Court Battles Before the Settlement
The trial followed months of heated pretrial maneuvering. In August, Judge Williams denied Labcorp’s push to prevent Natera from challenging the patents’ validity, noting that one of Natera’s experts had provided a sufficiently rigorous theory that warranted jury consideration.
The judge criticized Labcorp’s attempt to use a pretrial motion to secure a ruling on patent eligibility, calling it an improper shortcut.
However, Judge Williams barred both sides from introducing evidence about Labcorp’s alleged retaliatory motives, ruling that accusations of revenge litigation had no bearing on patent rights.
A Pattern of Fierce Rivalry
This case is only the latest skirmish in a series of courtroom clashes between the two diagnostics giants. In one prior dispute, Natera secured a staggering $384 million judgment against Labcorp, underscoring the high financial stakes riding on biotech intellectual property.
Neither company disclosed whether this new settlement might pave the way for broader peace or simply pause another chapter in their ongoing rivalry. A Natera spokesperson declined to comment, while Labcorp representatives remained silent.
