Abstract
With the signing of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) on September 16, 2011, United States patent law has undergone significant changes.
For many years, there has been much concern and heated discussion about the state of the US patent system and how to improve it. Critics charged that it was unwieldy, slow, and costly; that complex priority contests wasted time and money; that it was not harmonized with the “first-to-file” approach practiced by most of the rest of the world; and that it disadvantaged individual inventors and small business relative to established inventors and corporate interests.
The America Invents Act represents years of debate and the final iteration of six years' worth of proposed patent reform legislation. The new law's most drastic change is to shift the statutory basis of US patent law from a “first-to-invent” regime to “first-to-file.” Essentially, this change means that priority belongs unquestionably to the first inventor who files an application for a particular invention. Previously, the first-filer's priority rights could be challenged by—and awarded to—a later-filing inventor, if the latter could prove he was first to conceive of the invention and was diligent in reducing it to practice. However, because the new provisions only apply to patents filed beginning March 16, 2013, the PTO will operate under both the old and new laws for some years to come.
Will the changes in this new law affect researchers positively or negatively? It is difficult to accurately predict what the results will be—and we may not know for some time following implementation of the new patent regime. While the new provisions may have the effect of encouraging small inventors to protect their inventions by filing quickly, there are also significant concerns that the new “first-to-file” regime will discourage innovation by favoring larger, entrenched players and by making it even more difficult for researcher-inventors and entrepreneurs to secure venture funding for start-ups. And although a significant motivation behind the new law was harmonization, this change comes at a time when other countries have begun to voice concerns that the first-to-file system has stifled innovation by small and independent players, and has resulted in excessive filings driven by the need to file first.
Regardless, as innovators, institutions, and practitioners begin adjusting to the new US patent system, we encourage researcher-inventors to be proactive in recording, analyzing, and sharing their experiences so that data is readily available as to how—either positively or negatively—the new law impacts their attempts to innovate.
US 2012/0020953 A1 Patent application Published 26 January 2012
Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer
Applicants/Inventors
Abstract
Provided herein are methods for diagnosing cancer by determining the level of expression of SETDB1 in a biological sample. Also provided herein are methods for treating cancer by administering an inhibitor of SETDB1 to a subject in need thereof.
http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2012_0020953_A1/en/
Summary
Melanoma is a leading cause of skin cancer-related death, but despite extensive research, the major treatment options are still limited, especially for late-stage cancers. The inventions claimed here may offer new avenues for both melanoma diagnosis and treatment. Using a zebrafish-based system for testing candidate melanoma oncogenes, the inventors found that elevated levels of histone methyltransferase SETDB1 in melanophores accelerated melanoma formation. Based on zebrafish and human data, the inventors claim both measurement of SETDB1 levels as a melanoma diagnostic tool, and the use of SETDB1 inhibitors as a tumor treatment method.
US 2011/0318738 A1 Patent application Published 29 December 2011
Identification and Regulation of a Novel DNA Demethylase System
Applicants/Inventors
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods and systems directed at detecting, evaluating, ameliorating, preventing and treating an oncogenic event. The disclosed methods and systems can comprise one or more Demethylase System Components or other compositions that can be used alone or in combination to detect, evaluate, treat, ameliorate, or prevent an oncogenic event.
http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2011_0318738_A1/en/
Summary
Incorrect DNA methylation can cause mis-expression of genes and, potentially, to cancer. The inventors used a zebrafish embryo assay to test activity of candidate demethylases. Those active in zebrafish embryos were also upregulated in a proportion of human adenoma samples. Comparative analyses showed overlap between the respective sets of methylation-altered promoters in zebrafish and human adenoma samples. Therefore, the claims include methods of evaluating expression levels and activity of these demethylases, as well as methods of evaluating the levels and methylation statuses of their target genes.
US 2012/0015364 A1 Patent application Published 19 January 2012
Method for the Selection of Endothelial Cells Death Inducers via Netrin-1 and Its Applications
Applicants/Inventors
Abstract
The present invention relates to an in vitro method for selecting a compound capable to induce the death of endothelial cells, preferably endothelial cells from vessels or neovessels. The invention further comprises the use of netrin-1 function inhibitors as compounds capable to induce the death of endothelial cells, preferably endothelial cells from vessels or neovessels of tumor expressing netrin-1. Finally, the invention relates to a kit for the selection of a compound capable to induce the death of endothelial cells.
http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patent/US_2012_0015364_A1/en/
Summary
Derived in part from zebrafish morpholino knockdowns of netrin-1a and its receptor, the inventors have clarified the role of netrin-1 in angiogenesis. Netrin-1 promotes endothelial cell survival by binding to its receptor UNC5B, thereby inhibiting the pro-apoptotic activity of unbound UNC5B. Thus, netrin-1 and its receptors in endothelial cells are potential anti-angiogenic therapeutic targets. The claimed invention includes methods of promoting endothelial cell death to block angiogenesis, such as the use of netrin-1 inhibitors or as-yet-unknown compounds, as well as methods of discovering compounds with such capabilities.