WA Health, scientist reach top-secret peace deal in stem cell patent mega stoush

A three-year medicine ownership mega-battle which pitted Western Australia’s health department against leading Perth scientist Dr Marian Sturm has come to an end after the parties inked a top-secret peace deal.

The East Metropolitan Health Service and Sturm’s company Isopogen confirmed they had reached a mutually acceptable, confidential settlement this week.

Both parties refused to be drawn on the contents of the agreement, but a joint statement confirmed the deal provided a comprehensive framework for “an ongoing relationship”.

The state-run health service and Isopogen insisted the peace treaty secured “important benefits” stemming from an innovative cell therapy utilising various patents invented by Sturm during her lengthy stint at Royal Perth Hospital.

The settlement marks the end of a row, which began in 2021 when the health service dragged the former boss of the hospital’s cell and tissue therapies facility to court on the day of her retirement, claiming she had breached her contract.

That alleged breach centred around the intellectual property rights to a treatment she developed during her tenure.

The improved method of manufacturing mesenchymal stromal cells, used to treat inflammatory illnesses, was developed in 2007 and registered in Sturm’s name and that of her capital-raising vehicle Isopogen.

Isopogen raised enough capital to support clinical trials of the patent before it was granted approval in Australia, the United States, South Africa, Japan, Israel, and Singapore.

The invention’s success saw Sturm become the face of the cellular therapy facility, wheeled out by the health department’s publicity team to showcase its life-changing research.