The mixed outcome leaves Align with some patent protection but removes coverage for the majority of challenged claims. Watch for Align's appeal to the Federal Circuit and the impact on the parallel West Texas litigation. The survival of claims 10, 12, 18, and 19 provides a narrower but still enforceable patent position.
Price Chart
Executive Summary
In a final written decision in IPR2025-00816, the PTAB held that claims 1–9, 11, and 13–17 of Align Technology's patent covering automated treatment staging for teeth are unpatentable as obvious, while claims 10, 12, 18, and 19 survive. The patent is central to Align's clear aligner technology and is also asserted in a pending West Texas district court case against ClearCorrect. The partial invalidation weakens Align's IP position but leaves key claims intact, creating a mixed outcome.
PTAB Trial Details
Key Facts
- Final Written Decision in IPR2025-00816 issued October 21, 2026
- Claims 1–9, 11, and 13–17 of U.S. Patent 11,369,456 ('Automated Treatment Staging For Teeth') held unpatentable
- Claims 10, 12, 18, and 19 survive — not shown unpatentable
- Patent owner: Align Technology, Inc.; Petitioner: ClearCorrect Operating, LLC (with Straumann entities as real parties in interest)
- Related litigation: Align Technology, Inc. v. ClearCorrect Operating, LLC, Case No. 6:24-cv-00187-ADA-DTG (W.D. Tex.)
- Decision may be appealed to the Federal Circuit
Financial Impact
Partial invalidation of a core patent covering automated treatment staging for clear aligners; no dollar amounts stated in the decision
Risk Factors
- Further invalidation risk if related IPRs (IPR2025-00814 through -00821) yield similar results
- Adverse district court ruling on infringement if the surviving claims are found not infringed or invalid
- Competitive pressure from ClearCorrect/Straumann if patent barriers are reduced
Investment Themes
Documents Analyzed
This report is based on 1 PTAB decision.
| Document | Accession Number |
|---|---|
| PTAB-TRIAL Data (Synthetic) | ptab-IPR2025-00816-fwd-ALGN |
Filters
| Type | Now | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oct 21, 2026 5d ago | PTAB Trial | $155.51 | awaiting T+20 | — | $154.51 (−0.64%) |
Oct 16, 2026 9d ago | Institutional Cluster | $148.90 | awaiting T+20 | — | $154.51 (−3.76%) |
Aug 31, 2026 7w ago | 8-K | $154.96 $145.35 | ▼ −6.20% | ▼ −6.52% | $154.51 (−0.29%) |
Aug 10, 2026 11w ago | Court Ruling | $172.96 $152.92 | ▲ +11.58% | ▲ +10.53% | $154.51 (+10.66%) |
Aug 3, 2026 11w ago | Institutional Cluster | $173.27 $154.96 | ▲ +10.57% | ▲ +9.33% | $154.51 (+10.83%) |
Jul 21, 2026 13w ago | Court Ruling | $172.46 $163.04 | ▼ −5.46% | ▼ −8.36% | $154.51 (−10.41%) |
Jul 7, 2026 15w ago | Court Ruling | $174.68 $174.83 | ▲ +0.09% | ▼ −3.19% | $154.51 (−11.55%) |
Jun 18, 2026 18w ago | 8-K | $173.76 $176.76 | ▲ +1.73% | ▲ +1.87% | $154.51 (−11.08%) |
May 29, 2026 21w ago | Court Ruling | $169.77 $168.66 | ▲ +0.65% | ▼ −0.64% | $154.51 (+8.99%) |
Apr 17, 2026 27w ago | DEFA14A | $191.43 $158.66 | ▼ −17.12% | ▼ −21.32% | $154.51 (−19.29%) |
US Market Status
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