Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. ("ACT"; OTCBB: ACTC) announced today that it is positioned to obtain significant patents relating to cellular reprogramming and the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. iPS cells are similar to embryonic stem (ES) cells, except they are generated from adult cells − such as skin − using certain reprogramming factors, without the controversial use of embryos. Although human iPS cells were first produced in 2007, ACT has been working on inducing pluripotency, with positive results, for more than a decade. The Company's efforts go back to the 1990s, providing (through existing patent filings and continuations) some of the earliest priority dates in the field.
“ACT is pursuing claims (published and unpublished) that, if granted, would dominate the use of what the rest of the research community is now coming to understand are the key regulators of induced pluripotency”
"ACT is pursuing claims (published and unpublished) that, if granted, would dominate the use of what the rest of the research community is now coming to understand are the key regulators of induced pluripotency," said William M. Caldwell IV, the Company's Chairman and CEO. "With a very strong intellectual property portfolio in place, including a recently-issued broad patent for production of retinal pigment epithelial cells, we are continuing to pursue an aggressive patent filing strategy. We have filed multiple patent applications to cover reagents and processes related to induced pluripotency, as well as the resulting cell compositions. Importantly, we do not want to impede the development of iPS cell research by others in this field, and prefer to work cooperatively to stimulate innovation and to help to drive the realization of iPS cell technology for new therapies."