Items of note that I hope to revisit in future blogs:
PTAB, the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board, found in favour of the Broad Institute with respect to claims of interference brought by UC Berkeley. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing is touted as a revolutionary enabling technology and a potentially viable means of treating genetic disorders. With future revenues and academic pride at stake, the PTAB decision is unlikely to be accepted as the final word.
Read Sharon Begley’s excellent commentary here: http://tinyurl.com/jx95ces (“The CRISPR patent decision: Your six takeaways”. STAT online February 16th 2017) and Kevin Noonan’s explanation of the PTAB decision here: http://tinyurl.com/hvegf3n (“PTAB Decides CRISPR Interference in Favor of Broad Institute -- Their Reasoning”. PatentDocs online February 16th 2017).
Merck called a halt to a pivotal study of verubecestat in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Failure in AD studies is, unfortunately, the norm, and again calls into question the rationale of targeting amyloid beta protein. Verubecestat will continue to evaluated in a separate study being conducted in patients with prodromal symptoms , although study read out is two years away.
Read Merck’s announcement here: http://tinyurl.com/gvay5qu (“Merck Announces EPOCH Study of Verubecestat for the Treatment of People with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease to Stop for Lack of Efficacy. Company press release online February 14th 2017.)
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