Molecular Loop, Illumina Ignite DNA-Sequencing Patent Duel (1)

Commercial non-invasive genetic testing companies Illumina Inc. and Molecular Loop Biosciences Inc. launched competing lawsuits over who owns patent rights to groundbreaking technology that reduces costs and errors in DNA tests that detect certain fetal defects and cancers.

Molecular Loop “has benefited from the pioneering advancements in human genome sequencing developed by Illumina,” the company stated Sunday in a declaratory judgment petition filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Molecular Loop has “placed a cloud” over Illumina and its products and services by accusing them of usurping a competitor’s technology, the company said.

Molecular Loop fired ...