Transgenic mice are phenomenal research tools that are of interest to both industry and academic researchers. Many technology transfer offices will be faced with the challenge of licensing transgenic mice. In this paper the authors illustrate some of the unique issues that arise in licensing transgenic mice and provide some strategies for successful commercialization. They discuss patent and licensing options and provide examples from their own experience in transgenic mouse licensing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
References
1.
USPN 4,736,866, ‘Transgenic non-human mammals’, by LederPhilipStewartTimothy, issued 12 April 1988.
2.
235 U.S.C. §200.
3.
TennantR.W.FrenchJ.E.SpaldingJ.W., ‘Identifying chemical carcinogens and assessing potential risk in short-term bioassays using transgenic mouse models’, Environmental Health Perspective, Vol 103, No 10, October 1995, pp 942–950.
4.
SimpsonMartin P.Jr, ‘Use of bailment in transferring technology from a university’, Journal of the Association of University Technology Managers, Vol 10, 1998, pp 85–100.
5.
USPN 4,959,317, ‘Site-specific recombination of DNA in eukaryotic cells’, by SauerBrian, issued 25 September 1990.
Jackson Laboratories is a non-profit entity located in Bar Harbor, Maine. It is the leading repository for transgenic mice.
8.
USPN 4,736,866, ‘Transgenic non-human mammals’, by LederPhilipStewartTimothy, issued 12 April 1988.
9.
USPN 5,087,571, ‘Method for providing a cell culture from a transgenic non-human mammal’, by LederPhilipStewartTimothy, issued 11 February 1992. USPN 5,925,803, ‘Testing method using transgenic mice expressing an oncogene’, by LederPhilipStewartTimothy, issued 20 July 1999.
Website of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) (http://www.autm.net). See Agreements/UBMTA/Federal Register for UBMTA as published in Federal Register, 8 March 1995. See also NIH Biomedical Research Resources at the AUTM Website for related discussions in regard to sharing biomedical research resources.
12.
For a list of signatory institutions, see the Website of the Association of University Technology Managers: http://www.autm.net;Agreements;UBMTA; Signatories.
‘Reach-through’ royalties refers to royalties on sales of a drug that is discovered or validated using a research tool but that is not covered by the claims of a patent held by the research tool owner.
