Patently important

Work Study

ISSN: 0043-8022

Article publication date: 1 December 1999

15

Citation

(1999), "Patently important", Work Study, Vol. 48 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.1999.07948gab.014

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited


Patently important

The European Patent Office (EPO) reinstated Genencor's patent covering protein engineering techniques which made possible the practice of tailoring enzymes for specific needs. The patented discovery demonstrated the viability and utility of the field of protein engineering. As a result of this discovery, Genencor was the first biotechnology company to bring a protein engineered industrial product to market. The work was done on one of nature's workhorse enzymes, subtilisin, which is a protease enzyme. Proteases break down proteins and are the class of industrial enzymes with the largest market. They are used primarily in detergent formulations to remove protein-based stains like grass, gravy and milk. The patent was issued in Europe on 6 February, 1991. Later that year, the patent was challenged by three other companies. In 1994, the EPO issued a ruling narrowing the original patent. All four parties appealed the ruling. Genencor sought the re-instatement of the original patent's scope. The EPO's Technical Board of Appeals have now ruled in Genencor's favor, reinstating the original patent. Proteases are used primarily in the cleaning and detergent industry. Other markets are in starch processing, food processing, feed and silver recovery. The world market for industrial protease enzymes is estimated to be approximately £450 million.oftware to access the model. Cost is $495 per single copy - discounts for quantity.

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