Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation Concludes Technology Transfer Agreement for Cell Type–specific Deliver
- 작성처
- Date2021.09.16
- 8553
Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation Concludes Technology Transfer Agreement for Cell Type–specific Delivery of RNA Therapeutics
The Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation (EUICF) held a signing ceremony with EnhancedBio Inc. to join the technology transfer agreement for “lipid nanoparticles (LNP) for targeted delivery of RNA therapeutics into different types of cells” on Wednesday, September 15.
The technology, developed by Professor Hyukjin Lee at the College of Pharmacy, enables the targeted delivery of RNA therapeutics to various types of cells by the formulation of lipid nanoparticles (LNP). The presenting technology has shown clinically relevant gene-transfer efficacy as well as good safety. Although this is a core technology that has already been used for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer, it represented an essential endeavor for biotech companies to secure their own LNP technology. The relevant core technology patents are mostly held by U.S. companies and other foreign companies. It is important to note that the presenting technology has been developed solely by a domestic research group and the patent (KR10-2198763) has been granted with this technology.
The research team, led by Professor Lee at the College of Pharmacy, already transferred the patent of 246C10 LNP technology to EnhancedBio Inc. in May 2020 and two more follow-up patents will be transferred through this agreement. The agreement contains an advance payment, a milestone payment for the commencement of clinical trials, and royalties on sales, which are expected to add to the school’s revenue from the technology transfer fee.
“The LNP platform technology for the delivery of RNA therapeutics will be a game-changer for non-viral gene therapy and can be applied widely to various RNA therapeutics including siRNA and mRNA that are currently on the market,” explained Professor Hyukjin Lee. “In particular, LNP for the cell-specific delivery of RNA therapeutics negates the disadvantage of current LNP technology and represents an extraordinary advancement that simultaneously guarantees the efficacy and safety of RNA therapeutics.” He also added, “We will actively participate in commercializing RNA therapeutics and making inroads into global markets through continued joint research and collaboration with EnhancedBio Inc., a company that develops anti-cancer therapeutics based on siRNA.”
“This agreement is meaningful to Ewha in that the stability of the patent rights has been proved after the first technology transfer last year and a patent portfolio was established with the subsequent R&D outcomes, leading to a new patent technology for which the second technology transfer agreement was signed,” said EUICF President Lee Hyang-sook, who also added, “I hope this ceremony serves as an opportunity for Ewha Womans University and EnhancedBio Inc. to advance to the next step and take the lead in the global biotechnology market.”
Ewha holds an extensive range of about 1,000 patents across various fields including the humanities, social sciences, entertainment, sports as well as science and technology. The EUICF actively supports the entire process of technology commercialization based on Ewha’s excellent research outcomes, from the creation of intellectual properties, to technology transfer and business launch. The EUICF will continuously endeavor to establish a virtuous cycle to generate profits from technology transfers, businesses creation, industry-university joint research, and recruitment linkages regarding outstanding technologies and patents held by Ewha and reinvesting such profits into research and development, amidst Ewha’s dedicated efforts to construct a creative research ecosystem conducive to world-class performance under the vision of “A Creative and Innovative Platform Leading to a Sustainable Society.”