December 25, 2007

   

Vector Structure for “Exchangeable Gene-trap Method” has been patented by the U.S Patent Office


 

We hereby announce that vector structure, a part of patent applications for q㌃xchangeable gene-trap methodq� (hereinafter referred to as q㏄he technologyq�) which is a basic technology of TRANS GENIC INC. (hereinafter referred to as q�weq�), has been approved by the U.S. Patent Office and U.S. Patent No. 7,312,075 was issued on December 25, 2007.

The patent granted this time covers structure of trap vector, an essential part of the exchangeable gene-trap method discovered by Dr. Ken-ichi Yamamura, director of TRANS GENIC INC. and professor of Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University.

Using the technology, we have cyclopaedically produced a great number of knockout mice and ES cells and offer their gene information to various corporations and institutions such as pharmaceutical companies. We also disclose the information at TG Resource BankR on our website and license use rights by strain to pharmaceutical companies and research institutions at home and abroad to let them use the information continuously for their researches, aiming for gene functional analyses and gene discovery for innovative drugable targets. We ourselves proceed with several R&D projects using the information to discover and identify innovative drugable targets.

A patent of q㏄rap vectors and exchangeable gene-trap method using the samaq� was transferred to TRANS GENIC INC. from Kumamoto Technology and Industry Foundation (former Kumamoto Technopolis Foundation) in April 2000. Since then we have been trying to protect intellectual properties of the patent around the world to expand our business.
Although the patent granted this time is for vector structure, an essential part of the technology, we intend to obtain the other related patents to cover it more widely.

The potential influence of the patent acquisition on our future business performance remains uncertain, but we will make an announcement as soon as it is revealed to have a significant impact on our future performance.

Reference:

- Current state of protection of intellectual properties regarding the q㌃xchangeable gene-trap methodq�

We filed an international patent application for q㏄rap vector and exchangeable gene-trap method using the sameq� (WO01/005987) in May, 2000.

Country in which application was filed Date of Application Current state
Japan February, 2001 Patent pending
The U.S. January, 2002 Vector structure was patentedq_(US 7312075)
The other related patents are pending
Eight countries in Europe January, 2002 Patent pending
Australia February, 2002 Patented in April, 2005 q_(AU 778719)
China March, 2002 Patent pending
Hong Kong February, 2003 Patent pending

Note:
*

Exchangeable Gene-Trap Method

It is a technology to produce genetically engineered mice effectively, invented by Dr. Ken-ichi Yamamura, director of TRANS GENIC INC and professor of Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University. It completely destroys genes expressed in murine ES cells at random.
Unlike conventional trap methods, it completely destroys genes and the trapped genes are exchangeable with other genes such as human genes and point mutation. Therefore, it is useful to develop human disease model animals and to conduct gene functional analyses precisely.

 
*

TG Resource Bank®

It is a name of our bioresource library on our website.
We have disclosed information of approximately 700 knockout mouse strains and 2,000 knockout ES clones produced by the exchangeable gene-trap method since September, 2006.


 
 
 
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