Court Void of Two Natera Patents Lets NeoGenomics Restart Cancer Test Sales

NeoGenomics Inc. won a significant legal victory after the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina invalidated key claims in two Natera Inc. patents that had blocked sales of NeoGenomics’ RaDaR v1.1 minimal-residual-disease cancer detection test. The decision allows the Fort Myers, Florida-based laboratory company to resume marketing the assay, which monitors circulating tumor DNA to detect cancer recurrence. Natera said it is reviewing the ruling and may appeal, stressing that the judgment does not affect U.S. Patent No. 11,519,035, the basis of a separate injunction that previously forced NeoGenomics to withdraw an earlier RaDaR v1.0 version. The Austin-based genetic-testing company noted it still holds more than 500 issued or pending patents worldwide and vowed to continue defending its intellectual property. Investors quickly repriced the two rivals. NeoGenomics shares jumped about 20% in pre-market trading, while Natera slipped roughly 3%, reflecting expectations that NeoGenomics can regain revenue from its re-launched test and that the litigation may drag on through appeals.