Biotech Updates

GM Patent Rejected after 13 Years for Lack of “Novelty”

May 11, 2007

At a recent hearing, the European Patent Office (EPO) revoked a patent owned by agricultural giant Monsanto for the genetic modification of soybeans, saying the technique lacked “novelty”. The application for the soybean patent was first submitted in 1988 by US biotech company Agracetus under the title “Particle-mediated transformation of soybean plants and lines”. Monsanto acquired Agracetus in 1996, thus becoming the owner of the patent. The patent was due to expire in 2008. According to a spokesperson for Monsanto, the decision is not expected to have an impact on Monsanto’s business.

Read the news article at http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070430/full/070430-14.html.