14th July, 2010

Patent for jellyfish protein for therapeutic use

Quincy Bioscience, a biotechnology company based in Madison, Wisconsin has been granted a patent relating to the use of aequorin-containing compounds in checking and easing disorders related to calcium imbalance. Aequorin is a calcium-binding photoprotein made up of an apo-protein and a luciferin and is isolated from a species of luminescent jellyfish called Aequorea victoria.  Aequorin is neuroprotective in nature and is efficient at improving cognition features such as spatial working memory and executive function in human beings.

 Calcium-binding proteins are useful in maintaining the calcium balance which is vital to proper cell function in humans.  The neuron’s capacity to manage calcium and maintain homeostasis is also essential for proper cell functioning. The cell’s inability to regulate calcium levels gives rise to different pathological and physiological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. Quincy Bioscience, whose products aim at restoring calcium balance related to neurodegenerative disorders and other destructive age-related mechanisms, claims that aequorin would be beneficial in various health conditions.

Microsoft and Japan's Denso sign cross-licensing deal

Microsoft has signed a patent cross-licensing deal with a Japanese company which develops advanced automotive technology to be used for in-car entertainment. Though no technology was being exchanged or licensed under the agreement, this deal would give Denso access to Microsoft patents for the company's product lines including navigation and auto-drive technologies.

The financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but there is indication that Microsoft is being compensated by Denso Corp. and Microsoft will also be granted access to Denso patents.

This deal is in line with Microsoft’s previous patent deals with other companies like Pioneer, Alpine Electronics and TomTom. Microsoft is investing in automotive infotainment software, which is quite visible from products like Ford SYNC, Kia UVO and Fiat Blue&Me.

Shire and Cadila in patent lawsuit

The two subsidiaries of Shire- Shire Development Inc. and Shire Pharmaceutical Development Inc, have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Cadila Healthcare Ltd., an Indian generic drug developer, over Lialda, a bowel disorder drug in U.S. District Court in Delaware. Shire is an Irish specialty biopharmaceutical company.

Cadila has been conducting business as Zydus Cadila and Zydus Pharmaceuticals Inc. Zydus had filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application at the Food and Drug Administration for approval to market and sell generic versions of Lialda mesalamine before the expiration of the Shire's Lialda patent. Lialda is known as Mezavant outside the U.S.

The stay on generic approval will expire in November 2012, if not terminated before, as Shire had filed its patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days of receiving the Paragraph IV notification letter from Zydus.

FDA approves MRSA Advanced Detection Test

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Roche Molecular Systems Inc.’s LightCycler® MRSA advanced test for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for clinical use in the US. The LightCycler® MRSA advanced test is a diagnostic test for the shortest detection of MRSA infection of the nose.

This test is conducted with nasal swab samples from patients suspected of MRSA colonization. It uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and delivers quick results within two hours and would be suitable for MRSA screening in hospitals to prevent infection by these dreadful bacteria.

Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company based in Pleasanton, California produces diagnostic and blood screening tests based on polymerase chain reaction technology. The company operates as a subsidiary of Roche Diagnostics Corporation.

NTP sues Apple, Google, Microsoft, HTC, LG and Motorola over wireless e-mail patent

A Virginia-based patent-holding company NTP Inc., which secured a $600 million plus settlement from RIM, the maker of the BlackBerry is suing Apple, Google, Microsoft, HTC, LG and Motorola.

The suits, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia claim that the cell phone e-mail systems of  these companies function by using a patented  technology owned by NTP, without licensing it.

NTP accuses these companies of infringing eight patents relating to delivery of e-mail over wireless communications systems. However the world's biggest maker of mobile phones, Nokia, has not been accused of any patent infringement by NTP as Nokia had licensed the technology from the company earlier.

Olympus America Licenses Digital Pathology Patents to BioImagene, Inc.

Olympus America Inc. has signed a worldwide licensing agreement with BioImagene, Inc. of Sunnyvale, California. This nonexclusive deal would allow BioImagene to access Olympus patents related to digital pathology and virtual microscopy.

Olympus has granted many licenses for these technologies, which are significant for developing future digital imaging and data handling systems for pathology. Digital pathology would promote better access to healthcare and be beneficial for patients around the world. Olympus’s Virtual microscope slide technology would be useful to hospitals in moving complete Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems.

The patents included in the licensing agreement cover methods and equipment for creating, storing and delivering virtual microscopy slides. This patented technology allows pathologists to observe and share high-resolution virtual microscopy images over the Internet. Now the days of strenuous and costly anatomic pathological diagnosis would be a thing of the past when these technologies would become operational.

Himalaya Drug Company to pay Rs.50, 000 as compensation in trademark dispute

The Himalaya Drug Company has been directed by the Delhi High Court to pay Rs.50, 000 as compensation to a homeopathic medicine maker SBL Limited. Himalaya Drug Company had sued the homeopathic medicine maker for alleged trademark infringement.

The Company had appealed to the court to restrain SBL Limited from manufacturing a homeopathic drug by the name LIV-T, which according to them was similar to their Liv-52. Justice S. Muralidhar rejected the appeal on the ground that there was no evidence to validate the complaint that LIV-T had created confused customers and also that the prefix "LIV" used by SBL Limited was not an exclusive right of the petitioner.

SBL's LIV-T is a homeopathic liver tonic commonly prescribed for curing liver disorders and stimulating the appetite.