on Protein Purification

GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences said Bio-Rad’s suite of protein purification systems used in biopharma research infringes four patents for an automated fluid handling system.

GE is seeking cash compensation and a court order blocking sales of infringing products, according to a complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Targets include Bio-Rad’s Next Generation Chromatography system, which was “intentionally designed” to resemble the Akta avant and Akta pure systems—particularly the modular features—covered by the patents, GE alleged.

GE said its Bio-Sciences unit uses the technology in the Akta systems to more quickly purify proteins and simplify research ...