Wuhan Healthgen Biotechnology Corporation et al v. ExpressTec LLC et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
WUHAN HEALTHGEN BIOTECHNOLOGY 	)
CORPORATION, et al., 	)
)
Plaintiffs, 	) 	CIVIL ACTION
)
v. 	) 	No. 24-4089-KHV
)
EXPRESSTEC LLC, et al., 	)
)
Defendants. 	)
____________________________________________)
)
VENTRIA BIOSCIENCE INC., 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	) 	CIVIL ACTION
)
v. 	) 	No. 21-4008-KHV
)
WUHAN HEALTHGEN BIOTECHNOLOGY 	)
CORP., 	)
)
Defendant. 	)
____________________________________________)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Invitria’s Unopposed Motion To Redact Motion To
Exclude Expert Testimony Of Dr. Aaron Sato And Exhibits Thereto (Doc. #298) filed
December 18, 2025. For reasons stated below, the Court sustains the motion.
Federal courts have long recognized a common-law right of access to judicial records.
Mann v. Boatright, 477 F.3d 1140, 1149 (10th Cir. 2007). This right stems from the fundamental
public interest in understanding disputes that parties present to a public forum for resolution. See
Nixon v. Warner Commc’ns, 435 U.S. 589, 599 (1978); Crystal Grower’s Corp. v. Dobbins, 616
F.2d 458, 461 (10th Cir. 1980). 	In determining whether documents should be sealed, the Court
weighs the public interest, which it presumes is paramount, against the interests advanced by the
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parties. Helm v. Kansas, 656 F.3d 1277, 1292 (10th Cir. 2011). The party seeking to overcome
the presumption of public access must show that some significant interest which favors non-
disclosure outweighs the public interest in access to court proceedings and documents. 	Colony
Ins. Co. v. Burke, 698 F.3d 1222, 1241 (10th Cir. 2012). To do so, the party must articulate a real
and substantial interest that justifies depriving the public of access to the records that inform the
Court’s decision-making process. 	Id.; see also Gulf Oil Co. v. Bernard, 452 U.S. 89, 102 n.16
(1981) (moving party must submit particular and specific facts, not merely “stereotyped and
conclusory statements”). The Court must rely on specific, rather than general, information when
deciding to seal. See United States v. Bacon, 950 F.3d 1286, 1294 (10th Cir. 2020).
Defendants ask the Court for leave to file redacted copies of their motion to exclude the
testimony of Dr. Sato and Exhibits A and C to the Declaration Of Michael B. Hurd (Doc. #287-1).
Plaintiffs do not oppose defendants’ motion. 	Defendants note that the documents reference the
contents of their manufacturing batch records and other documents that describe in detail their
confidential and proprietary manufacturing processes for recombinant human serum albumin
(“rHSA”). 	Defendants have shown that due to their security measures, competitors could not
otherwise access their processes and compositions. Defendants have also specifically explained
how disclosure would harm their business and financial interests, i.e. potential competitors could
use the information to replicate defendants’ methods for extracting and purifying rHSA from rice.
Defendants propose redactions which are narrowly tailored to their asserted confidentiality
interests. On balance, defendants have shown that their interests outweigh the public interest in
access to the unredacted materials that form part of the basis of this lawsuit. See Colony Ins., 698
F.3d at 1241. The Court therefore sustains defendants’ motion to seal.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Invitria’s Unopposed Motion To Redact Motion
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To Exclude Expert Testimony Of Dr. Aaron Sato And Exhibits Thereto (Doc. #298) filed
December 18, 2025 is SUSTAINED. On or before January 7, 2026, counsel shall file redacted
copies of the following documents: InVitria’s Motion To Exclude Expert Testimony Of Dr.
Aaron Sato (Doc. #287) filed December 11, 2025, and Exhibit A (Doc. #287-2) and Exhibit C
(Doc. #287-4) to the Declaration Of Michael B. Hurd (Doc. #287-1).
Dated this 29th day of December, 2025 at Kansas City, Kansas.
s/ Kathryn H. Vratil
KATHRYN H. VRATIL
United States District Judge
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