Syntrix Biosystems $115 Million Patent Case Win Affirmed; Largest Ever in WA
Court Upholds $115 Million Judgment in Patent Case Filed by Syntrix Biosystems against Illumina, Inc.
AUBURN, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Syntrix Biosystems, Inc., is pleased to announce that a federal court in Tacoma, Washington, has upheld a judgment for $115 million and an eight-percent running royalty in a patent infringement case the company filed against Illumina, Inc., a San Diego-based biotechnology firm. This decision affirms the largest patent verdict in Washington state history and an award that will likely be one of the largest of its type in the nation this year.
“the result of seven citizens’ hard work”
In an order filed on November 4th of this year, the Court denied Illumina’s motions for judgment as a matter of law and a new trial, ruling that the underlying jury verdict was “the result of seven citizens’ hard work” and that it was “supported by the evidence.”
The jury rendered that verdict on March 15, 2013, after an 11-day trial focusing on U.S. Patent No. 6,951,682 (“the ’682 patent”), which covers synthetic matrix and array technology invented by the founder and president of Syntrix Biosystems, John A. Zebala, MD, PhD. The jury found that Illumina infringed the ’682 patent and ordered the defendant to pay $96 million in damages related to the “BeadChip” products it marketed from 2005 through May 2012.
The Court later ordered additional damages in connection with infringing sales made by Illumina from May 2012 through the date of the verdict. The Court also ordered payment of prejudgment interest from 2005, bringing the total judgment against Illumina to $115 million. Finally, the Court ordered Illumina to pay Syntrix Biosystems an ongoing royalty of eight percent for continued sales of infringing products, a full two percent higher than the royalty found by the jury.
The term of the ’682 patent extends to October 2019.
Syntrix Biosystems was represented at trial by attorneys with the law firms of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, Nix, Patterson & Roach LLP, and Foster Pepper PLLC. The company’s case against Illumina was styled Syntrix Biosystems, Inc. v. Illumina, Inc., Cause No. C10-5870 BHS (W.D. Wash.).
About Syntrix Biosystems, Inc.
Syntrix Biosystems, Inc., is a private, Washington-based biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing therapeutic compounds and research platforms for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and research markets. Since its inception, Syntrix Biosystems has been awarded nearly $25 million from the National Institutes of Health in support of its development efforts. For further information, see SyntrixBio.com.
Contacts
for Syntrix Biosystems, Inc.
Eric Wetzel, 800-933-5998
eric@shipleyassociates.com
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