Harvard University's Office of Technology Development (OTD), Nanosys,
Inc., and Vista Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that Vista has signed
License Agreements with both Harvard University and Nanosys covering several
patents and patent applications related to the use of nanowires for biosensors.
The core intellectual property (IP) involves a wide range of applications in
nanotechnology, nanomaterials and the use of nanowire-based field effect transistors
(FETs) as biosensors, all of which were derived from the work of Dr. Charles
Lieber, a professor of Chemistry at Harvard, and a pioneer in nanotechnology.
Under terms of the agreements, Vista has secured the exclusive, worldwide rights
for the use of nanowires for detection of biomarkers associated with organ or
tissue damage, and any form of treatment or therapeutics-associated adverse
response(s). In consideration, Harvard and Nanosys have received an equity position
in Vista, as well as upfront license and downstream royalty payments.
While Harvard and Nanosys each own extensive portfolios of IP around multiple
aspects of nanotechnology including basic nanowire compositions, nanowire synthesis
and the use of nanowires and other nanostructures for many applications, Vista
will focus its attention on the use of nanowire-based FETs as highly sensitive
sensors of biomolecules. The power of Lieber's nanotechnology inventions is
that they permit continuous and real-time monitoring of multiple biomarkers
in blood and urine. Vista plans to manufacture and sell nanowires that are formatted
to provide real-time, continuous measurement of blood and urinary biomarkers
of organ and tissue injury.
"Just as EKG instruments allow physicians to continuously monitor a patient's
heart function, the broad nanowire IP portfolio acquired in these agreements
will allow Vista to commercialize and market its NanoBioSensor™ platform
that enables physicians, clinicians and pharmaceutical researchers to continuously
monitor, on a real-time basis, a wide variety of blood and urinary biomarkers
that will be transformational to patient care," according to Dr. Spencer
Farr, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vista.
"The potential to commercialize this portfolio of nanowire technologies
is quite significant and could fundamentally reshape approaches to the monitoring
of medical emergency situations," said Isaac T. Kohlberg, Harvard University's
Senior Associate Provost and Chief Technology Development Officer. "Working
together with Nanosys to license these patents to Vista, we're able to move
the technology forward and give it every opportunity to evolve from initial
laboratory findings to commercial applications, which will benefit society.
We're excited to be working in concert with both companies as they grow as leaders
in their respective fields."
About Harvard University's Office of Technology Development
The Harvard Office of Technology Development (OTD) is responsible for all activities
pertaining to the evaluation, patenting and licensing of new inventions and
discoveries made at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. OTD also
serves to further the development of Harvard technologies through the establishment
of sponsored research collaborations with industry. OTD's mission is to promote
the public good by fostering innovation and translating new inventions made
at Harvard into useful products available and beneficial to society.