Mycogen Loses Patent-Infringement Suit

Mycogen Corp. lost its $70.2-million patent-infringement suit against Monsanto Co. and two seed companies over bioengineered pest-resistant agricultural crops. A jury in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Del., rejected the San Diego-based biotechnology company’s claims that Monsanto, Dekalb Genetics Corp. and Delta & Pine Land Co. used its patents to develop corn and other crops containing a genetically engineered bacterium that helps kill plant-eating pests. After two days of deliberation, jurors found that Mycogen’s patents were invalid, that the other companies hadn’t infringed them and Mycogen deserved no damages. Monsanto, Dekalb and Delta & Pine maintained throughout the trial that their scientists invented the technology first, so Mycogen’s patents weren’t valid. Trading in Mycogen shares was halted after the verdict was announced Tuesday. Monsanto’s shares rose 69 cents to close at $50.94 on the NYSE. Delta & Pine’s shares rose 94 cents to $30.19 on the NYSE, while Dekalb Genetics rose $3.94 to $32.19, also on the NYSE.