A patent dispute in spatial genomics escalated as Spatial Genomics and Caltech filed suit alleging infringement by 10x Genomics’ Xenium platform. According to an SEC filing, the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware targets five patents assigned to Caltech and titled around sequential hybridization barcoding and multiplex labeling of molecular targets. Spatial Genomics said it moved to keep parts of the case under seal, while 10x stated it believes the claims are meritless and plans to defend vigorously. The dispute matters for the field because spatial multiomics platforms compete on probe-labeling chemistry, multiplexing rounds, and imaging workflows that are often covered by tightly drafted method claims.