Nanog patent for SCS

Biotech company Stem Cell Sciences has been granted a second European patent for Nanog, one of the genes used to convert adult cells back into a pluripotent state.

The new patent covers mouse Nanog and complements the company's existing patent on human Nanog.

The pair of patents have claims which cover manipulating expression of human and mouse Nanog, cells containing introduced human and mouse Nanog genes, reprogramming methods using human and mouse Nanog, and related culture media products.

"Nanog is like a master control switch," Stem Cell Sciences chief scientific officer, Dr Tim Allsopp, said.

"Nanog is a protein which can bind to the DNA encoding many other genes, and can regulate their pattern of activity. In effect, we can use the Nanog gene to turn back the developmental clock in cells and induce an embryonic status in which the cells have the hallmark features of indefinite growth and pluripotency in culture."