Hybritech Inc., a San Diego-based subsidiary of...

Hybritech Inc., a San Diego-based subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Co., will soon be granted a preliminary injunction by a federal judge in Los Angeles restraining Abbott Laboratories from the manufacture and sale of certain immunodiagnostic test kits that Hybritech says are based on its proprietary monoclonal antibody technology.

The injunction covers Abbott diagnostic kits for certain cancers, thyroid disorder and pregnancy.

Hybritech sued Abbott in November, alleging infringement of Hybritech’s “monoclonal sandwich assay” patent. When the suit was filed, Abbbott said it would vigorously defend against the suit, despite a federal appellate court’s upholding of the validity of the patent in a separate suit against Monoclonal Antibodies Inc.