Review Biologicals & Immunologicals: Gene therapy: review of recent patenting activity

Abstract

The field of gene therapy has expanded rapidly since the first clinical trial involving the transfer of a gene in May 1989. Today, gene therapy encompases a broad range of methods and techniques and may be defined as ‘the introduction of genetic material (one or more genes) into mammalian cells in order to treat malignant, infectious, or inborn genetic diseases’. This article aims to review the patent literature on the therapeutic strategies involved in gene therapy. Patents covering specific gene sequences for functionally active molecules are excluded, as are patents describing antisense molecules and technologies.