University of Cambridge executes exclusive patent licences and collaborative research and development agreement with Gene Networks International

Oct 13 2004

The University of Cambridge has entered into two licence agreements with Gene Networks International (GNI), granting exclusive rights to Cambridge's intellectual property related to angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels) and inflammation that may have implications in the identification of new drug targets for a range of diseases.

Preventing angiogenesis has the potential to starve cancerous tumours of blood supply, providing alternative treatment for certain types of cancer.

The intellectual property licensed is based on work undertaken by Dr Cristin Print, Dr Steve Charnock-Jones and Dr Nicola Johnson of the Department of Pathology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Cambridge, and by Professor Stephen Smith, formerly head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Cambridge and now Principal of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London.

The University of Cambridge and GNI have also entered into a collaborative research and development agreement, building on this work over the next two years.

Dr Christopher Savoie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GNI said:

"We are thrilled to be the chosen commercial partners for this intellectual property portfolio, which should provide GNI and the community with high value therapeutics in cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. In addition, the collaboration agreement will allow us unparalleled access to Cambridge facilities and patients for the development of human therapeutics."

Dr David Secher, Director of Research Services Division at the University of Cambridge said:

"These exciting agreements ensure that the important discoveries can be properly developed for the benefit of patients, and will lead to improved target identification for the development of drugs for a variety of diseases through a better understanding of gene networks."