Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQNM) has announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Sonic Healthcare, Ariosa Diagnostics Inc and Australian Clinical Labs, in Australia. The lawsuit concerns the detection of cell-free fetal DNA. The test is conducted prior to non-invasive prenatal testing. As per the details of the lawsuit, Ariosa was the one supplying the Harmony NIIPT test, while Sonic Healthcare and Australian Clinical Labs were the buyers. Sequenom has demanded to be compensated for all damages and also for orders of restraint.
Drik van den Boom, the CEO of Squenom, stated that his company was the pioneer of the NIIPT market and had introduced the MaterniT test in 2011. He also claimed that his company had developed other pioneering technology and IPs in the NIIPT field. Mr. Boom also revealed that SQNM has an ongoing agreement with Illumina Inc, for the IPs, which would allow easier access to both companies. He also claimed that over 45 organizations, around the world, had licensed the IPs. It should be noted here that the company has additional lawsuits pending in the UK and Europe.
SQNM has also announced that it would be present at the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference 2016. The event is due to be held on June 10, 2016, in New York. The company would be represented by Mr. Boom, who would deliver a presentation and provide an update from the company, during the conference. The presentation is expected to last for 30 minutes and would be made available on the company website.
If the court rules in favor of Sequenom, for the patent infringement, it could help the company to improve its financial condition. Currently, analysts believe that SQNM would report a quarterly loss for the current quarter. The company had reported an EPS of -$0.07 for the same period, a year ago.
Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQNM) gained 1.82% in terms of share value, to reach a close at $1.12 per share, at the end of the June 7 trading session.
