Patent Law Weblog
recent posts
- Moderna Settles Patent Litigation with Arbutus et al.
- USPTO and DOJ Statement of Interest in Collision Communications: Another Thumb on the Scale in Favor of NPE Patent Plaintiffs
- Oasis Tooling, Inc. v. Siemens Industry Software Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2026)
- Why AI Will Not Take Over the World
- BioNTech Sues Moderna over mRNA Vaccine Technology
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Category: Biotech/Pharma News
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By Kevin E. Noonan — A broad coalition of 111 public interest groups announced today a manifesto for containing "synthetic biology," a term with a loose definition (including "extreme genetic engineering") that includes efforts such as Craig Venter's to produce novel microorganisms to more traditional biotechnology efforts in transgenic plants and animals and other genetically…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — The promise of an era of "personalized medicine" has been pursued for a generation, being one of the rationales for and purported benefits of the Human Genome Project. It has become such a sought-for goal that it has been used to drive policy: it is something that health care reform…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — This week's edition of Nature contains the results of the latest (and last) of the "genome" projects for members of the Homini (humans and their closest primate ancestors): Gorilla gorilla gorilla, the western lowland gorilla (in particular a gorilla named Kamilah, the Craig Venter of her species) (Saclly et al.,…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — Dr. Ellen Jorgensen of Genspace, one of the witnesses at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's first hearing regarding the advisability of permitting "second opinions" for patented genetic diagnostic tests without patent infringement liability, advocated "at-home" or "do-it-yourself" DNA testing as a solution (see "USPTO Holds First Hearing on 'Second…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — One of the perennial promises of biotechnology is the possibility that genetic diseases can be cured by replacing a defective gene with a normal copy of it. Gene therapy has been attempted on and off for about thirty years, although initial attempts were sporadic and in some cases of doubtful…
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By James DeGiulio — Pfizer's exclusive right to sell atorvastatin, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in the blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor, ended yesterday, November 30, the day generic competitors are licensed to enter the market as agreed upon during settlement of past patent litigations. It was a day the pharma giant has been dreading for quite…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — A decade after completion of the Human Genome Project, and after more than a decade of hyperbole regarding the promise and benefits of "personalized medicine," genetic diagnostic testing has come to the attention of Congress. For example, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced a provision of the Leahy-Smith America Invents…
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By Donald Zuhn — On Monday, Geron Corporation announced that it was discontinuing further development of its human embryonic stem cell (hESC) programs and would be seeking partners for each of the programs, which include oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (GRNOPC1) for central nervous system disorders, cardiomyocytes (GRNCM1) for heart disease, pancreatic islet cells (GRNIC1) for diabetes,…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — Despite achieving a legislative accomplishment that had been frustrated for over a generation (i.e., healthcare reform), the Obama Administration's technology policies have left even the President's supporters perplexed by a fundamental paradox. Specifically, how could the President (an intelligent man) and his advisors (comprising this generation's "best and brightest") be…
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By Donald Zuhn — On Saturday, the GOP kicked off the 2012 presidential election cycle with Iowa Republicans gathering in Ames, Iowa to participate in the Ames Straw Poll. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann picked up 4,823 votes (28.6%) of the 16,892 votes cast in the straw poll to edge out Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who…
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