Kyoto U. gets U.S. stem cell tech. patent / Breakthrough to accelerate research
Kyoto University has been granted a U.S. patent for the technology used in creating induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs, that can be used in regenerative medicine to produce different types of cells for various tissues and organs, such as nerves, heart and liver.
The iPSC breakthrough by Kyoto University Prof. Shinya Yamanaka was recognized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in a notice dated Aug. 5, the state-run university said Thursday.
As the United States is by far the world's largest medical market, Kyoto University effectively has 80 percent of the global market in terms of patent acquisition of this high-value technology because it already has obtained patents in Japan and Europe.
The patent covers two basic methods of creating iPSCs--producing pluripotent cells similar to embryonic stem cells by injecting three kinds of genes into skin and other somatic cells, and by inserting two kinds of genes and proteins with cellular multiplication properties into somatic cells.
The patent also covers a group of genes similar to those used for iPSC production, but not directly used in the two methods.
As the iPSC patent granted in Japan does not cover such genes, the U.S. patent has a much broader application, according to analysts.
The patent approved in Europe in July for Yamanaka's breakthrough, however, is even wider in scope, covering substances to be created by genes employed in the technology, in addition to ones similar to them, they said.
Kyoto University filed an application for a patent with the U.S. patent office in June 2008. The patent it was granted is good through June 25, 2027, the university officials said.
After first receiving a patent in Japan in September 2008, the iPSC technology has so far been granted patents in more than 40 countries.
The U.S. patent system is different from that of other countries, as it does not issue a patent merely on the submission of an application. Instead, it decides on patent eligibility after examining in detail who should be recognized as the true inventor or developer, irrespective of who applies first for a patent.
The latest U.S. decision means Yamanaka has been recognized as the authentic developer of the iPSC technology.
This has concluded the patent race in which a number of highly respected researchers sought a similar U.S. patent after Kyoto University made its application.
If the iPSCs are put into practice, their applications are expected to be conducive to advancing regenerative medicine, for instance, by transplanting nerve cells necessary to treat spinal cord damage, the analysts said.
Hopes are also high that iPSC technology will make it possible to test the effectiveness of new drugs and their toxicity prior to clinical tests, they said.
To broaden the range of iPSC-related studies, Kyoto University will provide the technology to universities and other nonprofit research organizations free of charge, while offering it to other bodies at relatively low fees, the university officials noted.
At a press conference Thursday, Yamanaka said: "For Kyoto University, a public entity, to acquire iPSC patents is of great importance in that researchers around the world will be able to carry out iPSC studies much more easily.
"We would like to see our endeavors in developing iPSCs prove truly useful by carrying out further studies in tandem with researchers around the world to advance regenerative medicine and develop new drugs."
(Aug. 13, 2011)
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