WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

**What it means:** Think of the PCT as a "global patent application portal." Instead of filing separate patents in 100+ countries individually, inventors file **one application** that reserves their patent rights worldwide for 30 months. It's like putting a "hold" on your invention everywhere while you figure out which countries to actually get patents in. The PCT itself doesn't grant patents — countries still issue their own patents later. But it's the standard way to protect inventions across borders efficiently. **Why it matters for MHS:** UT Southwestern filing a PCT patent for MEF2C gene therapy means they're formally protecting their IP globally while developing the therapy. This is a normal, expected part of moving a therapy from lab to clinic — and the fact that it was published (WO2026039331) in 2026 means the gene therapy program is advancing through formal development stages.