British grant of cloning patent supports PPL's programs.

PPL Therapeutics plc, with the Roslin Institute (Blacksburg, VA) and Geron Corporation (Meno Park, CA: 415-473-7700), is pleased to announce that the UK Patent Office has granted the first two UK patents relating to cloning technology. This technology was first developed by the Roslin Institute and, through a collaboration with PPL Therapeutics plc, it was brought to the world's attention via the production of Dolly, the world's first cloned animal from an adult donor cell.

These patents have broad generic claims to methods of nuclear transfer (cloning) in which the nucleus of a quiescent donor cell is transferred into a suitable recipient cell. The claims also cover methods of producing cloned non-human animals, including transgenic cloned animals, by nuclear transfer.

A Notice of Allowance has also been received from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application filed to protect this technology in the United States.

PPL is a world leading company in the application of transgenic technology to the production of human proteins in the milk of transgenic livestock. It's lead products include AAT, which is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and congenital AAT deficiency, fibrinogen, for use as a tissue sealant, and BSSL, which is in clinical trials for the treatment of pancreatic insufficiency.

PPL has a world-wide exclusive license from the Roslin Institute to use the Institute's intellectual property relating to nuclear transfer (cloning), in the field of production of proteins for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical use in the milk of ruminant livestock and rabbits.

PPL has already applied the nuclear transfer (cloning) technology to produce a number of transgenic sheep, producing potentially useful medicinal proteins in their milk. These include Factor IX, calcitonin and superoxide dismutase. Proteins such as these are either difficult to isolate from other sources and/or can only be produced in limited quantities by alternative technologies.

Ron James, managing director of PPL commented:

"This is an excellent piece of news confirming the novelty of Roslin Institute's technology and protecting PPL's commercial position in the development and application of this technology. We continue to apply cloning technology in our field in our sheep and cattle programs and have further developed it, being the first to announce the birth of cloned transgenic livestock in 1997 (Polly) and the birth of the first cloned livestock with targeted gene insertion in 1999 (Cupid and Diana). We will continue to work with the Roslin Institute and Geron Corporation with the objective of ensuring that the broad claims granted in the UK are also granted in the rest of the world."

PPL will be announcing the results of its half life study into Alpha-1- Antitrypsin Congenital Deficiency within the next two weeks and the results of its AAT Bronchoalveolar lavage study for Cystic Fibrosis within the next 4-6 weeks.