The complaint

The case is Jackson Biotechs, LLC v. Abcam Limited, No. 2:26-cv-00842 (E.D. Tex., Marshall Division), filed September 18, 2026, ECF No. 1 (9 pages). The complaint demands a jury trial. Jackson Biotechs, a Texas limited liability company, asserts U.S. Patent 7,960,168 and says it seeks only retrospective relief for qualifying United States infringement within six years before filing and no later than January 6, 2025. The complaint describes Abcam Limited as a private limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales and pleads venue under the alien-venue rule of 28 U.S.C. 1391(c)(3).

What the patent covers

U.S. Patent 7,960,168, titled Biologically Active Substance Transfer Sheet, Cell Culture Kit Constituted of Cell Culture Plate and Biologically Active Substance Transfer Sheet, Producing Method Thereof and Method for Screening Cell Culture Conditions Utilizing the Same, issued June 14, 2011, from Application No. 12/183,008. Claim 1 recites a cell culture kit with a culture plate having two or more discrete culture regions and a sheet with covering portions discretely arranged to cover those regions, where each culture region holds a first biologically active substance immobilized on it, each covering portion holds a second biologically active substance attached to it, the sheet is an elastic or flexible film at least at the covering portions, and the sheet serves as a transfer sheet for transferring the second substance to the culture regions. The complaint also relies on independent claim 12, a method of culturing a cell with the kit. (Compl. paras. 9 to 14; U.S. Patent 7,960,168 claims 1 and 12.)

The complaint alleges that the patent expired on January 6, 2025, and that Jackson Biotechs became the sole owner by a written assignment effective August 22, 2026, which transferred accrued causes of action and was recorded at the USPTO on September 2, 2026. (Compl. paras. 11 and 15.)

What the lawsuit alleges

Jackson Biotechs alleges that, after Abcam Limited acquired the kits' original supplier in October 2021 and through January 6, 2025, Abcam commercialized the accused EZCell products through abcam.com and related United States channels. The accused kits include the EZCell Cell Migration/Chemotaxis Assay Kit (catalog K906, Abcam ab235673) and the EZCell/Basement-Membrane-Extract Cell Invasion Assay Kit (catalog K912, Abcam ab235697), which the complaint describes as 96-well Boyden-chamber systems. It alleges, on information and belief, that Abcam's United States validation, quality-control, demonstration and support uses included receiver wells holding the claimed first biologically active substance. (Compl. paras. 2, 17 to 24.)

Count I alleges direct infringement of at least claim 1 by making, using, offering to sell, selling, and/or importing complete accused configurations, and direct infringement of at least claim 12 by using them, and alleges that customers and laboratories directly infringed claims 1 and 12 by using the kits as instructed. The prayer seeks damages of no less than a reasonable royalty for that period, interest and costs. (Compl. paras. 25 to 30; Prayer.)

What to watch next

Watch for service on Abcam Limited and its answer or other response, including any challenge to personal jurisdiction. Any case can end at any time, including by settlement or voluntary dismissal.