IP Australia named as search and examination authority for US patent office

Melbourne based adult stem cell company, Mesoblast (ASX:MSB), has been granted what it says is a key adult stem cell patent.

A survey of biotechnology patent attorneys has indicated that there is a lack of knowledge within the general population about what biotechnology encompasses and there are misconceptions regarding the patenting process.

Gene therapy company Benitec (ASX:BLT) has weathered a head-on challenge from US rival, Nucleonics, to its key DNA-directed RNA-interference (ddRNAi) patents.

With technology advancing so rapidly in many potential commercial areas of life science, patent attorneys, intellectual property (IP) and commercial lawyers, and lawmakers will face a number of challenges over the next 10 years, says Trevor Davies.

RNA-interference therapeutics company Nucleonics has disputed claims by Queensland rival Benitec (ASX:BTL) that two new Australian patents on RNAi technology granted to the Medical College of Georgia Research Institute are "largely irrelevant" to companies involved in medical applications of RNAi.

RNA-interference therapeutics company Nucleonics has announced that IP Australia has granted the Medical College of Georgia Research Institute (MCGRI) two patents covering an RNAi gene-silencing technique. Nucleonics is a licensee to both patents.

John McKinley is to resign as CEO of Brisbane-base RNAi specialist Benitec (ASX:BLT) and Sydney solicitor Ray Whitten -- a 5.79 per cent shareholder through Barbary Coast Investments -- has been appointed as chairman of its board.

Brisbane-based gene therapy company Benitec (ASX:BLT) will continue to defend itself against what it today described as "baseless attacks" on its patent position by US company Nucleonics.

US antiviral therapeutics developer Nucleonics has claimed first blood in its attempt to have the Australian patent office revoke a key RNA interference (RNAi) gene-silencing patent owned jointly by CSIRO and Brisbane gene-therapy company Benitec (ASX:BLT).

A report by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) following an 18-month inquiry into genetic patents has concluded that significant patent law reforms are needed to accommodate cutting-edge genetic technology.