US leading the way in patent filings for applications of synthetic biology: PatSnap

The US is leading the way in synthetic biology patent filings, according to a report released earlier this month from patent search software company PatSnap.

Synthetic biology is an area of research that encompasses the artificial design and engineering of biological systems.

According to the report, the US has the largest international patent collection within the applications of synthetic biology, (excluding patent offices serving multiple countries).

With 594 patents, it represents 25% of all filings. China placed second, with 335 patents (14%),.

China’s patents are focused on the environmental and agricultural applications of synthetic biology, while the US patents have a broader commercial or practical focus.

Timi Olotu, data analyst at PatSnap said: “The main challenges for the US are the protection of its biotech IP from theft by Chinese agents and less restricted access to the blossoming Chinese market.”

He added that two countries should perhaps look to forming partnerships to develop biotechnology solutions, rather than confrontations.

The University of California has the largest patent portfolio in the overall area of synthetic biology, with 472 patents, according to the report. This is followed by biological solutions company Novozymes with 343 patents, and Harvard University, which has 301 patents.

US-based technology company HP was listed as among the top ten most patent-intensive organisations for filing patents covering enabling technologies in the synthetic biology field.

According to PatSnap, the technology company has already filed more patent applications in this field in 2018 than in any other year which reflects its “exploration of life sciences”.

The most litigated synthetic biology courts involved DNA, microfluidics devices, and cells (such as plant cells, recombination cells and DNA sequencing).

Technology company Samsung was the second most active collaborator in terms of sharing or selling patents, after US-based research and development company Agilent Technologies.

According to the report, the rate of patent filings since 2000 has remained relatively flat.

Over 400 patents were filed in 2001, while there were approximately 300 applicants for synthetic patents last year.

The report said this may be to do with the complexities of patenting new knowledge.

“However, patents focused on knowledge generation in synthetic biology have higher valuations—on average—than patents within the same international patent classifications which focus on other technologies,” said PatSnap.

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