First induced pluripotent stem cell patent – Kyoto University

Long debate is going on all over world for issuance of Patents on Stem Cells. Kyoto University has obtained a Japanese patent for a means to develop induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.  iPS cells have the potential to grow into any type of body tissue. It is the first time a patent has been granted anywhere in the world with regard to the cells, the university said, suggesting the school’s lead in patenting in the increasingly competitive and potentially lucrative field of regenerative medicine. (Source)

iPS cells are a type of pluripotent stem cell artificially derived from a non-pluripotent cell, typically an adult somatic cell, by inducing a “forced” expression of certain genes.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells are believed to be identical to natural pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells in many respects, such as the expression of certain stem cell genes and proteins, chromatin methylation patterns, doubling time, embryoid body formation, teratoma formation, viable chimera formation, and potency and differentiability, but the full extent of their relation to natural pluripotent stem cells is still being assessed.