On a different topic, even if the macular degeneration treatment produces less than expected results, I think the hemangioblast work opens up an even larger market, albeit further down the road. Recall this PR:
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Sept. 19, 2011 – Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that it has been issued a patent (patent number 8,017,393) for the Company’s proprietary method for generating and expanding hemangioblast cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). ACT holds an exclusive license to commercialize the patented technology in North America through an agreement with Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International (SCRMI), a joint venture between ACT and CHA Bio & Diostech Co, Ltd (CHA Biotech), a leading South Korean biotechnology company. Hemangioblasts are precursor cells that can generate a broad spectrum of important blood, immune, and vascular cell types, including red blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, and mesenchymal stem cells, which have powerful immune-modulatory effects and can make bone and cartilage among other replacement tissues.
What I don't understand, is if ACTC was issued the patent, why did they need an agreement with SCRMI for an "an exclusive license to commercialize the technology in North America"? Who actually owns this patent? As for the scope of the potential market for sterile, non-disease transmitting, non-allergic reaction generating, scalable producing blood products, it's mind-numbing.
AI
