US company secures genetically modified rice ban against Chinese rival
Kansas-based company wins block on infringing plant-based albumins | Genetically programmed rice expresses human proteins used in immunotherapy drugs, gene therapies and vaccines.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a blocking order, halting the importation of a Chinese company’s genetically-engineered rice seeds.
Earlier this week, the ITC banned Wuhan Healthgen Biotechnology Corp from importing its infringing plant-based albumins into the US.
Kansas-based Ventria Bioscience develops genetically programmed rice to express recombinant human proteins. The proteins, known as albumin, are then extracted for use in medicines such immunotherapy drugs, gene therapies and vaccines, including those used for COVID-19.
Ventria filed its complaint with the ITC back in December 2020, alleging that the imports were infringing US patent numbers 10,618,951 and 8,609,416. The ITC agreed to investigate the allegations in January 2021.
In addition to Wuhan Healthgen, the ITC also investigated California-based companies, ScienCell Research Laboratories and Aspira Scientific, alongside Maryland-based biotech eEnzyme.
The ITC has also issued a limited exclusion order and cease-and-desist order against the three US companies.
According to the notice, Wuhan Healthgen was the only company to participate in the investigation.
The Chinese-based company is barred from importing unlicensed and infringing plant-derived albumins, alongside plant-derived albumins that fail to accurately designate the country of origin.
According to Ventria, a former employee had founded Wuhan Healthgen to make a plant-based albumin using techniques covered by the two patents.
In recent years, Ventria has been involved in a number of legal battles to protect its patented technology.
In an earlier connected case, two Chinese nationals were charged with conspiracy to steal rice technology from Ventria in 2018. At the time, the US Department of Justice said that Ventria had invested approximately $75 million in developing the seeds.
A former Ventria employee and Chinese scientist faced more than ten years in prison after being found guilty of conspiring to steal samples of genetically modified rice from Ventria.
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