Oops, they did it again: Local biotech firm sues Texas rival for second time over patent

AsymmetRx Medical, an Acton company that holds a patent on an antibody used to diagnose prostate cancer, is suing Santa Cruz Biotechnology of Dallas on charges the Texas company offers a product that uses the same basic idea.

In its lawsuit, filed this week in US District Court in Boston, AsymmetRx, founded on the work of a Harvard researcher, says Santa Cruz started selling its product after it had agreed in 2007 not to do so - to settle a similar lawsuit AsymmetRx filed over the same exact patent.

AsymmetRx is seeking an end to Santa Cruz's sales of the product plus damages, penalties and lawyers' fees.