[ Patents? What Patents? ]
Folks, Marty posted a long technical-sounding message which appears to have been interpreted as credible. I believe he has grossly distorted the truth regarding GERN's patents. However, I may be wrong, and am waiting for Marty to post some references to back his claims.
Marty, wrote:
"Geron has pretty much locked up the patents covering the use of telomerase inhibitors to treat cancer... even if Geron isn't the company that comes up with an anti-cancer telomerase inhibitor drug, they will make multi-millions anyway because they hold the critical patents."
I used the IBM patent server to search for patents involving telomerase and the treatment of cancer. I found three relevant patents, but none of these belong to GERN. I'm posting a summary, and you can follow the links to read the entire patents yourself.
5639613 : Methods for cancer diagnosis and prognosis
ABSTRACT: A method for predicting tumor progression and prognosing cancer comprises: (a) collecting a sample suspected of containing cancer cells; (b) analyzing the sample for telomerase activity; (c) correlating the activity with a standard level of telomerase activity; and (d) correlating a high telomerase activity with an indication of unfavorable prognosis and a low telomerase activity with a favorable prognosis.
patent.womplex.ibm.com
5648215 : Telomerase diagnostic methods
ABSTRACT: The presence of telomerase activity in a human somatic tissue or cell sample is positively correlated with the presence of cancer and can be used to diagnose the course of disease progression in a patient.
patent.womplex.ibm.com
5643890 : Synthetic oligonucleotides which mimic telomeric sequences for use in treatment of cancer and other diseases
ABSTRACT: A method of inhibiting proliferation of immortal cells or cells that express telomerase is disclosed. The method includes introduction of synthetic oligonucleotides which mimic telomere motifs. Quite surprisingly applicant has demonstrated that a single telomere motif, TTAGGG exhibits greater cellular uptake and higher inhibition of proliferation than longer oligonucleotides, which were previously thought to be necessary to achieve sequence specific interaction with telomerase.
patent.womplex.ibm.com
Clearly, GERN is not the only player in this game. Marty, since none of these patents are assigned to GERN, how can you claim that GERN has all the critical patents locked up? Exactly what patents does GERN have? Here's all I could find:
5645986 : Therapy and diagnosis of conditions related to telomere length and/or telomerase activity.
ABSTRACT: Method and compositions are provided for the determination of telomere length and telomerase activity, as well as the ability to increase or decrease telomerase activity in the treatment of proliferative diseases.
Geron is listed last, of three assignees.
patent.womplex.ibm.com
5629154 : Telomerase activity assays
ABSTRACT: Telomerase activity in a sample can be measured using a two reaction protocol involving telomerase substrate and primer extension steps.
patent.womplex.ibm.com
5583016 : Mammalian telomerase
ABSTRACT: Nucleic acids comprising the RNA component of a mammalian telomerase are useful as pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic reagents.
patent.womplex.ibm.com
I'd rather own the first 3 patents, instead of the 3 that GERN owns. Marty, which GERN patent "locks-up" cancer treatment? None of them directly address use of telomerase inhibitors to treat cancer. Maybe there are other patents that I can't find? Would you please post references to the patents that lock-up future millions for GERN?
It's true that short-term traders haven't been caring much about facts, but they don't really claim to know the facts. Marty, since you claim to know the facts, please back up your statements with some references. Thanks. |
