2008-05-21 12:18:43 -

- Start Licensing, Inc. (Start) today announced that it has granted a sole, worldwide license for the cloning of dogs, cats and endangered species to BioArts International, Ltd. (BioArts) of Mill Valley, California. The license includes the grant of an exclusive option to BioArts for exclusivity in dog and cat cloning.

"Our agreement strengthens BioArts' position as the world's

leading quality provider of companion animal cloning services," said Jonathan Thatcher, president of Start.

Start Licensing's patents include foundational nuclear transfer cloning technology developed at the Roslin Institute for the cloning of Dolly the sheep. By obtaining a license to certain aspects of these patents, BioArts will be able to employ a suite of sophisticated biotechnology tools to produce healthy cloned animals.

"This license agreement allows us to leverage Start's unique and vital international role to cement our own position in the global market. While other companies might claim capabilities in this area, BioArts is the only entity in the world with both the know-how and the legal right to practice commercial cat and dog cloning," said Lou Hawthorne, Chief Executive Officer of BioArts.

About Start Licensing

Start is a joint venture of Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) and Exeter Life Sciences, Inc. Start manages and licenses a broad portfolio of intellectual property rights related to animal reproductive technologies, including foundational nuclear transfer cloning technology developed at the Roslin Institute for the cloning of Dolly the sheep. Start's licensees are on the cutting edge of research and product development in food production, medical applications and many other fields.

About BioArts

BioArts International is a new biotech startup focused on unique, untapped markets in the animal reproduction and human genomics industries.

For Start Licensing, Inc.
Ben Carlson, 202-466-9633
ben@turnerstrategies.com