Advanced Cell Technology Announces Favorable Ruling on Human Applications of Nuclear Transfer, Issuance of Patent, and Intent to
25 February 2005 - 3:32AM
PR Newswire (US)
Advanced Cell Technology Announces Favorable Ruling on Human
Applications of Nuclear Transfer, Issuance of Patent, and Intent to
Appeal Adverse Ruling on Animal Claims WORCESTER, Mass., Feb. 24
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A.C.T. Holdings, Inc. (OTC:ACTH)
(BULLETIN BOARD: ACTH) and Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT)
announced today the decision of the Board of Patent Appeals and
Interference, interference number 105,192, between itself and Geron
Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) over methods of producing cultured inner
cell mass (CICM) cells, often referred to as embryonic stem cells.
The Board granted ACT's motion to remove from the interference its
patent claim relating to the human species, affirming in its
decision that "this claim is not properly before us." In a second
aspect of the decision of the Board of Patent Appeals and
Interference ruled against ACT and in favor of Geron on other
motions relating to the cloning of non-human animal embryos and
CICM cells. ACT intends to appeal this decision. Today ACT also
announces the issuance of an important US patent relating to the
use of nuclear transfer in regenerative medicine, US Patent No.
6,808,704, titled "Method for Generating Immune-Compatible Cells
and Tissues Using Nuclear Transfer Techniques". That patent is
completely unrelated to the animal cloning patents involved in the
interference proceedings with Geron. "Advanced Cell Technology is
focused on the human medical applications of stem cell technology.
It has been our contention all along that this interference relates
to patent claims for non-human animal cloning and therefore does
not relate to our core human product focus. This ruling makes our
point for us," said William M. Caldwell, CEO of Advanced Cell
Technology. "However, we have numerous commercial partners
utilizing ACT's patented animal cloning technology and we intend to
defend our patents vigorously. We intend to appeal the decision
relating to the animal cloning claims." Dr. Michael D. West,
Chairman, President, and Chief Scientific Officer of A.C.T.
Holdings, Inc. commented on the issuance of US Patent No 6,808,704
saying: "Regenerative medicine is a technology with many potential
human applications. Yet unlike many advances in the past,
regenerative medicine demands many new research tools. Our new
patent provides one such tool, facilitating the testing of cells
and tissue-engineered constructs." A.C.T. Holdings, Inc. is a
biotechnology company applying human stem cell technology in the
emerging field of regenerative medicine. The company is currently
headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts. The company intends to
establish a research facility in California, where voters last
November passed Proposition 71. Often referred to as the "Stem Cell
Initiative", Proposition 71 provides $3.0 billion over the next ten
years for stem cell research. Forward-Looking Statements This press
release contains forward looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Actual results, events and performance could vary
materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking
statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties that may cause the company's actual results in future
periods to differ materially from results expressed or implied by
forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements because they involve these risks and
uncertainties. You should independently investigate and fully
understand all risks before making investment decisions.
DATASOURCE: A.C.T. Holdings, Inc. CONTACT: William M. Caldwell IV,
or Michael D. West, Ph.D., both of A.C.T. Holdings, Inc.,
+1-508-756-1212 Web site: http://www.advancedcell.com/
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