Applera's Real-Time Thermal Cycler Instrument Patent Reinstated in Europe

FOSTER CITY, CA - Applied Biosystems Group, an Applera Corporation business, announced on Monday that the Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has reinstated Applera's European Patent No. 872562 covering real-time PCR thermal cycler technology, overturning a December 2004 decision by the Opposition Division to revoke the patent for alleged lack of novelty.

According to a press release by the company, the case will be returned to the Opposition Division for review of other issues.

The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries and develop new pharmaceuticals.