PTO REJECTS PATENT CLAIMS IN PHARMASTEM'S UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD PATENTS

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected all claims in PharmaStem Theraputics' umbilical cord blood patents as prior art, rival ViaCell said.

The patents relate to the certain aspects of the collection, cryopreservation and storage of stem cells from umbilical cord blood, ViaCell said. PharmaStem sued ViaCell and several other companies in 2002 for infringing these patents, according to ViaCell.