Femto Medicine - Part 2969

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EU stem cell ruling paves the way for pioneering medical research

Posted: Published on December 19th, 2014

Research involving a human egg used to produce embryonic stem cells unable to develop into an embryo can be patented, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled Thursday. The decision is of major interest for biotechnology companies investing in stem cell research. Work on stem cell therapies is still experimental, but researchers believe they could be used to treat a range of diseases from Parkinson's to blindness. Until now, however, strict restrictions on obtaining patents have slowed research. The case was brought in Britain by US company International Stem Cell Corporation against the UK Intellectual Property Office for refusing to grant it two patents covering the use of human egg cells. The British authorities had argued that since the eggs involved were active and developing organisms, even though they were not fertilized by male sperm, previous EU law prevented the company from securing a patent on them. In 2011, the ECJ had ruled that stem cell research involving human embryos could not be patented. International Stem Cell Corporation argued that the eggs, activated by a chemical process known as parthenogenesis, could not develop into human beings as they lacked the full parental DNA required. Thursday's ruling stated that such organisms … Continue reading →

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EU court clears stem cell patenting

Posted: Published on December 19th, 2014

LUXEMBOURG: A human egg used to produce stem cells but unable to develop into a viable embryo can be patented, the European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday (Dec 18). In a decision of huge interest for biotechnology companies investing in stem-cell research, the EU's top court decided such eggs did not meet the definition of what constituted a human embryo. "Accordingly, uses of such an organism for industrial or commercial purposes may, as a rule, be patented," the court said in a statement summary of the decision. In July, Advocate General Pedro Cruz Villalon recommended to the European Court of Justice that stem cells do not come under EU rules which deny patents on eggs which could develop into a human embryo. The ECJ is Europe's top court on questions of EU law and mostly follows such recommendations. The case was brought by International Stem Cell Corporation against the UK Intellectual Property Office for refusing to grant it two patents. The British authorities had argued that since the eggs involved were active and developing, even if not fertilised by male sperm, then European Union law meant the company could not secure a patent on them. ISC contested the ruling, … Continue reading →

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Europe boosts stem cell patent rights

Posted: Published on December 19th, 2014

Cultures of ISCOs parthenogenetic stem cells, made from unfertilized human egg cells. Stem cells produced by Carlsbad's International Stem Cell Corp. can be patented, a European court ruled Thursday. The decision allows the biotech company to get patents for its stem cells made from unfertilized, or parthenogenetic, human egg cells. In related news, the company said Thursday it plans to apply by the end of the year to do a clinical trial of a Parkinson's treatment derived from its parthenogenetic cells. The trial should begin in a couple of months, said Simon Craw, the company's executive vice president of business development. The company will need to raise about $5 million for the trial, he said. International Stem Cell is developing these cells as an alternative to human embryonic stem cells, which many regard as morally wrong. Moreover, the parthenogenetic cells have a reduced tendency to cause immune reactions when transplanted, which could make them an attractive use for therapy. The European Union forbids patents on the use of human embryos, the source of embryonic stem cells. Patent applications in the United Kingdom and other countries for parthenogenetic cells have been held up because dividing parthenogenetic cells resemble embryos. However, the … Continue reading →

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Okyanos Expands World-Class Cell Therapy Medical Team

Posted: Published on December 19th, 2014

Freeport, Grand Bahama (PRWEB) December 18, 2014 Okyanos, the leader in cell therapy, announced the expansion of its medical team to accommodate the growing demand for cell therapy to treat patients with chronic unmet needs for which adult stem cell therapy using cells from a persons own fat (adipose) tissue has been found to be safe and efficacious. Led by a prestigious team of U.S.-licensed physicians and nursing staff, the team includes Dr. Todd Malan, Chief Cell Therapy Officer and pioneer of adipose-derived stem cell therapy, and is joined by Dr. Matthew Mick, Cardiologist, FACC, Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. We are very pleased to have such a competent and highly regarded aggregate of expertise, said Okyanos CEO Matt Feshbach. Our team is comprised of leaders in their respective fields, each of whom is committed to bringing about a new standard of care and better quality of life to our patients. Todd Malan, MD, serves as the Chief Cell Therapy Officer and General Surgeon at Okyanos, overseeing the fat-harvesting and stem cell isolation step of the Okyanos cell therapy process. A pioneer of fat-derived stem cell therapies, he became the first physician in the U.S. to utilize stem cells from fat … Continue reading →

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