10x Genomics to pay Becton Dickinson $25m settlement

US biotechnology company 10x Genomics is to pay its competitor, Becton Dickinson, $25 million as part of a deal to end worldwide patent infringement litigation between the companies.

The settlement, which was announced in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Monday, October 21, comes after Becton Dickinson filed patent infringement claims against 10x Genomics in November 2018.

In September, 10x Genomics filed a counterclaim, alleging that Becton Dickinson had infringed its patents.

According to the filing, the agreement will resolve all outstanding patent litigation between the parties.

As part of the terms, 10x Genomics and Becton Dickinson have agreed to licence the disputed patents and patent applications from one another on worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, fully paid-up terms.

These patents relate to molecular barcoding and single-cell analysis.

10x Genomics said it will make a total payment of $25 million to Becton Dickinson in annual amounts of $6.25 million over four years, beginning January 2020.

As part of the agreement, each party has also agreed not to sue the other in certain fields related to each company’s products.

In its initial lawsuit, Becton Dickinson alleged that 10x Genomics was infringing 11 of its patents, which cover technologies for single molecule digital counting and single-cell multiplex platforms, are asserted in the suit.

Becton Dickinson said that the patents contribute to the company’s reputation as an industry leader in those areas and help protect its investments.

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