U.S. International Trade Commission Starts Investigation on Protein Study Tools
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Redwood City, CA and Boston, MA – The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has begun a new investigation. This is about some important items used to study proteins. Studying proteins helps scientists understand how living things work.
A complaint was made to the ITC by two places: Seer, Inc., a company in Redwood City, California, and The Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. They said another company wrongly brought these items into the United States.
The investigation began after Seer, Inc. and the hospital said some of their important inventions, covered by specific patents, were used by another company without permission. Patents are like a special ticket that says only the person with the ticket can use the invention. The patents are U.S. Patent No. 11,435,360, U.S. Patent No. 11,630,112, U.S. Patent No. 12,050,222, U.S. Patent No. 12,228,566, and U.S. Patent No. 12,590,948.
The ITC will check if these items were bought from another place and brought here to be sold, which might break some rules. They will also see if there is a problem because of how these items are used.
The items under investigation include special workstations, software, assay kits, and special tools used in labs. Proteomics study tools, which focus on proteins, involve things like nanoparticles and reagents.
The company that might have broken the rules is Nanomics Biotechnology Co., Ltd. This company is located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
The ITC’s administrative law judge will listen to everyone’s side of the story. They will also check if looking into this matter is important and in the public’s interest.
Nanomics Biotechnology Co. has a limited time, just 20 days, to respond to this investigation notice. This short time is to ensure a quick response to the problem.
If Nanomics does not respond in time, the ITC can make decisions without hearing from the company. This might lead to a ban on bringing these items into the U.S. or stopping their sale.
This investigation shows how protecting inventions is important. How this case ends will matter for companies and researchers studying proteins.
Issued on 2026-06-29 by the International Trade Commission, and officially noted by Secretary Lisa Barton.
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