And a mouse?

Last week, Lay Line Genomics (Italy) published a PCT Application, WO/2005/105847, for a non human transgenic animal as a model of neurogenerative diseases and its use for the early diagnosis of such diseases. Such applications are becoming more common, and activities in this area are of particular interest to the Patenting Lives Project. The claims in this application include transgenic members of the genus murine (mouse/rat) and the species mus musculus (house mouse) expressing the antibodies of interest to the application. Anyone producing a mouse expressing the antibodies described in this application would indeed infringe, if this patent were to be granted, because the application specifically claims transgenic animals of the murine genus. Of course, it remains to be seen whether this application will be patentable (resulting in subsequent national patents for which applications will be made throughout the world). One to watch.