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 — The Karolinska Institute announced today that the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was awarded to Robert G. Edwards for his work in developing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in humans. The Institute's press release announcing the prize noted that this work began in the 1950's, finally reaching success on July…
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By Donald Zuhn — Scientific American has released its second annual examination of the ways in which governments, scientists, industry players, and life science stakeholders are advancing biotechnology innovation around the globe. The special edition of the consumer science magazine, entitled "Worldview: A Global Biotechnology Perspective," explores biotech's most compelling trends and developments worldwide. The…
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By Donald Zuhn — Last week, Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) (at right) introduced three bills in the House related to the labeling of food containing genetically engineered material, the cultivation and handling of genetically engineered crops, and the establishment of a set of farmer rights regarding genetically engineered animals, plants, and seeds: • The…
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By James DeGiulio — Recently, we reported that a research team led by Dr. Craig Venter had developed a "synthetic cell" controlled by purely synthetic DNA (see "Dr. Craig Venter Creates First Cell Controlled Entirely by Synthetic DNA"). To evaluate the significance of the discovery, the journal Nature asked eight synthetic-biology experts about the…
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By James DeGiulio — Last week, we reported that a research team led by Dr. Craig Venter had developed a "synthetic cell" controlled by purely synthetic DNA (see "Dr. Craig Venter Creates First Cell Controlled Entirely by Synthetic DNA") Dr. Venter and co-author Dr. Daniel Gibson have written an op-ed piece that was recently…
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By James DeGiulio — After a 15-year effort, the team of Daniel Gibson (at right), Hamilton Smith, and Craig Venter (below left) have created the first cell controlled by a purely synthetic genome. In a press release and accompanying press conference, Dr. Venter described the converted cell as "the first self-replicating species we've had…
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By James DeGiulio — Earlier this year, GlaxoSmithKline announced an "open innovation" strategy to help deliver new and better medicines for diseases disproportionately affecting people living in the world's poorest countries. Making good on that promise, GSK has teamed up with the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), and…
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By James DeGiulio — After over a decade of suspicion following the death of an 18-year-old patient, gene therapy is experiencing a revival among scientists and drugmakers, according to a recent Bloomberg report ("'Dead as Doornail' Gene Therapy Revival Spurs Genzyme"). Since the patient's death in 1999, scientists have linked many of the safety…
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By Donald Zuhn — Sherry Knowles, Senior Vice President, Global Patents for GlaxoSmithKline has announced that she will be leaving GSK in June to start a consulting firm that will focus on IP management, business development, and monetizing assets in the area of pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Ms. Knowles (at right), who has…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — The problem, according to the academics and the pundits, is that patent exclusivity in certain areas (such as gene patents) could result in a "tragedy of the anti-commons," inhibiting innovation. One of the many manifestations of this tragedy, according to such august bodies as the National Academy of Science…
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