Kyoto University get first European Patent directed to induced pluripotent stem cells

Stem cells have the capacity to develop into any cell type of the body and therefore, human stem cells have a great deal of potential in the treatment of human diseases.  In the future, medical researchers anticipate being able to use technologies derived from stem cell research to treat a wider variety of diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and muscle damage, amongst a number of other impairments and conditions.

One of the sources of stem cells is from human embryos and this has engendered a great deal of debate as to the ethics of using such cells.  One possible solution to this issue is induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells).  These are mature cells which have been induced to revert to a stem cell phenotype and offer the potential for taking adult cells and turning them into stem cells without the use of embryos.

The University of Kyoto have just had granted their first European patent directed to iPS cells.  The EP patent covers a technique for using at least three groups of genes—Oct, Klf and Myc—optionally in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and optionally  a further group of genes, Sox to reprogram adult cells into iPS cells. 

Appleyard Lees Head of Biotechnology, Philip French said  “Professor Yamanaka is a world renowned scientist in this new area of science and it is expected that the University of Kyoto’s patent portfolio will be an important one in this area. 

Several other parties, including the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, iPierian and the Scripps Research Institute made early filings in the iPS cell area so it will be interesting to see how the patent landscape in this area develops.”

More information on this patent can be seen on the European Patent Office website: https://register.epo.org/espacenet/application?number=EP06834636 or click This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to contact Philip French.