ONT news now,Background of the Dispute

Background of the Dispute

ONT News Now: The ongoing saga between Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and BGI Group, specifically its subsidiaries, has recently taken a turn. ONT, a British gene sequencing company, has withdrawn its lawsuit against BGI Group, including its subsidiaries such as BGI Genomics and BGI Precision. This withdrawal, however, does not signify the end of the dispute, as ONT has reserved the right to file another lawsuit in the future.

The Initial Lawsuit

ONT had initially filed a lawsuit against BGI Group, claiming that its newly released nanopore sequencing instruments, CycloneSEQ-WT02 and WY01, infringed on its patents. ONT, which has long been a dominant player in the nanopore sequencing market, felt that BGI’s entry into this field threatened its market position. The lawsuit was filed in the United States, and the case was pending in the Northern District of California.

BGI’s Response

BGI Group, on the other hand, expressed surprise at ONT’s accusations and strongly opposed them. The company emphasized its commitment to intellectual property protection and respect for others’ intellectual property rights. BGI Group stated that it would not comment on ongoing legal disputes and would take all necessary legal actions to protect its legitimate rights.

The Nanopore Sequencing Technology

Nanopore sequencing is a cutting-edge technology in the field of genomics, capable of better analyzing complex genomic regions. For a long time, this technology has been dominated by foreign companies. ONT is the global leader in this niche market. BGI’s entry into this field with its new nanopore sequencing instruments, however, has challenged ONT’s market dominance.

Technical Advancements

BGI has made significant advancements in nanopore sequencing technology. According to reports, the single-pass accuracy of BGI’s new instruments, WT02 and WY01, has reached 97% through protein optimization and algorithm optimization. The upcoming WY01, scheduled for release in the first half of 2025, is expected to achieve a single-pass accuracy of 99%.

Price Advantage

In addition to technical advancements, BGI’s nanopore sequencing instruments may also have a price advantage. This could potentially make BGI’s products more attractive to customers, further challenging ONT’s market position.

The Withdrawal of the Lawsuit

On October 4, 2023, ONT announced the withdrawal of its lawsuit against BGI Group. The withdrawal was made “without prejudice,” meaning ONT reserves the right to file another lawsuit in the future. ONT did not comment on whether it would file another lawsuit, and BGI Group also declined to comment on the matter.

The Future of Nanopore Sequencing

The withdrawal of the lawsuit does not necessarily mean that the dispute between ONT and BGI Group is over. The nanopore sequencing market is still evolving, and both companies are likely to continue competing for market share. As technology advances and prices decrease, the future of nanopore sequencing looks promising, and both ONT and BGI Group have a lot to gain from this rapidly growing market.