Ambry Genetics Corp., a seller of tests for genetic risks of breast cancer, accused Myriad Genetics Inc. of misusing its patents to intimidate and chill competition in the market.

Myriad sued Ambry and another closely held company, Houston-based Gene By Gene Ltd., in July, claiming their tests infringe its patents for the testing process and synthesized DNA. The tests look at genes known as BRCA to determine if there is a hereditary risk of developing breast or ovarian cancers.

Myriad, based in Salt Lake City, filed the suits after the companies began offering competing tests hours after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated some of Myriads patents on genes linked to the diseases. Richard Marsh, Myriads general counsel, said Ambry and Gene by Gene were using the companys patented processes.

Myriad continues a practice of using sharp and overreaching practices to wrongfully monopolize the diagnostic testing of human BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in the United States and to attempt to injure any competitor who dares to challenge Myriads monopoly, Aliso Viejo, California-based Ambry said in a counterclaim filed yesterday.

Ambry said Myriad is sending threatening letters to doctors with false allegations meant to confuse genetic counselors. The antitrust contentions, which are only against Myriad and not the other patent owners, were part of a filing in which Ambry responded to the Myriad claims.

Ambry said the patents are invalid, based on the high courts ruling in the Myriad case and a March 2012 decision involving diagnostic tests.

In addition to Myriad, the other owners of the patents -- the University of Utah, the University of Pennsylvania, the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and Endorecherche Inc. -- also joined in the suits.

The Ambry case is University of Utah Research Foundation v. Ambry Genetics, 13cv640, The Gene By Gene case is University of Utah Research Foundation v. Gene By Gene LTD., 13cv643, both U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (Salt Lake City).

To contact the reporters on this story: Susan Decker in Washington at sdecker1@bloomberg.net; Catherine Larkin in Chicago at clarkin4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bernard Kohn at bkohn2@bloomberg.net

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Ambry Claims Myriad Is Monopolizing Breast Cancer Market

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