Patented antibody against herpes simplex viruses in clinical studies
06.06.2016 12:08
The young company Heidelberg ImmunoTherapeutics GmbH, which secured the rights to the patented humanized monoclonal antibody for antiviral therapy at the beginning of the year, could offer new hope for many patients suffering from stressful infections with the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or 2 in order to further advance the development of active ingredients for use on patients within clinical studies.
On the way to a new drug, the readiness for application of scientific findings from university research is often a hurdle. At an early stage of development, it is difficult to attract industrial partners until effectiveness has been proven. However, this promising knowledge and technology transfer confirms that it is worthwhile to patent new, application-oriented findings from research: On behalf of the universities of Duisburg-Essen and Bonn, the patent marketing company PROvendis GmbH negotiated the patent purchase agreement for the use of the antibody, which is protected in several countries the company Heidelberg ImmunoTherapeutics GmbH, which was founded with financial help from a private investor from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Heidelberg University Hospital.
If the active ingredient proves successful in the planned clinical studies, the transfer could not only close the innovation gap between basic research and industrial drug development, but due to a novel mechanism of action of the antibody, sick patients would have a promising alternative to the drugs available on the market. The antibody could therefore make an important contribution not only to the treatment of genital or facial herpes, but also to more serious diseases such as HSV reactivation after organ or bone marrow transplants or life-threatening infections such as HSV encephalitis.
Extraordinary challenges arose during the contract negotiations: a total of eight inventors from the universities of Bonn and Duisburg-Essen, who were involved in the development over a period of over 20 years, the involvement of various institutes and the private investor, as well as contractual obligations to the German José Carreras Leukemia -Foundation e. V. shaped the negotiations until the purchase agreement was signed. “Our team did everything in its power to ensure that the property rights could be transferred to Heidelberg ImmunoTherapeutics GmbH. “This is the only way business and society can derive enormous benefit from the patented university invention,” says Alfred Schillert, Managing Director of PROvendis GmbH, confirming the successful technology transfer.