Kadimastem Receives Approval for U.S. Patent

Jun. 2, 2014

Nes Ziona Science Park, June 2 2014, Kadimastem, which develops stem cells for treatments for serious diseases, has received approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a patent for a key technology of the company. The company already has a patent granted in Israel. The patent protects a method for production of myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system from stem cells. It is the basis for the company’s products in the area of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and in the field of drug screening using cells produced by stem cell differentiation. The technology is the result of research by Professor Michel Revel of the Weizmann Institute, who serves as Kadimastem’s Chief Scientist. The patent is held by Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd. In accordance with Kadimastem’s agreement with Yeda, the company was granted an exclusive license giving it the exclusive right to use the patent for an unlimited time. Kadimastem is working to develop innovative treatments for a number of serious diseases by transplanting cells and tissues differentiated from human stem cells. In addition to the use of the tissues themselves as a drug, they can also serve as a laboratory model for investigating the diseases so that with their help, new drugs can be found to treat those diseases.  To date, the company has signed two agreements to commercialize the drug-screening technology it has developed, the second of which was signed recently with another international pharmaceutical company. Yossi Ben-Yossef, Kadimastem’s CEO, stated that “we are pleased to receive the patent in the United States. Kadimastem is involved in the field of stem cells, which is in the forefront of global medical research and therefore, it is very important to have strong intellectual property. The American market is one of the largest for the company’s future products, so having a U.S. patent is extremely important.” Prof. Michel Revel, Kadimastem's chief scientist, added that “the approval of the patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is an additional proof of the uniqueness of our technology. We are taking advantage of this uniqueness in order to be world leaders in screening drugs for multiple sclerosis that could be the next generation of drugs for this indication.”