Athena Diagnostics Inc. accused a California-based molecular biology firm of infringing one of its patents for a diagnostic test for certain forms of diabetes.
The Worcester, Mass.-based subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) filed suit against Ambry Genetics Corp. Nov. 18 in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts.
Athena alleges that Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based Ambry has been using technology developed by Correlagen Diagnostics Inc., with which Athena has an exclusive licensing deal to develop a test for maturity onset diabetes of the young, also known as MODY.
Athena alleges that the clinical trials performed by Ambry violate a 2004 exclusive licensing agreement it inked with Correlagen. The company requested a jury trial and asked the court to enjoin Ambry from any further tests involving the technology and to award damages.