Two scientists have been awarded £1.5m ($2.1m) for their work on a pioneering heart disease diagnostic technique in the first successful claim for compensation under legislation designed to reward employee inventors.

In a potentially watershed ruling for the pharmaceutical industry and other sectors whose fortunes are tied to research and development, the High Court on Wednesday ordered GE Healthcare to make the payments to two former employees whose “Myoview” cardiac imaging product has generated £1.3bn in sales.