Medical and Dental Device Patenting Blog

Single Letter Wrong in Medical Patent on Heart Surgury Solution Spells Disaster

John Rizvi — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:31:46 -0500

Osmolarity vs. Osmolality - What a difference a single letter makes!

Can getting a single letter of the alphabet wrong in an issued patent spell disaster when it comes to litigating against infringers? Unless the mistake is seen as being a minor typographical error that can be corrected by filing a certificate of correction, the answer is a resounding yes.

Hats off to Peter Zura of The 271 Patent Blog for his post on Central Admixure Pharmacy Services v. Advanced Cardiac Solutions (06-13-07).

In this case, Central Admixture Pharmacy Services sued Advanced Cardiac Solutions for patent infringment relating to a chemical solution used duriing heart surgery.

A certificate of correction was sought on the patent and was issued by the patent office to replace all instances of the word "osmolarity" with the word "osmolality".

You might be thinking that all the certificate does is change the "R" in osmolaRity with a "L" so that it reads osmolaLity. Well, yes, BUT....

Whether or not the certificate of correction is proper depends upon whether the change is a clerical or typographical nature or if it constitutes new matter or would require re-examination. Although the district court found the certificate of correction proper, the CAFC disagreed and found that the result of the correction was to broaden the claims since the corrected claims using the term osmolaLity cover less concentrated solutions than the original osmolaRity.

Yikes! Needless to say, non-technical proofreaders or computerized spell-check and grammar checking programs (gasp!) are not adequate alternatives to a careful final review of a patent application by someone familiar with the technical vocabulary of the invention.

Join me at the Florida International Medical Exposition

John Rizvi — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:40:28 -0500

As a Fort Lauderdale Patent Attorney, I have been fortunate enough to practice within a stone's throw of the annual meeting location one of the most exciting and interesting expositions on medical and dental innovations in the united States, namely, the Florida International Medical Exposition or FIME for short.

If you are a medical or dental device innovator, this is one tradeshow you DO NOT want to miss. It will take place from August 12 - 15, 2009, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. With over 20,000 professionals from the industry in attendance, you will be in very good company.

If you do attend, please join me on Thursday, August 13, 2009, at the Florida International Medical Exposition where I will deliver a presentation entitled:

Preservation of Legal Rights in Medical Innovations

Thursday, August 13, 2009, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Miami Beach Convention Center

More information about FIME 2009 is available at www.fimeshow.com with a full schedule of seminars and educational presentations at www.edufime.com.

Auction to Sell Six (6) Florida Medical Patent Applications

John Rizvi — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:16:31 -0500

Although my practice is national in scope, I take particular interest in Florida's medical and dental patenting landscape. Recently, I ran across an article regarding Accubreak Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ABP) of Plantation, Florida that caught my interest.

Accubreak Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ABP) will action six medical patent applications through IPAuctions, Inc. according to an article on www.auctioninfo.org on June 13, 2009.

Accubread Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a number of Florida medical patents developed at their headquarters in South Florida directed towards the creation of tablets that can be easily divided by hand into exact smally doses for tablet splitting. The complete article is available here.

Greener Asthma Inhalers on the Horizon

John Rizvi — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:15:20 -0500

    In the online edition of Time magazine, an article reports that asthma inhalers containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) will be illegal for production or sale as of December 31st of this year, because of known detriments of CFCs to the environment. Medical patent attorneys and innovators should look for opportunities to create greener inhalers, particularly as current options are inconvenient.

    The current greener asthma inhalers require a specific cleaning procedure to prevent clogging, and they also tend to be more expensive. The CFC-free options on the market today include "GlaxoSmithKline's Ventolin HFA, Schering Plough's Proventil HFA and Ivax Corp.'s Proair HFA." These contain albuterol; another inhaler from Sepracor--their Xopenex HFA--contains a similar medication, levalbuterol.

    As a medical patent attorney (or at least a patent attorney with a particular specialty and expertise in medical patents anyway), I look forward with interest to green alternatives in asthma inhalers, which are both more convenient and less costly to the consumer. Something to make us all breathe a little easier.

Medical Patents - Windfall Opportunities and Innovation from Wisconsin

John Rizvi — Sat, 03 May 2008 06:32:16 -0500

Think medical patents couldn't derive from a state known largely for its cheese? The University of Wisconsin-Madison begs to differ, and the students who flock to their biomedical engineering program from all over the country agree. Taking an unusual experiential approach, UW-Madison sets itself apart by offering students the opportunity to solve real-life clinical issues through research and design.

This leads to ongoing medical patent opportunities for its students, who can watch their accomplishments from conception to completion--and in the field resolving medical needs. In the full article at Newswise, biomedical engineering chair and department head Robert Radwin says their program is unparalleled. "Almost every engineering program has a senior design experience, but all our BME students work on projects throughout their curriculum. You can only do this in Wisconsin, and students come here because of this curriculum."

Among recent students who have sought or received medical patents for their innovative medical designs are undergraduates Claire Flanagan and Ashley Huth and alumni Chris Westphal. Flanagan and Huth filed a provisional medical patent application for a syringe that can separately "store liquid and solid components, and mix and administer a solution." This is to solve a contemporary challenge in delivering "complex and multi-component therapeutics" according to UW-Madison professor W. John Kao. Westphal was part of a team that developed and manufactured a device to help researchers study hamstring injuries using MRIs.

The list of collaborative and independent innovation is long and ongoing, as are the opportunities for students to commemorate their efforts with medical patents (and ensuing profits). "I think the opportunity of being able to get a [medical] patent before you get your undergraduate degree lingers in the minds of many students while they are designing and building their devices," says Westphal. Imagining crossing leaving the stage with a diploma and a medical patent in hand, and I believe Mr. Westphal is right on the money.

Medical Patents: Can We Reduce Side Effects in Prostate Cancer Patients?

John Rizvi — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:47:52 -0500

    Medication accounts for a great majority of medical patents, though every medication has its side effects. There's no doubt medicine is saving lives and yet there are clear medical patent opportunities to minimize the risks associated with them. The main difficulty, as you in the medical community may be aware, is that medication is designed to handle a specific issue within the body. However, everything within the body is connected and the challenges in treating one area without impacting any other is significant.

    One such area where improvements are needed is in treating prostate cancer as a new study describes the difficulties patients have in selecting the treatment plan with the lowest side effects (AP via CNN Health). The study, published on March 19, 2008 in the New England Journal of Medicine, studied four prostrate cancer treatments: surgery, standard radiation, radioactive seeds (for patients in the early stages), and hormone therapy.

    The side effects of the various treatments were related to sexual and urinary complications. Hormone therapy in combination with radiation "had a big effect on men's vitality and sexuality." Similarly, radioactive pellets created sexual problems, as well as "discomfort in urinating." Surgery, too, impacted sexual performance and a small percentage had trouble with incontinence one to two years after the surgery. Bowel problems, such as rectal pain and a higher frequency of trips to the bathroom were associated to varying degrees with the treatment plans. And, this is, in fact, my point: while the side effects I've described varied depending on the therapy used, they were present with all of them.

    Looking ahead, I'm wondering where medical patent innovation may take us, where we may find remedies, in medicine and otherwise, that reduce or eliminate side effects. And, I specifically wonder whether taking a more holistic, systemic view in the treatment of any medical issue may lead to medical patent innovations and developments that will help us recover and thrive.

Medical Patent Opportunities in Knee Joint Protection

John Rizvi — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:00:27 -0500

    According to Claudia Wallis, knee replacements surgeries will increase by 525% by 2030 (CNN Health, March 6, 2008, Photo Morgana/Corbis). As a U.S. Registered Patent Attorney, I recognize the opportunities this figure represents in the various ways the medical community could help people prevent the need for this surgery or handle life afterwards as appropriate. The increase is partly attributable, it seems, to the earlier onset of osteoarthritis (age 65 as opposed to 70) coupled with a desire for these younger older citizens to remain active.

    It also brings to mind the undeniable fact that, as Baby Boomers are now nearing retirement, this population segment will explode in the years to come. This, of course, means that there will be an increased need for medical products, supplies, and services designed to keep up with the needs. Moreover, as the aging population increases, so too will the opportunity to acquire a medical patent. Attorneys involved in patenting, as I am, should be on the lookout for medical patents geared toward the elderly, tracking ideas as they develop, so that we can astutely advise our medical patent clients of the degree to which their ideas are/are not patentable.

    Wallis also reports that the number of hip replacements will "more than double, rising from 285,000 to 573,000," which further increases the need to fortify and support aging bones. Moreover, as obesity is indicated as a high risk factor, promoting healthier lifestyles is another source of opportunity. Should you find yourself in need of a medical patent attorney, feel free to call me at (866) 433-2288. I handle other areas of patent law, but have particular expertise in this regard.

Medical Patent Opportunities in Bloodless Solutions

John Rizvi — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:03:29 -0500

    (Los Angelos Times, February 4, 2008) Medical patent opportunities for "bloodless solutions" have been actualized in a wide range of medical devices in technology. With patients increasingly concerned with the risks associated with transfusions, the trend appears to be growing.

    And, it's backed by a growing number of medical practitioners. In fact, the L.A. Times reports that approximately 125 hospitals currently offer bloodless or transfusion-free programs, compared with only 35 in 1994. As a medical patent attorney, I was interested to read of the various ways patient and physician concerns have translated into medical patent opportunities in new and innovative devices and techniques.

    Blood conservation is of particular emphasis, and a variety of techniques are being used to minimize the loss of blood that occurs as a result of many illnesses. Additionally, current medical patents exist for "innovative medications" that meet the same purpose. Surgical devices, too, have been devised and patented to stop the loss of blood during surgery.

    Threats of infectious disease may be a leading factor in the trend, but a number of other transfusion-based risks run along side it. Allergies, for one, are a concern; patients can have mild to severe reactions upon receiving someone else's blood. Moreover, human error accounts for patients receiving the wrong blood type during a transfusion, with often disastrous results.

    Experts in transfusion dispute the risks, saying they're somewhat "overstated"; however, the concern seems to be growing. Safety, overall, is of continued concern, and it's natural that it should spillover into the medical community. As a medical patent attorney, I notice a lot of medical and other trends in the news and in the form of patent applications that cross my desk.

    I believe this is a trend that will be here for some time. If you have a medical patent idea in this or any other area, feel free to contact me at my Florida patent law firm, Gold & Rizvi, P.A., or at JohnRizvi@IdeaAttorneys.com or 1-866-433-2288.

Patent Pending Drug for Artherosclerosis

John Rizvi — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:52:20 -0500

       Merck & Co, Inc., in collaboration with Arena Pharmaceuticals, is taking a patent pending drug into Phase One of a clinical trial (PharmaLive, January 25, 2008). Merck's second generation niacin receptor agonist is a combatant to artherosclerosis.

        Will the patented drug enter the market?

        According to Arena Pharmaceuticals' President and CEO Jack Lief, so far, so good. This particular trial is part of a larger collaboration between Merck and Arena to discover patented ways to treat artherosclerosis and other disorders. While a recent investigation of MK-0354 broke down in the preclinical trial phase, Lief remains optimistic about the progress they've made with this new drug.

       Artherosclerosis accounts for the greatest number of cholesterol-related deaths. So, it makes sense that Merck wants to contribute with drugs aimed at its demise. As a Florida patent attorney, I see pharmaceutical companies racing to market with ever new and innovative solutions to patient ills.

        A great deal of money is spent on patenting drugs that ultimately fail before reaching the market. You might wonder if its worth it. Ask the pharmaceutical companies, however, and the answer is a resounding and emphatic "Yes!" Financial market analysts agree. Patented brand name drugs net huge returns.

        And, as a Florida Patent Attorney who watches the business and financial worlds closely, I can attest to the fact that patents are the driving force behind profits in each and every category.

Patent Revocation: A Significant Risk?

John Rizvi — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:16:56 -0500

    I posted the information below in a separate blog I run for people interested in non-medical patents. However, I thought it would be of use to this community as well.

    The question being discussed is how 'at-risk' patent holders are for having their patents revoked. And the short answer is...very little.

    . The United States Patent and Trademark Office doesn't make it easy to get a patent. Florida patent attorneys like myself work through excruciating details to secure the approval of our clients' patent applications. The USPTO also expends significant resources in determining an inventor's eligibility for patent protection and is necessarily reluctant to take a patent away once it's been issued--absent strong evidence that a mistake was made.

    I read an article yesterday about the USPTO's decision to tentatively nullify four patents held by Gilead Sciences, which cover a drug that treats AIDS patients (San Jose Mercury News, January 24, 2008). A consumer advocacy group up the coast from Florida (in New York) called the Public Patent Foundation is the third-party challenger in this case, claiming Gilead's patents are invalid, because they'd publicly disclosed the technology behind the drug.

    This brings up something I consistently counsel Florida patent seekers (and patent seekers everywhere) against. It is vitally important not to publicly disclose your idea--and in fact not to disclose it except under absolute necessity--before filing for a patent. The USPTO can, and certainly will, reject a patent application for an idea already in the public eye.

    Now, I doubt that Gilead, having already secured their four patents, will have their patents revoked. (Even the Public Patent Foundation admits the unlikeliness of this.) And, Gilead, which earned $3.1 Billion in sales based on their patents, says they will "vigorously defend each and every claim." With that big a business riding on it, I'm sure they will.

A Patent-Pending Patent Protector?

John Rizvi — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:42:56 -0500

       Applied DNA Sciences has filed multiple patent applications for technologies that serve to protect the authenticity of patented branded products (Medical Patent News, January 23, 2008). The technology works within hand-held scanners, which optically read their "SigNature DNA," a coding embedded by Applied DNA Sciences.

    As a U.S. Registered Florida Patent Attorney, I find this concept interesting. The idea behind it is preserving the authenticity of our patented products. And, authenticity is a key element in medical patents and, for that matter, any kind of patent. In the medical field, for one, we know that drug patents are among the most highly prized and valuable patents you can hold.

    Think of authenticity as a broader platform in the medical community. What brands of supplies, pharmaceuticals, and equipment do you trust most? Which feel, as the Coke slogan goes, like "the real thing"? No doubt others in the medical field feel strongly about particular (patented) brands.

    Patients, too, find comfort in brands they know and trust. Are you in the process of inventing something for use by medical staff? By patients? How are you imbuing authenticity within your product's concept? When an idea is innovative enough, being first is itself the strongest voice of authenticity.

    In this vein, you can see why patenting is so important. So, I'm interested in Applied DNA Sciences' hopefully soon-to-be-patented authenticator. And, interested in seeing of others are as interested in authenticity as I am.

    If you're interested in authenticating your medical invention with a patent, contact me at 866-433-2288 or JohnRizvi@IdeaAttorneys.com.

Patent Approved for Hythiam's Alcohol Treatment Program

John Rizvi — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:54:17 -0500

       As a Florida Patent Attorney, I track the news relevant to innovators in the medical field and post them here in my blog. Rather than straight reporting, one of the things I do is to give you insights you can use in your own innovations. For instance, today I read that the U.S. Patent Office has issued a patent for Hythiam Inc.'s PROMETA® alcohol and chemical dependence treatment program. I'll give you the scoop on what their patent covers, but I'll also point out the larger health trends the patent links to with the aim of spurring on your own ideation development.

       First, the scoop.

       According to an article at PharmaLive.com (Business Wire, LA, January 10, 2008) PROMETA® is a patented treatment program designed for healthcare providers with patients dependent on alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine independently or in combination. It's a holistic treatment program that incorporates nutritional supplements, psychosocial/other therapies chosen by the patient and her treatment provider, and FDA-approved medication given orally and intravenously, which are "separately administered in a unique dosing algorithm."

        As with any treatment program, PROMETA® was developed with the goal of "sustained recovery," What makes it patentable is partly the specifics of the integrated approach and partly the integration itself, which comes at alcohol and chemical addiction from disparate perspectives: the psychology of the individual on his own and in regard to his social environment, his physical health and potentially associated nutritional deficiencies, and a medical/pharmacological perspective.

       And, herein lies the insight.

       This treatment program fuses three macro cultural trends: 1.) An increasing emphasis on the mind-body connection; 2.) an underlying belief that no one perspective is universally "right;" and 3.) a belief that success with patients is borne partly in their own sense of responsibility and involvement.

         Interest in the mind-body connection in particular is a trend that has continued to grow over the last several years, and you can see this in patented products in virtually every category, including fitness, publishing, alternative health practices, the expansion of nutraceuticals into even our soda, etc.

        So, looking at the innovation you're currently or considering working on: Do any of these trends factor in? Could/should they? Or, is there another macro trend evident in your design? Honing in on a trend at play in the larger culture is a way of sharpening your idea and its development. I'm always looking for ways larger cultural trends impact and push forward innovation and would love to help keep the good ideas going with patents and trademarks that protect original, ingenious thinking.

        Contact me if you have an idea you'd like to protect - (866) 433-2288.

Patent Opportunity Indicated in Psychosomatic Illness

John Rizvi — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:42:47 -0500

    The focus on how our psychological impacts our physical health is a trend that continues to gain momentum in medical communities and in the general populace. It occurs to me that patent opportunities are abundant in this area in the form of products and patented regimens that might improve our mental outlook.

       One such area of opportunity is in combating chronic anxiety, according to recent research, which was reported on by today's edition of the Florida SunSentinel online (January 7, 2008, Sunsentinel.com). The American College of Cardiology published the research, which indicates that "chronic anxiety can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack. Men are reportedly at greater risk.

       While medicine is prescribed to keep cholesterol low and diabetes under control, a researcher at the New York University School of Medicine in commentary about the study said that all too often "we don't look at the psychological aspect of a patient's care." She urges doctors to look beyond traditional risk factors to see where what's going on in a patient's head might be impacting their heart. For the full study, click here.

       I believe an understanding of the mind-body connection is a trend that will continue to grow and represents a tremendous opportunity for the budding medical and health minded inventor. I look forward to seeing more products that can help people tackle issues at their source, and I will post additional information here as I come across it. As always, if you have an idea you'd like to pursue I'm happy to discuss it with you at no charge -- 866.433.2288.

Medical Patent in the Works for Cocaine Vaccination?

John Rizvi — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:42:15 -0500

Dr. Tom Kosten, a professor of psychiatry at the Baylor College of Medicine, and his wife, neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Therese Kosten are working on a medication to aid people in stopping cocaine addiction, according to a recent Newsweek article. The vaccine is designed to help the immune system identify cocaine when it's in the system and to "bind to the cocaine and prevent it from reaching the brain."

This is an innovative approach that marks the first time a medication might successfully be used to combat cocaine addiction. Since the addictive highs associated with cocaine occur when the drug reaches a person's brain, "hijacking" the drug before it reaches that point is particularly advantageous. The drug is currently in clinical trials, and Kosten has requested a full "multi-institutional trial" by the Food and Drug Administration to start this spring ('08). Holding a patent for this type of medication will likely be lucrative; David Gorelick, senior investigator at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, calls "addiction vaccines" a "promising advance."

CDEX's Medical Patent Offers Industry Increased Security

John Rizvi — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:31:24 -0500

       CDEX, Inc. demonstrated two chemical detection innovations in their medical patent portfolio at a recent trade show in Las Vegas, NV (CNNMoney, December 18, 2007). The two patent pending devices are ValiMed (TM) Medical Validation System and Meth Scanner (TM), both of which were duly received for their advanced ability to determine the chemical composition of medication (ValiMed) or the presence of narcotics (Meth Scanner).

       ValiMed, which is credited with "saving lives in hospitals across the nation," determines whether the medication inside the package--and not just the label--contains the medication to which it claims. Furthermore, it is easy to use with a simple declaration of "validated" or "not validated." I can picture the trade show audience of national and international hospital executives, pharmacists, and other industry representatives nodding their heads in approval at as this adds a considerable safety measure, which has broad implications for patients as well as financial bottom lines.

    Meth Scanner is a patent pending medical device that is a useful narcotics detector inside and outside of hospitals. As a complement to this scanner, CDEX also unveiled their new Fentanyl Validation System, which strengthens the procedures for preventing "narcotic diversion in medical facilities." Meth Scanner is one in a wide portfolio of patented/patent pending innovations designed to determine the presence of narcotics, including devices that can integrate their detection technology into medical products that already exist.

       It's hard to imagine a broader category for medical innovation than that of safety. CDEX has certainly made a big business of this, and maybe you can, too.

Dolly the Sheep Creators Secure New Medical Patent

John Rizvi — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:15:42 -0500

The Rosilin Institute, which stunned the world when they cloned Dolly the Sheep, have secured additional cloning patents, as announced in Earth Times (December 11, 2007). This further strengthens their position in this field and has broad agriculture and medical implications. The new patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 7,304,204 and 7,307,198) cover methods of using differentiated cells to clone ungulate animals, fetuses, and embryos.

These patents join a portfolio of patents owned by the Rosilin Institute for cloning using "foundational somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)," which is managed and licensed by Start Licensing, Inc. Other patents in Rosilin's portfolio include U.S. Patent No. 7,232,938 for a cloning process that uses "fusion or microinjection of a quiescent ungulent donor cell," a method that has been used to clone a farm animals, rodents, and cats and dogs.

Organics Continues to Provide Patenting Opportunities

John Rizvi — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:46:52 -0500

       Consumer interest in organic and natural products—those devoid of harmful environmental toxins—continues to escalate and broaden into more and more categories. Even in the most mainstream areas of the United States, organic products are taking up more and more shelf space, indicating the patenting opportunities for organic solutions are also on the rise.

        According to an article at ScienceCentric.com (December 4,2007), researchers at the Universidat Juate I and the Spanish Research Council know this. They have patented a method for removing pollutants from bivalve mollusks before we consume them. Bivalve mollusks include the shellfish who typically breed in shallow water and filter sea water to gather in nutrients—and pollutants—for instance, clams, mussels, and oysters. Compared to the current techniques of flushing the shellfish with sterile, filtered water or applying hydrostatic pressure, the researchers' patented technique reportedly removes the pollutants much more efficiently, at two to four times the speed and in increasing the mollusks' tolerance for "oxidative stress."

       Environmental toxins have been linked to cancer and certain neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson's Disease), as well as degenerating other functions within our systems. As these researchers, other scientists and medical practitioners, and entrepreneurs in areas far afield show us, organic solutions are solutions we can use and, in some cases, vitally need. Look into your own field of expertise—what uninvented organic solution might advance our bodies' abilities to develop and/or function? I, for one, would love to know, and, from what I've seen, the world would, too.

Announcing a Patented Remedy for Leukemia

John Rizvi — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:37:44 -0500

Novartis announced their patented Gleevac® is proving to stop a life-threatening form of leukemia in its tracks (CNN Money, December 9, 2007). Clinical trials have shown significant successes in halting a particular form of the disease known as Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) even into its most advanced stages. 1,100 newly diagnosed patients participated in the study with clinicians following their treatment throughout the course of the disease's progression.

Left untreated, Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia progresses into advanced stages in three to five years, after which patients typically reach the final "blast crisis phase"—a severe and fatal final stage. Gleevac was shown to stave off the disease's progression when given continuous treatment with Gleevac in the initial stage. Side effects are, of course, numerous and something to be considered. However, side effects notwithstanding, even among those in the late stages Gleevac performed well, indicating that Novartis will likely do well with this patented pharmaceutical drug. See press release for full details.

Medical Patent Opportunity in "Skin Cell Therapy"?

John Rizvi — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:54:19 -0500

        An article in today's online edition of BBC News (BBC News Online, December 7, 2007) explored the ins and outs of "reprogramming skin cells" to combat sickle cell anemia. Researchers at the Whitehead Institute of Biomedical Research in Massachussetts are conducting intense research to discover a safe way to turn skin cells into stem cells. Partly, this is to skirt around the controversy surrounding the use of stem cells and partly it reflects the ready abundance of skin cells.

       And, herein lies the patenting opportunity as well as the heart of the ethical debate. The researchers have yet to find a way to keep the reprogrammed skin cells from making random DNA changes elsewhere in the body, which can lead to dangerous complications like cancer. This is because, at the moment, researchers are using retroviruses to insert therapeutic genes into skin cells to create what they call "induced pluripotent stem cells," or IPS. Retroviruses are volatile and "can disrupt genes that should not be disrupted or activate genes that should not be activated," which, of course, can lead to harmful side effects.

    Developing a patented "delivery system that doesn't integrate itself into the genome" is the specific area of opportunity, but I wonder if it's possible? Stem cells themselves are pluripotent, meaning they are able to be transformed into any type of cell within the body. The team continues to conduct research to discover the secrets within our cells and DNA, and maybe one day (and maybe sooner than we think) it will become a patented reality. On the other hand, maybe we cannot hope to wholly control or transform our cells--the most fundamental unit of our lives--without unintended, disastrous consequences. A patented impossibility?

Patent for Weight Loss Product Set to Enter U.S. Market

John Rizvi — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:01:45 -0500

Naturex, a French company, has patented an extract from the common ash tree, which is reportedly linked to weight loss. According to an article on NutraIngredients.com (November 27, 2007, McNally), the company will launch the product in the U.S., Asia, and Europe to meet growing consumer demand for natural products to promote weight management.

Naturex's patent covers the extraction and purification of the key compound "secoiridoids" found within the ash tree. I have noticed a great deal of consumer interest in natural alternatives in a wide range of categories, most importantly food and beverages and health and beauty aids, leaving the patenting opportunities for holistic/natural ingredients wide open.