Archer filed a lawsuit against Qiagen, alleging that the German sample and assay provider committed unlawful misappropriation of trade secrets, patent infringement and false advertising of its target enrichment technology.

Archer’s claim, filed  in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, accuses Qiagen of illegally acquiring trade secrets and patented aspects of its Anchored Multiplex PCR, which is used in the determination of nucleotide sequences, in order to develop and market products that compete with Archer’s.

The case also involves claims of false advertising under the Lanham Act, the primary federal trademark statute in the U.S., and deceptive trade practices.