Desmarais LLP | Desmarais LLP Wins $57M Jury Verdict for Ravgen in Prenatal Genetic Testing Patent Trial

Desmarais LLP Wins $57M Jury Verdict for Ravgen in Prenatal Genetic Testing Patent Trial

Patent Litigation for the Plaintiff

Following a weeklong trial, Desmarais LLP secured a $57 million jury verdict on behalf of the Maryland-based biotech firm Ravgen and its prenatal genetic testing technology against the Austin-based lab testing company Natera.

The jury found on January 16, 2024 that Ravgen’s patent covering cell-free fetal DNA screening was infringed and awarded $57 million based on Natera’s sale of Panorama prenatal screening tests. Ravgen’s patent (No. 7,332,277) was foundational in pioneering a method to analyze fetal DNA taken from maternal blood to test for gender and chromosomal conditions as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy.

“We are very happy with the jury's verdict. The trial clearly showed that Ravgen's non-invasive prenatal testing technology was infringed, and we appreciate the jury recognizing that and awarding Ravgen the royalties it is rightly owed,” said Kerri-Ann Limbeek, partner at Desmarais LLP and lead trial counsel for Ravgen.

“This verdict is the latest confirmation of the foundational role Ravgen's patents have played in the creation of prenatal genetic testing products. To date, we have won two jury trials involving separate companies, and we have successfully defended Ravgen's patents in about a dozen proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board,” Limbeek added.

The Desmarais LLP trial team included attorneys John Desmarais, Kerri-Ann Limbeek, Brian Matty, Ben Luehrs, Kyle Petrie, Joze Welsh, Jun Tong, Deborah Mariottini, Frederick Ding, Kevin Goon, and Gillian Moore.

Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review - "Trial- Focused: Lead Counsel On How A Strong Story Helped Ravgen Defeat Natera" (subscription required)
IAM - "Ravgen notches up another David-v-Goliath victory with $57 million damages award" (subscription required)
Managing IP – “Desmarais Secures $57M Patent Win for Client It Met at University” (subscription required)
Law360 - "Jury Awards $57M To Ravgen In Genetic Test Patent Row" (subscription required)
Law360 – "Law360's Legal Lions of the Week" (subscription required)
Reuters – “Natera owes Ravgen $57 million in genetic-testing case, Texas jury says”
Bloomberg Law – “Ravgen Wins $57M Verdict Over Natera in Testing Patent Suit” (subscription required)
Endpoints News - "Ravgen continues its legal revenge saga with $57M verdict over Natera" (subscription required)
Genomeweb - "Jury Awards Ravgen $57M in NIPT Patent Suit Against Natera"
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