AstraZeneca Licenses Novel Antidepressant Compounds Discovered by Mayo Clinic and Virginia Tech Collaboration
09 Februar 2009 - 11:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Agreement includes research collaboration to generate follow-up TRI
compounds WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
AstraZeneca, Mayo Clinic, and Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties
Inc. today announced that AstraZeneca has licensed a portfolio of
preclinical Triple Reuptake Inhibitor (TRI) compounds for
depression. Researchers at Virginia Tech and Mayo Clinic
collaborated to discover the compounds. The agreement provides
AstraZeneca with a global license for all uses of the compounds, as
well as exclusive manufacturing and commercial rights. It also
establishes a research collaboration that will focus on jointly
generating additional novel TRI compounds. Financial details were
not disclosed. Current classes of antidepressant therapies such as
selective serotonin (SSRI) and dual serotonin/norepinephrine (SNRI)
reuptake inhibitors are proven treatments for depression and
anxiety. However, they only address the imbalances of one or two of
the neurotransmitters in the brain. Paul R. Carlier, Professor of
Organic and Medicinal Chemistry at Virginia Tech, explains,
"Together with our colleagues at Mayo Clinic, we have been seeking
wider-spectrum behavior and have developed a portfolio of TRIs to
address imbalances associated with the three major
neurotransmitters. Besides incorporating all the benefits
associated with serotonin and norepinephrine inhibition, our TRI
compounds include the additional action of the dopamine
neurotransmitter. We are excited to discover additional compounds
that work through this unique mechanism." Elliott Richelson, M.D.,
Mayo Clinic, co-inventor of the technology adds, "Through our
clinical practice, we recognize the need for improved therapies to
treat individuals suffering from depression or anxiety. The
additional dopamine action of our TRI compounds has the potential
to deliver a superior antidepressant in terms of greater efficacy
and an improved side effect profile. By collaborating with
AstraZeneca, a company with a strong history of developing new
medicines, we have the opportunity to both advance and expand upon
these scientific discoveries to address better the needs of
patients worldwide." Christer Kohler, Vice President for
AstraZeneca's Global Discovery Research Area focused on Central
Nervous System & Pain, says "Besides enabling us to harness the
combined power of two outstanding, world-class institutions, this
agreement also establishes a strong footing for AstraZeneca in the
strategically important TRI research area. We continue to build
alliances and collaborations within the scientific community and
this deal is another example of our strong commitment and ability
to leverage innovation with the aim of making a meaningful
difference in patients' lives." February 9, 2009 NOTES TO EDITORS
About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare
business engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and
marketing of meaningful prescription medicines and supplier for
healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading
pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $29.55 billion
and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience,
respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. In the
United States, AstraZeneca is a $13.35 billion dollar healthcare
business with 12,200 employees committed to improving people's
lives. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index
(Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index. For more information visit
http://www.astrazeneca-us.com./ About Mayo Clinic's Office of
Intellectual Property Mayo Clinic has one of the most highly
evolved intellectual property and technology commercialization
efforts in academic medicine, with a 20-year history of supporting
Mayo's mission. The Office of Intellectual Property at Mayo Clinic,
serves as a bridge between discoveries and the marketplace. Our
staff works closely with Mayo physicians and scientists to evaluate
and develop inventions, ideas and discoveries that have the
potential to transform healthcare and generate income to support
Mayo patient care, education and research. At Mayo Clinic, we work
with inventors and industry to determine the right fit for each
innovation, whether a sponsored research agreement, licensing
agreement, technology-based venture, start-up company or entirely
new business model. Mayo Clinic's Office of Intellectual Property
has filed more than 2,800 patent applications resulting in more
than 500 active licensing agreements with companies in the
biomedical and manufacturing industries. For more information,
visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/ About Virginia Tech Founded in
1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech is the most
comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is
among the top research universities in the nation. The university's
nine colleges are dedicated to quality, innovation, and results
through teaching, research, and outreach activities. At its main
campus in Blacksburg and six other campus centers across the state,
Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate
students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180
academic degree programs. About Virginia Tech Intellectual
Properties, Inc. (VTIP) Formed in 1985 as an affiliated corporation
of Virginia Tech, VTIP is passionate in its pursuit of excellence
in technology commercialization, creating market opportunities from
scientific innovation. VTIP facilitates the licensing of technology
to companies, encourages new faculty startup ventures, works with
publishers and distributors of software, and supports the transfer
of research and knowledge to other universities, research
institutes and companies. For more information about VTIP, contact
Mark Coburn at (540) 951-9378 or visit http://www.vtip.org/.
DATASOURCE: AstraZeneca CONTACT: AstraZeneca: Jamie Smith (US),
+1-302-885-5725, or Chris Sampson (UK), +44 20 7304 5130; or Mayo
Clinic: Kevin Punsky, +1-904-953-0746; or Virginia Tech: Susan
Trulove, +1-540-231-5646 Web Site: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/
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