Culture system for rapid expansion of human embryonic stem cells

Patent Number: 7,410,798

This patent covers methods of expanding embryonic stem cells in vitro in large quantities without inducing their differentiation.  Essentially the method covered is represented by the first independent claim which discloses the culture system which contains an extracellular matrix, a non-conditioned medium, and 40 nanograms per ml of FGF.  The claim also states that the culture is free of feeder cells. 

Geron has patents on numerous differentiation techniques for example #7,282,366 which teaches how to make hepatocytes from embryonic stem cells, or # 7,033,831 which teaches how to differentiate embryonic stem cells into islets, thus the current patent serves to continually expand the strong IP fence that the company has built on many practical aspects that will be needed by people or companies seeking to commercialize this space. 

View this patent on the USPTO website.