SCPI Leads Restoration of Vision in Blind Boy Behind Two Stem Cell Patents

StemCell Pharma, Inc., a privately held Nevada corporation, has announced that it will organize an international commission for the examination of a well-known Romanian boy.  Edi Leanca, born blind and diagnosed with Leber’s Congenital Amaurousis (LCA), regained his sight after receiving stem cell implants that utilized a technique owned by SCPI.  The examination of Edi will take place in Romania by a commission made up of leading retinal experts from around the world.  To read about Edi’s full story, click here.

As stated in a press release on MarketWatch, SCPI currently holds two patents on their retina stem cell technology.  These inventions have allowed the company to develop a basic framework that would allow licensing or joint venture agreements to set up stem cell clinics abroad.  The first patent titled, “An Amniotic Membrane Stem Cell Telomerase Enhanced Implant,” is a technique manipulating the number of stem cells by keeping them at a normal rate or increasing their multiplication.

The second patent, “The Transsclera Technology for Delivery of Stem Cells Plus Enhancing Factors,” uses technology to place stem cells on the sclera (the white of the eye).  The stem cells cross rapidly through the retina layers, and it is postulated that the stem cells would eventually become cones and rods, constructing a new photoreceptor layer and restoring vision.

In addition to the stem cell treatments intended for retinal diseases, SCPI also has treatments for diseases associated with aging.  These products are intended for clinical trials, and if they are approved for marketing, would become available to patients.

RIM Patents Unfolding QWERTY Keyboard

Some people wouldn’t blame Research In Motion, the maker of Blackberry handsets, for resting on their laurels after the successful launch of the Storm.  Yet, one recent patent from RIM has left many critics scratching their heads.

As Cellpassion reported earlier this week, the design of the patent allows for three rows of the device’s keypad to be positioned on the face of the handset beneath the display.  Therefore, the numerical 0-9 keys would be present at all times.  However, when the device is used for text messaging, the side panels would fold open and provide a full QWERTY keypad.

While the aim of this patent is to build a significantly narrower handset while still providing a full keypad, many worry that the phone will be extremely fragile.  Since the keys fold out, these side panels may easily snap off.  Furthermore, some critics have pointed out the similiarities between the phone and the movie “Transformers.”

Unless there is something in the patent that people are missing, this device may not make it to the market.  The patent simply seems too fragile to be used on a regular basis.

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