The Belgian company has been developing a stem cell programme, in close consultation with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), focused on two products: Cx601 and Cx611. The first one is currently in the third phase of European clinical tests and is addressed to patients with Crohn’s disease. The company intends to get commercial acceptation in Europe if the final results are positive. The aim of the second product is the treatment of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and those who suffer from severe sepsis.
The European patent, entitled “Identification and isolation of multipotent cells from non-osteochondral mesenchymal tissue”, consolidates the leading position of TiGenix in the biomedical field and reinforces their intellectual property portfolio, which already includes 14 certificated patents on its aplatform of allogeneic stem cell expanding derived from adipose tissue.
The granting of this patent is a positive step on stem in the field of stem cell therapy in Europe, along with the decision of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last December in favor of International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO). The world leader in research into human stem cell, non-embryonic, filed two patent applications in 2011, that were rejected by the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), alleging that they violated the patentable methods allowed by the Directive 98/44/EC on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions. The ECJ rejected UKIPO’s allegations and has allowed ISCO to present patents applications, if only embryonic stem cells are derived from unfertilized eggs.
Written by: María Vega
Image: Michael, under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC 2.0 https://www.flickr.com/photos/michlt/1480251442
Sources:
http://ipfrontline.com/2015/01/european-patent-office-issues-key-patent-to-tigenix/
http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/12/18/ciencia/1418928433_575443.html
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