Geron "owns five (5) issued United States patents and over 40
United States patent applications and has licensed 13 issued
United States patents and over 40 United States patent
applications," according to the company's June, 1997, 10Q.
Since many of Geron's patent applications are still pending, a
patent search covering only issued patents wouldn't give a
complete picture of Geron's intellectual property holdings.
In addition, it's not clear whether you checked for all of the
patents Geron has exclusively licensed. In this regard, you did
miss patent #5,639,639, issued on June 17, 1997 to Geron's
collaborator, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
at Dallas, and licensed exclusively to Geron.
Good luck --- Marty
I've heard a number of Geron presentations and spoken to
management. They do believe they have an exceptionally strong
patent position with regard to telomerase. Also, most of the
leading telomerase researchers are Geron collaborators.
Here's a quote from Geron's July 10, 1997 press release,
announcing issuance of patents 5,645,986, 5,629,154 and
5,639,613: "These patents complement Geron's extensive patent
portfolio, giving us an unusually strong proprietary position in
the field of telomerase and cancer," said Ronald W. Eastman,
Geron president and chief executive officer. "They enhance
Geron's ability to develop a telomerase inhibitor as a novel
cancer therapeutic and to develop telomerase as the cancer marker
of choice for oncologists."
Personally, I trust Geron's confidence that they have, as I've
previously posted, "pretty much locked up the patents covering
the use of telomerase inhibitors to treat cancer." Apparently,
P&U also believes in Geron's strong patent protection. Others may
have their doubts and I don't have a problem with that -- that's
what makes a stock market. |
