Coming hot on the heels of the sorghum gene patent storm in Tanzania another patent recently granted in the US is likely generate debate in Kenya, at least from genetic resource campaigners. US 7674483 titled medicinal herbal composition for treating infection, granted on 9th March 2010 relates to a herbal composition derived from Kenyan plants for treatment of HIV and other infectious diseases.
The patent mentions up to 14 different plants, including Dovyalis abyssinica and Clutia robusta. The claims however are directed to the process for preparing the herbal composition and not to the plants themselves.
The patent is assigned to International Patent Holdings, LLC of USA and the inventors are listed as Paul Kiprono Chepkwony, Maria Medina and Mitchell Medina all of Kenya.
