MAI Facing Injunction on Diagnostic Products

Monoclonal Antibodies Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co. said they expect a federal judge in San Francisco to issue a preliminary injunction within 10 days that will bar Mountain View-based MAI from selling or manufacturing diagnostic products that account for about 80% of its revenue.

MAI said it will comply with the court order. Lilly says the MAI products, which include pregnancy and ovulation diagnostic kits, infringe on monoclonal antibody patents held by Lilly’s San Diego-based Hybritech Inc. subsidiary. The patents were upheld last fall by a federal appeals court in Washington.

In December, Lilly brought suit against Abbott Laboratories, alleging that Abbott is also infringing on its monoclonal antibody technology. Abbott is contesting the suit.