The United States Patent and Trademark Office today upheld the final two stem cell patents taken out by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation that had been challenged by foundations in California and New York.
The actions are the second time in two weeks that the patent office has supported the claims of key stem cell patents held by WARF, a private supporting organization of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. On Feb. 25, the office affirmed the claims of a third patent also relating to Dr. James Thomson’s work with human embryonic stem cells.