Illumina Files Patent Infringement Suit in the UK Against Premaitha Health

Illumina, Inc. today announced that it and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Verinata Health Inc., (together "Illumina") have filed a patent infringement suit against Premaitha Health plc in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Patents Court in the United Kingdom. Illumina is seeking all available remedies, including damages and injunctive relief.

The patents asserted are European Patent (UK) 0 994 963 B2 and European Patent (UK) 1 981 995 B1, which are exclusively licensed to Illumina from Sequenom, Inc. and The Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University, respectively. Stanford is joined in the suit as a necessary party because it is the registered owner of the European Patent (UK) 1 981 995 B1. The patents are directed to using cell-free fetal DNA for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). The suit accuses Premaitha's IONA® Test of infringement, including its use of next-generation sequencing to analyze cell-free fetal DNA from a sample of maternal blood.

"Illumina filed this suit to actively defend its intellectual property rights. We will also continue to monitor the NIPT field and file patent suits where appropriate when our patents are infringed," said Charles Dadswell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Illumina.