Natera Wins Court Battle Over Patented Cancer Testing Technology

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Natera, a leader in cell-free DNA testing for prenatal screenings and early cancer detection, successfully sued competitors Invitae and ArcherDX for infringing its patented technology. After three years of litigation, a jury awarded Natera over $19 million in damages, and the court later issued a permanent injunction, preventing Invitae and ArcherDX from using Natera's patented technology.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property in the rapidly evolving healthcare technology space, where innovative companies like Natera are developing groundbreaking diagnostic tools. The court's decision to grant a rare permanent injunction underscores the significance of Natera's patented technology and the need to prevent competitors from unfairly benefiting from it.

The details

Natera sued Invitae and ArcherDX for patent infringement after the competitors entered the early cancer screening market using Natera's patented cell-free DNA testing technology. Despite various defense tactics from the defendants, including challenges to the patent eligibility and claims of safe harbor protection, the McDermott legal team successfully defended Natera's interests. After a five-day trial, the jury found that Invitae and ArcherDX had directly infringed Natera's patents and awarded the company $19.3 million in damages. The court later issued a permanent injunction, ordering the competitors to stop using products containing Natera's patented technology, with some narrow exceptions.

• In 2023, Natera sued Invitae and ArcherDX for patent infringement in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.
• After three years of litigation, a jury awarded Natera over $19 million in damages in February 2026.
• A few months later, in mid-2026, the same district court issued a permanent injunction against Invitae and ArcherDX.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow any narrow exceptions to the permanent injunction against Invitae and ArcherDX's use of Natera's patented technology.