Search Articles
Reproduction permitted for personal use only. For reprints and reprint permission, contact reprints@wistechnology.com.
USPTO Reverses Decision on WARF Stem Cell Patent
May 3, 2010
The Board of Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a decision on April 28, 2010 in the inter partes re-examination of U.S. Patent No. 7,029,913, granted to University of Wisconsin-Madison professor and internationally-recognized stem cell researcher Dr. James Thomson. In the decision, the BPAI rejected the claims of the patent, reversing an earlier determination by a USPTO examiner.
The three claims of patent 7,029,913 are directed towards proliferating and stably undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells cultured in vitro. The patent, owned by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), was issued on April 18, 2006. It was set to expire in 2016.
The re-examination request was made in 2006 by the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR). The BPAI decision does not affect two other patents challenged by the FTCR, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,843,780 and 6,200,806, which were previously found valid by the Board.
Menlo Park, CA-based Geron Corporation holds a license to all three of the WARF patents. Geron Corp. officials issued a press release on Friday, April 30, regarding the BPAI decision.
WARF is expected to appeal.
The three claims of patent 7,029,913 are directed towards proliferating and stably undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells cultured in vitro. The patent, owned by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), was issued on April 18, 2006. It was set to expire in 2016.
The re-examination request was made in 2006 by the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR). The BPAI decision does not affect two other patents challenged by the FTCR, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,843,780 and 6,200,806, which were previously found valid by the Board.
Menlo Park, CA-based Geron Corporation holds a license to all three of the WARF patents. Geron Corp. officials issued a press release on Friday, April 30, regarding the BPAI decision.
WARF is expected to appeal.
Comments
Helen responded 2 years ago: #1
Why don't they research ADULT stem cells which are used in other countries and forget about all other cells? Look at Germany's successes and do what they are doing www.xcell-center.com Start helping people and forget about the research money.
Add Your Comment
Comment Policy: WTN News accepts comments that are on-topic and do not contain advertisements, profanity or personal attacks. Comments represent the views of the individuals who post them and do not necessarily represent the views of WTN Media or our partners, advertisers, or sources. Comments are moderated and are not immediately posted. Your email address will not be posted.
WTN Media cannot accept liability for the content of comments posted here or verify their accuracy. If you believe this comment section is being abused, contact edit@wistechnology.com.
Advertisement
Most Popular Stories
- Wisconsin lands a founding member in Internet Hall of Fame
- The hook in my mouth – my first encounter with social virus
- How predictive analytics will make social networks money
- With magazine rankings on business climate, perception can become reality
- Beyond 'Jeopardy': How IBM will make billions from Watson
Upcoming EventsMore…
More Stories
- How CFOs really feel about BYOD
- Facebook loses a big advertiser, buys a small company's employees
- Plexus to build $50 million manufacturing plant in Neenah
- What is the average age of your customers?
- Madison businessman helps promote 'urban mining' at home, abroad
- After two months, how does the iPad's retina display stack up?
- Computer capacity to get huge boost
- Sears competes on big data and loyalty programs
- Is entrepreneurship for everyone?
- The hook in my mouth – my first encounter with social virus
WTN Media Presents
