Cloning, No Longer Just For Star Wars
Cloning may invoke more controversy than any topic, short of a few that we won’t go into. But there is a new pact out there regarding animal cloning that investors may be playing ahead. Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) and Exeter Life Sciences, Inc. announced a merger of Start Licensing, Inc., a joint venture between Geron and Exeter Life Sciences, and ViaGen, Inc., a subsidiary of Exeter Life Sciences. The deal was announced Tuesday but may have ramifications for years into teh future.
This venture called Start manages and licenses a broad portfolio of intellectual property rights related to animal reproductive technologies, which of course includes animal cloning. ViaGen is a leading animal genomics and livestock cloning firm. Does the name Dolly the Sheep ring a bell?
The merger of Start and ViaGen, combines the full breadth of intellectual property rights to nuclear transfer cloning technology, including that developed at the Roslin Institute for cloning Dolly the sheep. Customers can secure a license to practice or contract cloning services.
Modified or cloned animals may answer many questions to basic needs around the world, and of course it opens up another Pandora’s Box depending on how far this is allowed to go. The companies also note that cloning has applications in the production of biopharmaceuticals, such as therapeutic proteins in milk and antibodies in blood.
Cloning anything beyond compounds and certain animals is going to open up one major controversy out there. But independent business owners would probably line up right now if this was extended to you and me. They’d likely turn in an order for 3 units if they can afford it: two for work, and one for parts.
Jon C. Ogg
August 13, 2008
New Patent Awarded in Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplants
There has been an interesting award of a patent today in relation to treatment of patients in need of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. Chemokine Therapeutics Corp. (OTC-BB: CHKT) has announced they received this patent. The company is a micro-cap biotechnology company developing chemokine-based therapies to treat cancer, blood disorders and vascular diseases.
While all patents do add value in theory, we do caution that patents do not always translate to instant or near-term revenues (outside of milestones from partners) for small biotech companies.
But patent #7,378,098 is an interesting one in that it pertains to in-need-of bone marrow patients and stem cells. Both are huge growth areas for the companies that can score a win in them. The company noted that this strengthens the foundation for its work with its drug candidate CTCE-0214, for hematogical support; mobilization of stem cells and white blood cells into circulation, which is currently in Phase I development.
This patent, “CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 Agonist Peptides,” is said to be based on evidence that treatment with SDF-1 chemokine analog prevents reduction of normal bone marrow stem cells and restores white blood cells, which reduce susceptibility to infections in cancer patients following chemotherapy treatment.
We would note that this company raised almost $1 million back in the middle of June, and calling the company a micro-cap would be an understatement. As with all companies, we urge ANY AND ALL traders and investors to do double the amount of due diligence on companies they are interested in the story of when it comes to micro-caps and OTC-BB stocks.
Jon Ogg
July 2, 2008
Pluristem, Israeli Stem Cell, Files To Raise Cash (PSTI)
An Israeli stem cell company called Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: PSTI) has filed with the SEC to sell up to $15 million in securities of common stock and warrants. One interesting note is that no underwriters were listed in the shelf filing.
The stem cell production tech company listed its use of proceeds as being earmarked for research and product development activities, working capital, and other general corporate purposes.
Pruristem stock closed today at $1.63 each, down $0.11 on the day, and shares are actually indicated up marginally after the news. This is a very thin volume stock with an average daily volume of only about 9,500 shares per day and a market cap of $11.3 million before any dilution.
Earlier this week the company announced it was going to be exhibiting and presenting at the BIO International Convention held in San Diego, California and a presentation would be given today from its SVP of corporate development called “The Clinical Application of 3D Expanded Placental-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.”
Jon C. Ogg
June 18, 2008