Cambridge, Mass.— In a key resolution to a closely watched biotechnology intellectual property dispute, Vizgen Inc., a spatial genomics firm, has announced a settlement with 10x Genomics and Harvard University, effectively ending litigation that spanned both the United States and Europe. The case centered on competing claims over rights to MERFISH (Multiplexed Error-Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) technology, a foundational platform in spatial transcriptomics.
According to an open letter issued by Vizgen CEO Rob Carson, the parties reached a settlement on February 5, midway through a jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. A joint stipulation of dismissal was filed shortly thereafter, followed by the finalization of definitive agreements between the parties.
The litigation included claims and counterclaims related to patent ownership, licensing rights, and commercialization of spatial transcriptomics technologies. The suit had significant implications for the competitive landscape of spatial multi-omics, an emerging and rapidly growing sector of life sciences research.
“The resolution secures Vizgen’s freedom to operate and validates the scientific and intellectual contributions of our founding team,” said Carson. He specifically credited Dr. Xiaowei Zhuang, the David B. Arnold, Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University and an HHMI Investigator, whose laboratory originally developed the MERFISH technology.
While details of the settlement remain confidential, the resolution enables Vizgen to continue commercialization and development of its MERSCOPE® platform without the threat of ongoing IP litigation. The outcome also suggests the parties may have restructured or clarified licensing arrangements tied to foundational academic research, though neither party disclosed specifics.
From a legal perspective, the dispute underscores the complexities surrounding the commercialization of academic-originated technologies, particularly in highly innovative fields like genomics and synthetic biology. The case is also notable for its multi-jurisdictional scope and for proceeding to trial—albeit briefly—before being resolved.
With the litigation now behind it, Vizgen plans to accelerate its expansion in the spatial biology market. Its MERFISH technology has already been cited in more than 300 peer-reviewed and preprint publications in areas ranging from oncology to neurodegenerative diseases.
Legal and IP counsel across the life sciences sector will likely view the outcome as a reminder of the importance of clear licensing structures, especially when multiple stakeholders—including universities, startups, and commercial rivals—are involved in high-stakes biotech innovation.
