Defendant
4 cases as defendant.
Synthego Corp. is a biotechnology company specializing in advanced genome engineering technologies, particularly CRISPR-based solutions. Founded in 2012 by former SpaceX engineers Paul and Michael Dabrowski, the company is headquartered in Redwood City, California. Synthego operates as a privately held, venture capital-backed entity that was acquired by Perceptive Advisors on June 26, 2025, after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2025. The company previously reported varying employee counts, from approximately 5-100 to 259, and revenues around $9.1 million in 2024, with some estimates higher.
Synthego's core offerings include CRISPR-based genome editing platforms, custom RNA design, gene synthesis, and ready-to-use CRISPR kits. Their product portfolio features synthetic guide RNA (gRNA), licensed CRISPR nucleases (e.g., Cas9, Cas12, eSpOT-ON), ancillary enzymes, bioinformatics software for guide design, and molecular biology reagents and kits. The company emphasizes using informatics and machine learning to bring precision and automation to genome engineering, aiming to accelerate drug discovery, research, and therapeutic development from discovery through clinical trials.
Synthego's patent litigation posture identifies it as an active two-way litigant, demonstrated by its involvement in 6 tracked cases, with 2 as plaintiff and 4 as defendant. The majority of these cases involve Agilent Technologies, Inc.
A notable aspect of Synthego's litigation history is its multi-year legal challenge against Agilent Technologies, Inc. Synthego initiated proceedings to invalidate two of Agilent's patents related to CRISPR guide RNAs in the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), which were subsequently affirmed as unpatentable by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in June 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Agilent's petition for certiorari in November 2025, effectively concluding the dispute and solidifying the invalidation of Agilent's CRISPR-related patents. This outcome was viewed by Synthego as clearing a "patent thicket" around fundamental gene-editing modifications, aiming to foster broader innovation in the scientific community.
Agilent Technologies petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari, seeking review of the Federal Circuit's judgment, specifically concerning the standard for prior art enablement in CRISPR IPRs involving US10900034.
Agilent Technologies appealed the PTAB's decision on US10900034 to the Federal Circuit. The Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB's decision, upholding the invalidation of Agilent's CRISPR patents, including US10900034.
Agilent Techs., Inc. filed an infringement case against Synthego Corp. concerning US10900034. This action has been consolidated in the Northern District of California and is stayed pending the outcome of the IPR proceedings and appeals.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB's decision, upholding that all claims in US patent 10337001 are unpatentable.