Start Licensing, Inc. Challenges Korean Company's Provision Of Dog Cloning Services

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 19 Feb 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Start Licensing, Inc. (Start) announced that it controls key patents in Korea that cover animal cloning technology, including the technology used to clone dogs. RNL Bio Ltd (RNL) announced on February 12, 2008 that it was launching a dog cloning service and had signed its first client. RNL is not licensed under Start's patents. These patents include Korean Patent Nos. 10-0533476, 10-0533477, and 10-0743006, and are part of a portfolio of patents and patent applications owned by Roslin Institute that are directed to foundational somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning technology developed at Roslin Institute for the cloning of Dolly the sheep. This portfolio is exclusively licensed to Start for all non-human animal cloning applications.

"Start will protect its patent rights," said Jonathan Thatcher, President of Start Licensing. "We will take all necessary actions and pursue every available legal remedy to do so."

About Start Licensing

Start is a joint venture of Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) and Exeter Life Sciences, Inc. Start manages and licenses a broad portfolio of intellectual property rights related to animal reproductive technologies, including foundational nuclear transfer cloning technology developed at the Roslin Institute for the cloning of Dolly the sheep. Start's licensees are on the cutting edge of research and product development in food production, medical applications and many other fields.

Geron Corporation