Partnering opportunities
Technology Transfer has committed over £304 million to translational projects across 80 institutions and in excess of 50 companies. We have supported projects spanning computational chemistry to drug discovery, vaccine formulation and human proof-of-principle studies for medical devices, diagnostics and candidate pharmaceutical compositions. The programmes fall in a wide range of therapeutic areas including oncology, CNS, infectious diseases, inflammation, metabolism, tissue and wound healing.
Through agreement with our various research partners, Technology Transfer will be leading commercialisation for many of these programmes. We are currently managing partnering and commercialisation on a portfolio of over 20 translational programmes. See pipeline of partnering opportunities for more information.
Inhibitors of BRAF: Preclinical evaluation
BRAF kinase is mutated in ~70 per cent of malignant melanoma and ~10 per cent colorectal cancer. We have a novel, orally bioavailable lead chemical series with excellent potency and selectivity against BRAF. A backup series is also available. Both series of compounds are subject to worldwide IP protection and demonstrate excellent potential as anticancer agents. Technology Transfer is now seeking a commercial partner for late-stage preclinical and clinical development of these compounds.
For further information and discussions please contact Dr Morag Foreman: m.foreman@wellcome.ac.uk. Download B-Raf flyer [PDF 320KB].
HSD1: Preclinical evaluation
A leading team at the University of Edinburgh have generated preclinical and clinical 'proof-of-concept' illustrating the pathophysiological significance of inhibition of the enzyme 11b-HSD1 in both metabolic syndrome and cognitive function in ageing. The group established an in-house drug discovery capability in 2003 and have worked in close partnership with industrial advisers and external sub-contractors to discover and optimise several series of 11b-HSD1 inhibitors. A novel, patented candidate has completed formal GMP preclinical toxicological and pharmacokinetic package for submission IND. The group will progress this candidate into a Phase I clinical trial, containing a biomarker of efficacy read out, by which time Technology Transfer will be seeking a commercial partner to license the programme for its further development.
For further information and discussions please contact Dr Richard Seabrook: r.seabrook@wellcome.ac.uk
Allergen Delivery Inhibitors: Preclinical evaluation Allergen Delivery
Inhibitors offer the potential to combine alleviation of asthma with allergy prophylaxis using small molecule inhaled therapy. Researchers at St George’s, University of London and the University of Manchester have employed structure-based drug design to develop inhibitors that selectively target house dust mite cysteine peptidases, enzymes that make significant contributions to the development, maintenance and escalation of allergic diseases including asthma. The programme’s candidate drug (CD 1) displays in vivo efficacy in animal models with a good duration of action when delivered to the airways. CD 1 is supported by several developable back-up compounds from chemically distinct and mechanistically distinct series. A patent portfolio is being created and Technology Transfer is seeking a development and commercialisation partner for this programme. For further information and discussions please contact Dr Ann Mills-Duggan: a.mills-duggan@wellcome.ac.uk
Watch a short video in which the researchers explain how they hope to create an entirely new class of anti-asthma drug, targeting the root cause of asthma itself, rather than its symptoms.
Genes patent: Patented intellectual property
The Wellcome Trust controls key intellectual property covering mutations in the BRAF gene associated with cancerous phenotypes. This intellectual property is available for immediate non-exclusive licensing.
For further information and discussions please contact Dr Morag Foreman: m.foreman@wellcome.ac.uk.
