Biotech patenting appears to have peaked in 1999 in both absolute and relative terms, whereas pharmaceutical patenting hit its high in 2002; in contrast, information technology patents continue to grow apace. Two areas of biotech where patenting remains buoyant are RNAi and kinases, whereas stem cell patent applications fell by more than half last year. In terms of US patents, the University of California System remains the preeminent institution; Human Genome Science, Caliper Technologies and Immunex saw dramatic increases in approved patents.
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Lawrence, S. Biotech patenting slows in 2004. Nat Biotechnol 23, 1198 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1005-1198
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1005-1198