Inari’s Patent Victory at PTAB Reshapes the Future of Plant Biotechnology

In a significant development within the agricultural biotechnology sector, Inari, a Massachusetts-based plant breeding company, successfully challenged the validity of a patent held by a unit of a DowDuPont spin-off. The disputed patent pertained to a plant gene conferring resistance to certain herbicides. Following thorough proceedings, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) determined that the patent claims were unpatentable, which is poised to have notable implications for the broader field of genetic modification in plants. For a comprehensive view of the PTAB’s decision, you can access more details from the Law360 coverage here.