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Takara Bio USA Wins European Patent Challenge Filed by Jumpcode Genomics Over NGS Library Prep

NEW YORK – Takara Bio USA said on Tuesday that it has prevailed in a European patent opposition initiated by Jumpcode Genomics.

The firm said the result confirms the validity of Takara's European patent 3105325, titled "Methods of depleting a target molecule from an initial collection of nucleic acids, and compositions and kits for practicing the same." This patent, granted in 2019, is part of Takara's portfolio covering methods used in its Smarter Stranded Total RNA-Seq and Smart-Seq Stranded kits containing ZapR technology.

"This European patent represents an important part of the broad global intellectual property that protects our innovative RNA-Seq product portfolio, so we are very pleased with the outcome of the opposition proceedings, and that the Opposition Division concurred with [us] regarding the validity and scope of the patent," Carol Lou, president and CEO of Takara Bio USA, said in a statement.

Jumpcode challenged Takara's IP in 2020 on the grounds of patentability as well as "formalities of the European Patent office," Takara said.

Jumpcode did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Most significantly, the … European Patent Office agreed with Takara Bio USA that independent Claim 1, the broadest claim in the patent, is valid and should therefore be maintained as originally granted," the firm said.

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