A PROMISING Oxford technology company gearing up for a £1bn float will this week strike back against a much larger American rival after being accused of stealing its secrets.
Oxford Nanopore faces a legal battle with US giant Illumina, which claims in a lawsuit filed in California that the British company has used its ideas in developing gene sequencing devices. If the suit is successful, the Oxford firm could be prevented from shipping its products to America.
Sources said Oxford Nanopore had expected the lawsuit for some time and viewed it as an “anti-competitive measure”. This week the developer will outline line its defence in a public interest statement, which will accuse Illumina’s case of being without merit.
Oxford Nanopore has developed a gene sequencing device the size of a memory stick, called the MinION, which has recently become commercially available.
Strands of DNA pass through a minuscule hole in a cell’s membrane (nanopore) and are then decoded using an electronic current.
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Illumina has sued rivals before to protect its lead in DNA sequencing, where it has 90% of the market. Last year it took action against AIM-listed Premaitha Health for infringement of its DNA test for pregnant women.
Oxford Nanopore, which spun out of Oxford University 11 years ago, has begun a hunt for board members ahead of a £1bn London float.