This gene appears to be highly expressed in spleen cells and, based on results from in vivo models of this disease, may be useful to treat arthritis. In addition to the 27 issued US patents, HGSI also has received notices of allowance in 34 additional full-length gene patent applications and has 141 published international patent applications. To date, HGS has filed patent applications that describe the medical uses of substantially more than 500 newly discovered individual human genes. We are pleased to be awarded our twenty-seventh patent describing the potential medical uses of a novel human gene. We have built a strong and productive research group, that in addition to isolating and sequencing genes, conducts the painstaking biological and biochemical experimental work needed to establish the clinical utility of genes that we discover.
Patents also promote the dissemination of information.
When a patent is awarded, the patent holder is obliged to share that information with the scientific community so that they can use the information to create and develop new products to protect human health. Dr. Haseltine also noted that since its founding, HGSI has sought to create a patent estate to protect the Company's intellectual property rights and those of its partners. The genes covered by these patents exist as full-length, fully sequenced cDNAs that code for entire human proteins. HGSI is amongst the world's leaders in filing patent applications relating to the potential medical use of novel human genes. This patent estate represents a significant and growing Company asset.