Twist Bioscience fires back with lawsuit against Agilent

US biotech company Twist Bioscience and its CEO, Emily LeProust, have countered allegations made against the company la st year with a lawsuit.

The case, which was filed at the Superior Court of the State of California on Monday, January 30, answers a complaint made by Agilent Technologies, a California-based semiconductor company.

Agilent had filed a suit atthe Santa Clara Superior Court against both Twist and LeProust back in February 2016, accusing LeProust of using Agilent’s confidential information in order to develop a semiconductor-based technology used to manufacture genes.

The semiconductor company also claimed that LeProust recruited staff in order to obtain the company’s confidential information.

LeProust had previously worked for Agilent for over a decade and allegedly conducted trade secret misappropriation.

According to Agilent, LeProust registered Twist’s internet domain in February 2012, more than a year before she resigned from her employment with Agilent.

She allegedly used Agilent’s resources to develop Twist’s technology and pitch her competing company to venture capitalists while still employed by Agilent.

Twist and LeProust bit back, claiming that Agilent’s allegations were an attempt to “stifle the legitimate and innovative work of a burgeoning start-up company and one of its top executives”.

It added that Agilent’s complaint tried to “suffocate” the creation of new technology and business solutions.

Twist has asked the court for the complaint made against it to be dismissed.

It has also asked for Agilent to cover the costs of the suit, including attorneys’ fees.