Related to Court’s Halt of Federally Backed ESC Research May Impact Economic Growth

• Opinion: Watson, Come Here … You're Needed at the PTO
  Without a transformation of the information technology supporting patent examiners, patent reform would be like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
  
• A Look at the Top Two Bio Clusters in the U.S.: California and Massachusetts
  Financing and workforce issues are at the top of their agendas for this year.
  
• Overview of the Number Three and Four Biotech Clusters in the U.S.
  North Carolina and Maryland are trying to start new funds to support start-ups.
  
• Patent Reform Likely to Benefit Industry Giants More Than Start-Ups
  Points of concern in the America Invents Act include provisions for first-to-file and inequitable conduct.
  
• Stanford v. Roche Could Place Tech Transfer on Shaky Ground
  If Supreme Court doesn’t overturn previous decision, patent ownership may become tough to verify and impede licensing.
  
• Review of the Second Tier of Biotechnology Clusters in the U.S.
  Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington gear up to boost growth plans while trying to balance budget woes.
  
• House Takes Different Stance from Senate on Two Key Factors in Patent Reform
  While in number the amendments are small, their influence could be significant.
  
• Supreme Court’s Decision in Matrixx v. Siracusano Calls for More Disclosure of Adverse Events to Investors
  Side effects that are not statistically significant must also be divulged.
  
• Do Presidential Bioethics Committees Shape Science Policy?
  Panels help frame the debate, but topics are sometimes chosen more because of political pressure than scientific need.
  
• Patent Uncertainty and Political Flux Keeping hESC Investors from Seeing Returns
  Researchers are exploring other avenues in light of various unknowns.
  
• Supreme Court Decision in Stanford v. Roche Does Not Change Bayh-Dole
  The ruling does, however, make it clear that institutions will have to spell out how inventions can be assigned.
  
• Therasense v. Becton Dickinson Ruling Expected to Limit Inequitable Conduct Cases
  Becton has until August 23 to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.
  
• Prospect of Court Appeals and Congressional Bill Hold the Cards for hESC Research
  Case seeks to prevent the use of federal dollars, while Washington’s conservative bent is cause for concern.
  
• French Bioethics Law Addresses Embryonic Research
  Country instituted a prohibition in principle accompanied by exemptions.
  
• Federal Circuit Takes Up En Banc Joint Infringement of Method Patents
  Oral arguments begin today on two separate cases, which don’t involve biotech firms but will affect the industry.
  
• Where Does Geron’s Exit from Embryonic Stem Cells Leave the Field?
  Given that the firm with the most money has just quit, questions about how to succeed are rampant.
  
• U.S. Lead in Nanotechnology Depends on Growth of FDA and Gov’t Initiatives
  European revenue from nanotech-enabled products is projected to surpass that of the U.S. by 2015, according to Lux Research.
  
• Industry, Academic Professionals Offer Advice for President Obama’s Bioeconomy Blueprint
  The administration’s Office of Science and Technology Policy received 134 submissions.
  
• Congress Will Have to Deal with Much More than Just Elections in 2012
  At the forefront of discussions will be deficit reduction, which could significantly impact life science funding.
  
• Enzo Sues Roche, Gen-Probe, and Life Technologies in Patent Infringement Case
  Patent under dispute expires in 2023, and defendants plan on fighting the lawsuit.