 has ruled that Molecular Instruments’ hybridization chain reaction (HCR) RNA in situ hybridization technology does not infringe two patents held by Advanced Cell Diagnostics (ACD), a Bio-Techne subsidiary. The decision, issued on 18 November 2025, dismisses ACD’s infringement claims in full.){kind=link}
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) has ruled that Molecular Instruments’ hybridization chain reaction (HCR) RNA in situ hybridization technology does not infringe two patents held by Advanced Cell Diagnostics (ACD), a Bio-Techne subsidiary. The decision, issued on 18 November 2025, dismisses ACD’s infringement claims in full.
The case, filed in 2024, alleged that HCR RNA-ISH violated European Patents EP 2,500,439 and EP 1,910,572. In its judgment, the UPC found no infringement under either literal interpretation or doctrine of equivalents. The ruling closes a significant chapter in a multi-jurisdictional dispute over RNA-ISH methods widely used in molecular and cellular biology.
We chose to fight the UPC lawsuit as a matter of principle to preserve European scientists’ access to our game-changing HCR™ imaging platform, as many of their projects would otherwise become infeasible. Our back-to-back victories in the UK and the UPC protect the continued innovation of biological researchers and drug developers that are striving to elucidate and treat countless diseases.
Dr. Harry Choi, CEO of Molecular Instruments
This outcome follows an earlier decision in the UK, where the High Court of England and Wales revoked the UK designations of the same patents in April 2024. In that case, the court concluded the claims were invalid for obviousness, citing overwhelming primary evidence. The two rulings collectively remove the principal legal challenges to Molecular Instruments’ use and commercialization of HCR RNA-ISH technology in Europe.