throbber
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`___________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`___________________
`
`
`TWINSTRAND BIOSCIENCES, INC.
`Petitioner,
`v.
`GUARDANT HEALTH, INC.
`Patent Owner.
`
`___________________
`
`Case IPR2022- 01115
`U.S. Patent No. 10,801,063
`___________________
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 10,801,063
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Mail Stop "PATENT BOARD"
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`II.
`
`III.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1
`Statement of Precise Relief Requested and Reasons Therefor (37 C.F.R.
`§42.22(A)) ...................................................................................................... 2
`State of the art before December 2013 ........................................................... 2
`A. Optimization techniques for DNA library preparation were
`well known. ........................................................................................... 2
`Cell-free DNA isolated from blood was widely used in NGS
`platforms. ............................................................................................... 5
`1.
`The presence of cell-free tumor DNA in human blood
`was well known. ......................................................................... 5
`Isolating cfDNA from blood was routine with off-the-
`shelf kits. .................................................................................... 6
`The prior art taught that Duplex Sequencing dramatically
`lowers NGS error rate. .......................................................................... 7
`The prior art taught applying Duplex Sequencing to cfDNA. ............ 13
`D.
`IV. The ’063 patent and prosecution history ...................................................... 14
`V.
`Person of ordinary skill in art ....................................................................... 18
`VI. Claim construction ........................................................................................ 18
`VII.
`Identification of the challenge (37 C.F.R. §42.104(b)) ................................ 19
`VIII. The facts and law weigh against discretionary denial of institution. ........... 21
`A.
`This Petition satisfies 35 U.S.C. §325(d). ........................................... 21
`B.
`Fintiv does not support discretionary denial. ...................................... 24
`IX. Ground 1: claims 1-7, 9-11, 15-18, and 22-28 would have been obvious over
`Narayan, Schmitt, and Meyer ....................................................................... 26
`A.
`Claim 1 ................................................................................................ 26
`1.
`“A method for classifying consensus sequences
`generated from sequencing reads derived from
`double-stranded
`cell-free deoxyribonucleic
`acid
`(cfDNA) molecules from a sample of a human
`subject…” ................................................................................. 26
`“(a) non-uniquely tagging a population of double-
`stranded cfDNA molecules from the sample with
`more than a 10x molar excess of adapters comprising
`
`2.
`
`2.
`
`- i -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`molecular barcodes, relative to the double-stranded
`cfDNA molecules in the population, to generate non-
`uniquely tagged parent polynucleotides...” .............................. 27
`“wherein the double-stranded cfDNA molecules that
`map to a mappable base position of a reference
`sequence are tagged with a number of different
`molecular barcodes ranging from at least 2 to fewer
`than a number of double-stranded cfDNA molecules
`that map to the mappable base position...” .............................. 29
`“wherein at least 20% of the double-stranded cfDNA
`molecules are non-uniquely tagged with the adapters
`comprising the molecular barcodes at both ends of a
`molecule of the double-stranded cfDNA molecules...” ........... 30
`“(b) amplifying a plurality of the non-uniquely tagged
`parent
`polynucleotides
`to
`produce
`progeny
`polynucleotides...”.................................................................... 31
`“(c)
`enriching
`a plurality of
`the progeny
`polynucleotides for target regions of interest to
`generate enriched progeny polynucleotides...” ........................ 31
`“(d) sequencing a plurality of the enriched progeny
`polynucleotides to produce a set of sequencing
`reads…” ................................................................................... 31
`“(e) mapping a plurality of sequencing reads from the
`set of sequencing reads to the reference sequence…” ............. 32
`“(f) grouping a plurality of the mapped sequencing
`reads into families of mapped sequencing reads based
`at
`least on (i) sequence
`information from
`the
`molecular barcodes and (ii) a beginning base position
`and an ending base position of the mapped sequencing
`reads...” .................................................................................... 32
`“(g) generating a consensus sequence for each family
`from among one or more of the families to produce a
`set of consensus sequences…”................................................. 33
`“(h) classifying one or more consensus sequences
`from among the set of consensus sequences as (1)
`paired
`consensus
`sequences
`generated
`from
`sequencing reads representing a Watson strand and a
`Crick strand of a non-uniquely
`tagged parent
`polynucleotide or (2) unpaired consensus sequences
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`10.
`
`11.
`
`- ii -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`B.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`generated from sequencing reads representing only
`one of either a Watson strand or a Crick strand of a
`non-uniquely tagged parent polynucleotide.” .......................... 34
`12. A POSA would have had a reason to combine
`Narayan, Schmitt, and Meyer .................................................. 35
`13. A POSA would have had a reasonable expectation of
`success. ..................................................................................... 41
`Claim 15 .............................................................................................. 44
`1.
`“A method for classifying unique sequencing reads
`generated from sequencing reads derived from
`double-stranded
`cell-free deoxyribonucleic
`acid
`(cfDNA) molecules from a bodily fluid sample of a
`human subject…” ..................................................................... 44
`“(a) tagging a population of double-stranded cfDNA
`molecules from the bodily fluid sample with more
`than a 10x molar excess of adapters comprising
`molecular barcodes, relative to the double-stranded
`cfDNA molecules in the population, to generate
`tagged parent polynucleotides, wherein at least 20%
`of the cfDNA molecules are ligated with the adapters
`comprising the molecular barcodes at both ends of a
`molecule of the double-stranded cfDNA molecules…” .......... 45
`“(b) amplifying a plurality of the tagged parent
`polynucleotides
`to
`produce
`progeny
`polynucleotides…”................................................................... 45
`“(c)
`sequencing a plurality of
`the progeny
`polynucleotides to produce a set of sequencing
`reads…” ................................................................................... 46
`“(d) mapping a plurality of sequencing reads from the
`set of sequencing reads to a reference sequence...” ................. 46
`“(e) determining unique sequencing reads from the set
`of mapped sequencing reads based at least on the
`molecular barcode sequences, wherein a unique
`sequencing read from among the unique sequencing
`reads
`is
`representative of
`a
`tagged parent
`polynucleotide
`from among
`the
`tagged parent
`polynucleotides...”.................................................................... 46
`“(f) classifying one or more of the unique sequencing
`reads as either (1) paired sequences generated from
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`- iii -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`sequencing reads representing a Watson strand and a
`Crick strand of a tagged parent polynucleotide or (2)
`unpaired sequences generated from sequencing reads
`representing only one of either a Watson strand or a
`Crick strand of a tagged parent polynucleotide.” .................... 47
`Claim 2 ................................................................................................ 48
`C.
`Claim 3 ................................................................................................ 49
`D.
`Claim 4 ................................................................................................ 49
`E.
`Claims 5 and 24 ................................................................................... 50
`F.
`Claims 6 and 25 ................................................................................... 52
`G.
`Claims 7 and 22 ................................................................................... 53
`H.
`Claim 9 ................................................................................................ 53
`I.
`Claim 10 .............................................................................................. 54
`J.
`Claims 11 and 18 ................................................................................. 56
`K.
`Claim 28 .............................................................................................. 58
`L.
`M. Claim 16 .............................................................................................. 60
`N.
`Claim 17 .............................................................................................. 60
`O.
`Claim 23 .............................................................................................. 62
`P.
`Claim 26 .............................................................................................. 62
`Q.
`Claim 27 .............................................................................................. 63
`X. Ground 2: claim 8 would have been obvious over Narayan, Schmitt, Meyer,
`and Craig ....................................................................................................... 64
`XI. Ground 3: claims 12-14 and 19-21 would have been obvious over Narayan,
`Schmitt, Meyer, and Kivioja ......................................................................... 67
`A.
`Claims 12-13 and 19-20 ...................................................................... 67
`B.
`Claims 14 and 21 ................................................................................. 71
`XII. Objective indicia do not support patentability. ............................................. 72
`XIII. Certification of standing and Patent IPR eligibility (37 C.F.R. §42.104(a)) 72
`XIV. Mandatory Notices (37 C.F.R. §42.8(a)(1)) ................................................. 72
`XV. Conclusion. ................................................................................................... 74
`
`- iv -
`
`

`

`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
` Page(s)
`
`Cases
`Abbott Labs. v. Sandoz, Inc.,
`544 F.3d 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2008) .................................................................... 43, 51
`
`Advanced Bionics, LLC v. MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geräte
`GmbH,
`IPR2019-01469 (P.T.A.B., Feb, 13, 2020) ................................................... 20, 21
`Apple Inc. v. Fintiv, Inc.,
`IPR2020-0019 (P.T.A.B., March 20, 2020) .................................... 24, 25, 27, 28
`Bayer Healthcare Pharms., Inc. v. Watson Pharms., Inc.,
`713 F.3d 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2013) .................................................................... 70, 71
`Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Teva Pharms. USA, Inc.,
`752 F.3d 967 (Fed. Cir. 2014) ............................................................................ 23
`Dynamic Drinkware, LLC v. Nat’l Graphics, Inc.,
`800 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2015) ...................................................................... 4, 20
`Guardant Health, Inc. v. Foundation Medicine, Inc.,
`1-20-cv-01580 (D. Del.) ..................................................................................... 73
`Medtronic, Inc. v. Niazi Licensing Corp.,
`IPR2018-00609 (P.T.A.B. Aug. 20, 2018) ......................................................... 20
`Ormco Corp. v. Align Technology, Inc.,
`463 F. 3d 1299 (Fed. Cir. 2006) ..................................................................passim
`In re Peterson,
`315 F.3d 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2003) .................................................................... 43, 51
`TwinStrand Biosciences, Inc. et al v. Guardant Health, Inc.,
`1-21-cv-01126 (D. Del.) ..................................................................................... 73
`
`- i -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`Statutes
`35 U.S.C. §102(a)(1) ................................................................................................ 20
`35 U.S.C. §102(a)(2) ............................................................................................ 3, 20
`35 U.S.C. §314(a) .................................................................................................... 24
`35 U.S.C. §325(d) .............................................................................................. 20, 24
`Other Authorities
`37 C.F.R. §42.8(A)(1) .............................................................................................. 72
`37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(1) ............................................................................................... 72
`37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(2) ............................................................................................... 73
`37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(3) ............................................................................................... 73
`37 C.F.R. §42.10(b) ................................................................................................. 74
`37 C.F.R. §42.63(e) .................................................................................................. 74
`37 C.F.R. §42.100(b) ............................................................................................... 18
`37 C.F.R. §42.104(A) .............................................................................................. 72
`37 C.F.R. §42.104(B) ............................................................................................... 19
`37 C.F.R. §42.106(a) ................................................................................................ 74
`
`- ii -
`
`

`

`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Exhibit #
`
`Description
`
`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`1001
`
`1002
`1003
`
`1004
`
`1005
`
`1006
`
`1007
`
`1008
`
`1009
`
`1010
`
`1011
`
`1012
`
`1013
`
`Eltoukhy, H., et al., “Methods And Systems For Detecting Genetic
`Variants,” U.S. Patent No. 10,801,063 (filed October 14, 2019;
`issued October 13, 2020)
`Declaration of Paul T. Spellman, Ph.D.
`Curriculum Vitae for Paul T. Spellman, Ph.D.
`Murtaza, M., et al., “Non-invasive analysis of acquired resistance to
`cancer therapy by sequencing of plasma DNA,” Nature 497: 108-112
`(2013)
`Meyer, M., et al., “Parallel tagged sequencing on the 454 platform,”
`Nature Protocols 3(2): 267-278 (2008)
`Kivioja, T., et al., “Counting absolute numbers of molecules using
`unique molecular identifiers,” Nature Methods 9(1): 72-76 (2012)
`Craig, D.W., et al., “Identification Of Genetic Variants Using
`Barcoded Multiplexed Sequencing”, Nature Methods 5:887–893
`(2008)
`Kukita, Y., et al., “Quantitative Identification of Mutant Alleles
`Derived from Lung Cancer in Plasma Cell-Free DNA via Anomaly
`Detection Using Deep Sequencing Data,” PLOS One 8(11): 1-31
`(2013)
`Schmitt, M., et al., “Method of Lowering the Error Rate of
`Massively Parallel DNA Sequencing Using Duplex Consensus
`Sequencing,” International Publication Number WO2013/142389
`(filed on March 15, 2003; published on September 26, 2013)
`Alberts, B., et al., Eds., “Chapter 4: DNA and Chromosomes,” and
`“Chapter 8: Manipulating Protein, DNA and RNA”, Molecular
`Biology of the Cell, pp. 191-234 and pp. 469-546, Fourth Edition,
`Garland Science, United States (2002)
`Metzker, M.L., “Sequencing technologies — the next generation,”
`Nature Reviews 11:31-46 (2010)
`Mardis, E.R., “Next-Generation Sequencing Platforms,” Annu. Rev.
`Anal. Chem. 6:287–303 (2013)
`Franca, L.T.C., et al., “A Review of DNA Sequencing techniques,”
`Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics 35(2): 169-200 (2002)
`
`- i -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`Exhibit #
`
`Description
`
`1014
`
`1015
`
`1016
`
`1017
`
`1018
`
`1019
`
`1020
`
`1021
`
`1022
`
`1023
`
`1024
`
`1025
`
`1026
`
`Ong, J., et al., “Overview of the Agilent Technologies SureSelectTM
`Target Enrichment System,” Journal of Biomolecular Techniques,
`22(Suppl.): S30 (2011)
`Technical Data Sheet, KAPA HTP Library Preparation Kit
`Illumina® platforms, KAPA Biosystems (July 2013)
`Rohland, N. and Reich, D., “Cost-effective, high-throughput DNA
`sequencing libraries for multiplexed target capture,” Genome
`Research 22:939–946 (2012)
`Zheng, Z., “Titration-free 454 sequencing using Y adapters,” Nature
`Protocols 6(9): 1367-1376 (2011)
`Glenn, T.C., “Field guide to next-generation DNA sequencers,”
`Molecular Ecology Resources 11: 759–769 (2011)
`Neiman, M., et al., “Library Preparation and Multiplex Capture for
`Massive Parallel Sequencing Applications Made Efficient and Easy,”
`PLOS ONE 7(11): e48616 (2012)
`Blumenstiel, B., et al., “Targeted Exon Sequencing by In-Solution
`Hybrid Selection,” Current Protocols in Human Genetics 18.4.1-
`18.4.24 (2010)
`So, A.P., et al., “Increasing the efficiency of SAGE adaptor ligation
`by directed ligation chemistry,” Nucleic Acids Research 32(12): e96
`(2004)
`van Nieuwerburgh, F., et al., “Quantitative Bias in Illumina TruSeq
`and a Novel Post Amplification Barcoding Strategy for Multiplexed
`DNA and Small RNA Deep Sequencing,” PLoS ONE 6(10): e26969
`(2011)
`Vennison, S.J., “Chapter 5: Restriction Digestion and Ligation of
`DNA,” in Laboratory Manual for Genetic Engineering, pp. 32-35,
`Eastern Economy Edition, PHI Learning Private Limited, New Delhi
`(2009)
`Meyer, M., and Kircher, M. "Illumina sequencing library preparation
`for highly multiplexed target capture and sequencing." Cold Spring
`Harbor Protocols 2010.6 (2010): pdb-prot5448.
`U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 61/798,925
`Diehn, M., et al., “Identification And Use Of Circulating Tumor
`Markers,” U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0296081 (filed Mar 13,
`2014; published Oct. 2, 2014)
`
`- ii -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`Exhibit #
`
`Description
`
`1027
`
`1028
`
`1029
`
`1030
`
`1031
`
`1032
`
`1033
`
`1034
`
`1035
`
`1036
`
`1037
`
`1038
`
`Quail, M.A., “A tale of three next generation sequencing
`platforms: comparison of Ion Torrent, Pacific Biosciences and
`Illumina MiSeq sequencers,” BMC Genomics 3:341- (2012)
`TruSeq™ DNA Sample Preparation Guide, Illumina (November
`2010)
`Park, N., et al., “An improved approach to mate-paired library
`preparation for Illumina sequencing,” Methods in Next Generation
`Sequencing 1(1): 10-20 (2013)
`Costa, G.L., et al., “Methods for Preparing Single-Stranded DNA
`Libraries,” U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2004/0185484 A1 (filed
`December 13, 2019; published January 12, 2021)
`Fisher, S., et al., “A scalable, fully automated process for
`construction of sequence-ready human exome targeted capture
`libraries,” Genome Biology 12:R1 (2011)
`Heitzer, E., et al., “Tumor-associated copy number changes in the
`circulation of patients with prostate cancer identified through whole-
`genome sequencing ,” Genome Medicine 5:30-46 (2013)
`Mertes, F., et al., “Targeted enrichment of genomic DNA
`regions for next-generation sequencing,” Briefings In Functional
`Genomics 10(6): 374 -386 (2011)
`Mamanova, L., et al., “Target-enrichment strategies for next
`generation Sequencing,” Nature Methods 7(2): 111–118 (2010)
`Bentley, D.R., et al., “Accurate whole human genome
`sequencing using reversible terminator chemistry,” Nature 456:53-
`359 (2008)
`Grada, A. and Weinbrecht, K., “Next-Generation Sequencing:
`Methodology and Application,” Journal of Investigative
`Dermatology 133:1-4 (2013)
`Gogol-Doring, A. and Chan, W., “Chapter 16: An Overview of the
`Analysis of Next Generation Sequencing Data,” Next Generation
`Microarray Bioinformatics Methods and Protocols, pp. 249-257,
`Humana Press United States (2012)
`Li, H. and Durbin, R.,“Fast and accurate short read alignment with
`Burrows–Wheeler Transform,” Bioinformatics 25(14): 1754–1760
`(2009)
`
`- iii -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`Exhibit #
`
`Description
`
`1039
`
`1040
`
`1041
`
`1042
`
`1043
`
`1044
`
`1045
`
`1046
`
`1047
`
`1048
`
`1049
`
`1050
`
`Forshew, T., et al., “Noninvasive Identification and Monitoring of
`Cancer Mutations by Targeted Deep Sequencing of Plasma DNA,”
`Sci Transl Med 4(136): 136ra68 (2012)
`Crowley, E., et al.,” Liquid biopsy: monitoring cancer-genetics
`in the blood,” Nat. Rev. Clin. Oncol. 10: 472-484 (2013)
`Benesova, L., et al., “Mutation-based detection and monitoring of
`cell-free tumor DNA in peripheral blood of cancer patients,”
`Analytical Biochemistry 433: 227–234 (2013)
`Koffler, D., et al., “The Occurrence of Single-Stranded DNA
`in the Serum of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and
`Other Diseases,” Journal of Clinical Investigation 52: 198-204
`(1973)
`Leon, S.A., et al., “Free DNA in the Serum of Cancer Patients and
`the Effect of Therapy,” Cancer Research 37: 646-650 (1977)
`Goessl, C., “Diagnostic potential of circulating nucleic acids for
`oncology,” Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn. 3(4), (2003)
`Diehl, F., et al., “Detection and quantification of mutations in the
`plasma of patients with colorectal tumors,” PNAS 102(45): 16368–
`16373 (2005)
`Perkins, G., “Multi-Purpose Utility of Circulating Plasma DNA
`Testing in Patients with Advanced Cancers,” PLoS One 7(11): 1-9
`(2012)
`Jahr, S., et al., “DNA Fragments in the Blood Plasma of Cancer
`Patients: Quantitations and Evidence for Their Origin from
`Apoptotic and Necrotic Cells,” Cancer Research 61: 1659–1665
`(2001)
`Heitzer, E., et al., “Establishment of tumor-specific copy number
`alterations from plasma DNA of patients with cancer,” Int. J. Cancer
`133, 346–357 (2013)
`Blood Drawing For Human Subject Research, Duke University
`Health System (December 13, 2012), downloaded from
`https://irb.duhs.duke.edu/sites/irb.duhs.duke.edu/files/Blood_Collect
`_Policy_Statement_12-13-2012.pdf, last visited March 22, 2022
`Dawson, S-J., et al., “Analysis of Circulating Tumor DNA
`to Monitor Metastatic Breast Cancer,” N Engl J Med 368(13): 1199-
`1209 (2013) with Supplementary Appendix
`
`- iv -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`Exhibit #
`
`Description
`
`1051
`
`1052
`
`1053
`
`1054
`
`1055
`
`1056
`
`1057
`
`1058
`
`1059
`
`1060
`
`1061
`
`Chan, K.C.A., et al., “Cancer Genome Scanning in Plasma:
`Detection of Tumor-Associated Copy Number Aberrations,
`Single-Nucleotide Variants, and Tumoral Heterogeneity by
`Massively Parallel Sequencing,” Clin. Chemistry 59(1): 211–224
`(2013)
`Leary, R.J., et al., “Detection of Chromosomal Alterations in the
`Circulation of Cancer Patients with Whole-Genome Sequencing,” Sci
`Transl Med. 4(162): 1-12 (2012)
`Fan, H.C., et al., “Noninvasive diagnosis of fetal aneuploidy by
`shotgun sequencing DNA from maternal blood,” PNAS 105(42):
`16266 –16271 (2008)
`Sehnert, A.J., et al., “Optimal Detection of Fetal Chromosomal
`Abnormalities by Massively Parallel DNA Sequencing of Cell-Free
`Fetal DNA from Maternal Blood,” Clinical Chemistry 57:7
`1042–1049 (2011)
`Chiu, R.W.K., et al., “Non-invasive prenatal assessment of trisomy
`21 by multiplexed maternal plasma DNA sequencing: large scale
`validity study,” BMJ 342:c7401 (2011)
`Mitchell, P.S., et al., “Circulating microRNAs as stable blood-based
`markers for cancer detection,” PNAS 105(30): 10513–10518 (2008)
`Ehrich, M., et al., “Noninvasive detection of fetal trisomy 21 by
`sequencing of DNA in maternal blood: a study in a clinical setting,”
`American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 205.e1-205.e11
`(2011)
`Swanson, A., et al., “Non-invasive prenatal testing for fetal
`aneuploidy by massively parallel DNA sequencing of maternal
`plasma: the future has arrived today,” Molecular-Genetic and
`Cytogenetic Diagnostics J Lab Med 36(5): 269–275 (2012)
`Fan, H.C., et al., “Analysis of the Size Distributions of Fetal and
`Maternal Cell-Free DNA by Paired-End Sequencing,” Clinical
`Chemistry 56(8): 1279–1286 (2010)
`Kuang, Y., et al., “Noninvasive Detection of EGFR T790Min
`Gefitinib or Erlotinib Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer,” Clin
`Cancer Res 15(8): 2530-2636 (2009)
`Schwarzenbach, H., et al., “Cell-free nucleic acids as biomarkers
`in cancer patients,” Nature 11: 426-437 (2011)
`
`- v -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`Exhibit #
`
`Description
`
`1062
`
`1063
`
`1064
`
`1065
`
`1066
`1067
`
`1068
`
`1069
`
`1070
`
`1071
`
`1072
`
`1073
`
`1074
`
`1075
`
`1076
`
`Fan, H.C., et al., “Non-invasive prenatal measurement of the fetal
`genome,” Nature 487: 320–324 (2012)
`Faircloth, B.C. and Glenn, T.C., “Not All Sequence Tags Are
`Created Equal: Designing and Validating Sequence Identification
`Tags Robust to Indels,” PLOS ONE 7(8): e42543 (2012)
`Schmitt, M.W., et al., “Detection of ultra-rare mutations by
`next-generation sequencing,” PNAS 109(36): 14508–14513 (2012)
`Kennedy, S.R., et al., “Ultra-Sensitive Sequencing Reveals an Age-
`Related Increase in Somatic Mitochondrial Mutations That Are
`Inconsistent with Oxidative Damage,” PLOS Genetics 9(9):
`e1003794 (2013)
`File History for U.S. Patent No. 10,801,063
`Perakis, S., et al., “Chapter Three - Advances in Circulating Tumor
`DNA Analysis,” Advances in Clinical Chemistry 80: 73-157 (2017)
`Schmitt, M.W, et al., “Sequencing small genomic targets with high
`efficiency and extreme accuracy,” Nature Methods 12(5): 423-4226
`with Suppl. Material (2015)
`Complaint, Illumina, Inc. v. Guardant Health, Inc.; Helmy Eltoukhy;
`And Amirali Talasaz, 22-cv-00334 (D.Del.) (March 17, 2022)
`Krimmel, J.D., et al., “Ultra-deep sequencing detects ovarian cancer
`cells in peritoneal fluid and reveals somatic TP53 mutations
`in noncancerous tissues,” PNAS 113(21): 6005-6010 (2016)
`Billet, H., “151 Hemoglobin and Hematocrit,” Clinical Methods The
`History, Physical and Laboratory Examinations, pp. 718-719, Third
`Edition, Butterworths United States (1990)
`Brown, T.A., Ed., “Chapter 4: Studying DNA,” Genomes, pp. 96-
`124, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., United States (2002)
`Stasinopoulos, D.M., et al., “Generalized Additive Models for
`Location Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) in R,” Journal of Statistical
`Software 23(7): 1-46 (2007)
`Final Written Decision, Foundation Medicine, Inc. v. Guardant
`Health, Inc., IPR2019-00652, Paper 47 (August 18, 2020)
`Dr. Spellman’s Calculations for prior art disclosures of molar ratios
`of adapters relative to DNA fragments
`Kitzman, J.O., et al., “Non-invasive whole genome sequencing of a
`human fetus,” Sci Transl Med. 4(137): 137ra76 (2012)
`
`- vi -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`Exhibit #
`
`Description
`
`1077
`
`1078
`
`1079
`
`1080
`
`1081
`
`1082
`
`1083
`
`
`
`ThruPLEX™ DNA-seq Kit Instruction Manual, Rubicon Genomics
`Complaint, Twinstrand Biosciences, Inc. & The University of
`Washington v. Guardant Health, Inc., 1-21-cv-01126 (D. Del.)
`(August 3, 2021)
` Decision Denying Institution for Inter Partes Review, Foundation
`Medicine, Inc. v. Guardant Health, Inc., IPR2019-00636 and
`IPR2019-00637 (August 20, 2019)
`Pray, L.A., “Eukaryotic Genome Complexity,” Nature Education
`1(1):96 (2008)
`Semsarian, C. and Seidman, C.E., “Molecular medicine in the 21st
`century,” Internal Medicine Journal 31: 53–59 (2001)
`Narayan et al., “Ultrasensitive Measurement of Hotspot Mutations
`in Tumor DNA in Blood Using Error-Suppressed Multiplexed Deep
`Sequencing,” Cancer Research, 72(14):3492-3498 (2012)
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/625,623, filed on April 17, 2012
`
`- vii -
`
`

`

`INTRODUCTION
`Guardant’s claimed methods were already known in the prior art. As
`
`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`I.
`
`detailed below, Guardant’s claimed steps of tagging, amplifying, enriching,
`
`sequencing, mapping, grouping, generating a consensus sequence, and classifying
`
`consensus sequences as paired or unpaired, are all straight from Schmitt’s Duplex
`
`Sequencing, with only trivial additions.
`
`Further, Guardant misled the Office during prosecution in two significant
`
`ways. First, Guardant misrepresented the quantity of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in a
`
`human blood sample, arguing that a skilled artisan would not have expected
`
`Schmitt’s methods to be applicable to cfDNA because human blood (according to
`
`Guardant) contained insufficient quantities of cfDNA. Tellingly, Guardant never
`
`provided the Examiner with any prior art evidence to support its argument. It’s no
`
`wonder. The prior art flatly contradicts Guardant’s argument, showing that ample
`
`quantities of cfDNA are present in human blood. In fact, the prior art expressly
`
`suggested benefits of using Duplex Sequencing with cfDNA. EX1008, 7.
`
`Second¸ Guardant misled the Examiner by relying on a statement from a
`
`2017 publication—not prior art—as alleged evidence that a person of skill in the
`
`art in 2013 would not have expected Schmitt’s methods to work with cfDNA. But,
`
`as explained above, Guardant’s position is contradicted by contemporaneous
`
`evidence—including Schmitt itself—that taught applying Duplex Sequencing
`
`- 1 -
`
`

`

`methods to cfDNA.
`
`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`The Board should institute trial and cancel the claims of the ’063 patent.
`
`II.
`
`STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED AND REASONS
`THEREFOR (37 C.F.R. §42.22(A))
`TwinStrand Biosciences, Inc. (“TwinStrand”) petitions for IPR, requesting
`
`cancellation of claims 1-28 of U.S. Patent No 10,801,063 (“the ’063 patent”;
`
`EX1001), assigned to Guardant Health, Inc. This Petition is supported by the
`
`declaration of Paul Spellman, Ph.D. (EX1002), Professor of Molecular and
`
`Medical Genetics and an expert in genetics and genomics approaches to detecting
`
`and monitoring human diseases. This Petition demonstrates that claims 1-28 are
`
`unpatentable as obvious.
`
`III. STATE OF THE ART BEFORE DECEMBER 2013
`Before the ’063 patent’s earliest possible priority date (December 28,
`
`2013)1, next-generation sequencing (“NGS”) methods were well known. EX1011,
`
`32-41; EX1002, ¶¶30-62.
`
`A. Optimization techniques for DNA library preparation were well
`known.
`Before December 2013, most NGS methods began with the preparation of a
`
`library of template DNA fragments. This was accomplished by fragmenting DNA
`
`1 TwinStrand does not concede the ’063 patent is entitled to this priority
`
`date.
`
`- 2 -
`
`

`

`or by using previously fragmented DNA, such as cfDNA (discussed below).
`
`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`EX1012, 291; EX1011, 32. Library preparation commonly involved “tagging” the
`
`DNA with “adapters,” which were added to the DNA fragment ends. Id. Adapters
`
`often contained “molecular barcodes” or “identifiers,” which are nucleotide
`
`sequences that help to further identify and distinguish the sequenced DNA
`
`fragments from one another. EX1083, ¶¶[0005], [0008]-[0009], [0030]; EX1005,
`
`Fig. 1; EX1002, ¶40. A common technique for tagging was ligation. EX1083,
`
`¶[0020]; EX1005, Fig. 1; EX1015, 4-5; EX1031, 11-12, Fig. 4; EX1002, ¶38.
`
`Guardant’s claims recite open-ended ranges of “more than a 10×” and “more
`
`than a 90×” molar excesses of adapters relative to cfDNA molecules, and ligation
`
`efficiencies of “at least 20%” and “at least 40%.” But long before December 2013,
`
`artisans already knew to use significant molar excesses of adapters to achieve high
`
`efficiency ligations. EX1020, 18.4.15; EX1031, 2. EX1083, ¶[0005]; EX1002,
`
`¶¶43-55; EX1021, 5, Fig. 2; EX10262, ¶¶[0130], [0143], [0159]; EX1025,
`
`
`2 EX1026 (“Diehn ’807”) is the publication of U.S. 14/209,807 (filed March
`
`13, 2014), which claims priority to U.S. 61/798,925 (filed March 15, 2013)
`
`(EX1025, “Diehn ’925”). The Diehn ’925 provisional specification is substantially
`
`the same as Diehn ’807’s specification, including identical claim sets. EX1025;
`
`EX1026. Thus, Diehn ’807 is prior art to the ’063 patent under 35 U.S.C.
`
`- 3 -
`
`

`

`¶¶[0106], [0119], [0135].
`
`Case IPR2022-01115
`Patent 10,801,063
`
`
`For example, So 2004 taught th

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket