Biotech Week
Policy changes announced that ease licensing requirements on human embryonic stem cell patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) are a step in the right direction but don’t go far enough, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) said.
FTCR and the Public Patent Foundation have challenged the validity of three WARF patents and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has begun re-examination proceedings. WARF softened its position on the patents as a result of this challenge, FTCR said.
WARF said it would allow industry-sponsored research at academic and nonprofit institutions without a license; allow easier and simpler cost free cell transfers among researchers and would not require a license or agreement from California’s taxpayer-funded stem cell research program. Further, WARF said it did not expect California’s program to pay any portion of revenues it receives from research it funds.
Californians have approved a $6 billion state-funded stem cell research program to be run by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
The patents are now being re-examined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.
The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights a California nonprofit and nonpartisan consumer watchdog group.
