Yale Bulletin and Calendar

March 19, 2004|Volume 32, Number 22

Yale researcher Ira Mellman talks with Ben Muskin, vice president of business development for Cellular Genomics, which the scientist founded. The company uses Mellman's work in cell biology and immunology to develop and test genome-based drugs.

OCR success stories: A look at some of
its start-ups, licenses and investments

In the past 20-plus years, the Office of Cooperative Research (OCR) has spawned 33 start-up or spin-off companies -- and counting.

These include companies focusing on research projects to battle diseases ranging from cancer and infectious diseases to multiple sclerosis and juvenile diabetes. The majority of the new ventures have established research and development facilities in the New Haven area, attracting capital and creating jobs.

OCR has also overseen the patent and licensing activities that have led to the development of new technologies and drugs. Since 1996, when the office was reorganized, over 240 patents have been issued and over 420 license agreements have been executed. The following are examples of some of the licenses, start-ups and investments OCR has made over the years:

Startups

* Molecular Staging Inc. (MSI) is a life sciences company based on research done at Yale by David C. Ward, professor of genetics and molecular biophysics and biochemistry, and Paul M. Lizardi, professor of pathology and molecular biophysics and biochemistry. "Technology Transforming Bioscience" is its motto. When combined with bioinformatics, MSI's technologies can generate, analyze and interpret genomics and proteomics data quickly and cost effectively. Its core technologies include: RCAT™, a powerful Rolling Circle Amplification Technology for proteins; MDA and Repli-g™, tools for whole genome amplification; and M-FISH™, which is useful for chromosomal analysis (karyotyping). MSI will focus on developing new and more powerful technologies for diagnosing cancer and infectious diseases.

* Currently, OCR is involved with the following start-ups and/or spin-offs (* indicates these companies have been acquired): Achillion, Adaptive Wave, Applied Spine Technologies, Agilix, Archemix Inc., Asilas, Aureon, Ambit Biosciences (formerly Aventa), Cellular Genomics, Diagnostic Microarrays, Kemia, L2 Diagnostics, Lightspin, MGS Research, MirrorWorlds, Molecular Electronics, Molecular Staging, PhytoCeutica, Plain Sight, *Polygenomics, Proteolix, Protometrix, Radio Tracer, Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, *TechEx, TransMolecular, TurboWorx and VaxInnate.

Licenses

* Alan C. Sartorelli, the Alfred Gilman Professor of Pharmacology, is the inventor of several promising novel anti-cancer drugs currently being developed by Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., which is located in Science Park at Yale. Triapine® is a potent inhibitor of a key step in DNA synthesis and repair. It is in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of leukemia and metastatic breast cancer. VNP40101M, a unique DNA alkylating agent, is in Phase 1 clinical trials for leukemia and solid tumors.

* Yung-Chi (Tommy) Cheng, the Henry Bronson Professor of Pharmacology, is a prolific inventor with numerous pharmaceutical compounds in various stages of clinical development. Emtriva® (generic name: emtricitabine) is a late stage compound being developed by Gilead for the treatment of HIV/AIDS as well as chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Troxatyl®, another late stage compound, is being developed by Shire Pharmaceuticals Group PLC for the treatment of leukemia, pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors. L-FMAU is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of HBV infection. PHY906, an herbal extract is being tested in colorectal cancer patients by Phytoceutica, a New Haven-based company founded by Yale and Cheng. In addition, several early stage anti-viral compounds are currently in development at Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc., which is located in the George Street Technology Center in New Haven.

* Biogen licensed patent rights related to Nogo, a protein that blocks axon regeneration, discovered by Stephen Strittmatter, the Vincent Coates Associate Professor of Neurology and associate professor of neurobiology. Biogen has been sponsoring research in Strittmatter's lab and scientists from Biogen have been collaborating with Strittmatter to identify molecules that can interfere with the Nogo signaling pathway. Such molecules could ultimately be used to treat spinal cord injury and stroke, as well as potentially other diseases of the central nervous system.

* The Institute for OneWorld Health licensed a novel class of high-potency compounds from Yale and the University of Washington that could result in medicines for the developing and developed worlds. The agreement gives OneWorld Health the exclusive license to develop these compounds to treat parasitic diseases in the developing world. OneWorld Health will initially focus on Chagas disease, the leading cause of heart failure in Latin America, where 16 to 18 million people are infected and another 100 million are at risk. The disease is most often transmitted by an insect known as the "kissing bug," but may also be transmitted by blood transfusion. At least 50,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. are infected as well. These compounds were generated in the laboratory of Andrew Hamilton, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, as well as by investigators at the University of Washington.

* "French in Action," conceived by Pierre Capretz, director of the language development studio at Yale, began in the 1960s as an in-house method for teaching French language and culture to Yale undergraduates. It is a multimedia approach to language teaching and learning, combining three complementary media -- print, audio and visual images -- into a teaching tool of uncommon versatility and power. The boy-meets-girl comedy on which the course is based was scripted into a dramatic video series, making it possible to immerse learners in the reality of French language and culture in new and dynamic ways. "French in Action" is now one of the major second-language learning programs, and is in use at over 2,000 colleges and universities in the United States alone. The success of "French in Action" has enabled Capretz to transform other cultural materials into interactive language-learning products such as an interactive CD-ROM based on the classic Truffaut film "Jules et Jim."

Investment

* Royalties from Zerit®, an AIDS drug based on the discovery of a new use for d4T by Yale professors William H. Prusoff and the late Tai-Shun Lin, has helped build The Anlyan Center for Medical Research (TAC). Yale sold a portion of the Zerit royalty stream for $115 million; of this, $60 million was invested in TAC, which is "the largest single investment in a facility in Yale's history," according to President Richard C. Levin. The $176 million project to construct a major new research and teaching facility at the School of Medicine was announced on Feb. 24, 2000. TAC is part of a larger plan to invest $500 million in medical school facilities over the next 10 years. In addition, the University will invest another $500 million in science and engineering facilities on the central campus, bringing Yale's total new investment in science during the next decade to $1 billion.

-- By Karen Peart

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Yale scientist on team that discovered new planetoid

Robert Blocker has been reappointed to third term . . .

Center to foster research on cerebral cortex

Bulldogs' Nate Lawrie busy preparing himself for NFL Draft

Political scientist Ian Shapiro named YCIAS director

Zbigniew Brzezinski . . . to present talk on campus

Magic, comic mayhem prevail in re-telling of old tale

'Digital Cops in a Virtual Environment' will explore . . .

Conference to consider 'The Future of Secularism'

Exhibit features works by artist who combined fact and fantasy . . .

NIDA director discusses complicated causes . . . of drug addiction

Castle Lectures to explore materialism in today's culture

English faculty to present staged reading of 'Pentecost'

'Enclave' to explore architectural aspects of ports of commerce

In Focus: Office of Cooperative Research