STEM-CELL RESEARCH

Wisconsin patent challenged again

Two consumer groups have filed an appeal with the U.S. Patent Office's Board of Appeals in a continuing dispute over stem-cell patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

Consumer Watchdog, formerly known as The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, of Santa Monica, Calif., and the Public Patent Foundation, of New York City, are challenging a decision that narrowed one of three patents on embryonic stem cells.

"We still believe that even the narrower patent is invalid and that's the issue we plan to contest," said Dan Ravicher, executive director of the Public Patent Foundation.

The two other patents that were questioned were upheld and cannot be appealed.

WARF spokeswoman Janet Kelly said the appeal was not a surprise, and WARF, UW-Madison's technology transfer organization, does not expect the outcome to change.

"The patent office conducted an extremely detailed and thorough re-exam of all three patents, making them stronger than ever," Kelly said.

The patents are based on research by UW-Madison stem-cell pioneer James Thomson. "The protection offered by our patents is crucial for attracting investment from the private sector," said Kelly.

BANKING

Baraboo Bancorporation income up

Baraboo Bancorporation reported second-quarter net income of $2.21 million, up about 2 percent from $2.17 million during the same period a year ago.
Earnings per share were 47 cents, up from 44 cents a year ago.

Merlin Zitzner, the company's chief executive and chairman, said the increase was due to higher income and repurchase of company stock.

Baraboo Bancorporation is the parent company of Baraboo National Bank and State Bank of Viroqua with offices in Baraboo, Elcho, Fond du Lac, Portage, Reedsburg, Green Lake, Lake Delton, Reedsburg, Rhinelander, Rock Springs, Viroqua and Wonewoc.

YAHOO INC. TAKEOVER

Billionaire to be given seats on board

Yahoo Inc. averted a showdown with rabble-rousing investor Carl Icahn on Monday by giving him three seats on its board of directors in a truce that still leaves the door open for a possible sale to Microsoft Corp.

The compromise spares Yahoo from more bickering with Icahn, an acerbic billionaire who had spent the past two months spearheading a rebellion to replace the Internet company's entire board in retaliation for its rejection of Microsoft's $47.5 billion takeover bid in May.

The duel had been scheduled to culminate in a shareholder vote at Yahoo's Aug. 1 annual meeting.

It now appears there will be fewer fireworks at that gathering, although some Yahoo shareholders are still expected to vent about the board's inability to get a deal done with Microsoft after six months of wrangling.

The main order of business will be the cease-fire giving Icahn three of the 11 seats on Yahoo's board, which will be expanded to make the deal possible.

Eight of Yahoo's current nine directors will be retained, leaving the company's current regime in the driver's seat.

BRIEFLY

James Dahlberg, UW-Madison emeritus professor of biomolecular chemistry, has been appointed Gov. James Doyle's science adviser. Dahlberg is also a co-founder of Third Wave Technologies, a Madison company that makes biological products to screen for conditions such as cystic fibrosis and cervical disease. Third Wave is being purchased by Hologic, a Bedford, Mass. company that makes medical diagnostics products, for $580 million.

Dr. John Butler, chief of the medical staff at St. Mary's Hospital who started the hospitalist program and led efforts to improve patient safety, has been promoted to vice president of medical affairs. Hospitalists are doctors who treat only hospitalized patients.