Stories of Medical Innovation

Licensing Report: Contracts Executed by Wake Forest Innovations

Discover some of the latest licensing deals executed by Wake Forest Innovations. In this report, learn about the licensing of four novel technologies: a cancer therapeutic, an internal wound therapy, a treatment of Friedrich’s ataxia and a novel model of lupus.

The Center for Technology Innovation & Commercialization of Wake Forest Innovations cultivates some of the best ideas for medical technologies from the brightest minds at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and accelerates these ideas into medical innovations ready for licensing to an industry partner.

We celebrate each licensing success as another step toward our mission of improving health through collaborative innovation. The following recently executed contracts represent our dedication to that goal: 

Mechanical Tissue Resuscitation

Mechanical Tissue Resuscitation—developed by Louis Argenta, MD, and Michael Morykwas, PhD—is a subatmospheric aspiration therapy applied to internal injuries such as traumatic brain injury, stroke and cardiovascular reperfusion injury and tissue and bone injuries. The proprietary technology creates an environment that fosters cell survival and tissue growth. The Center for Technology Innovation & Commercialization granted an option to a license to Renovo, a new spin-out company from Wake Forest Baptist.

Modulation Therapeutics

Thaddeus Wadas, PhD, co-developed a radio-therapeutic peptide for the treatment of uveal (eye) melanomas. The Center for Technology Innovation & Commercialization finalized a definitive license agreement with Modulation Therapeutics, a start-up company created by the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida, for the exclusive commercialization rights to a jointly owned patent application.

Chondrial

Richard Payne, MD, developed an invention for the treatment of Friedrich’s ataxia, a rare disease that begins in the teenage years and reduces the lifespan of those who suffer from it. Currently, there is no treatment for Friedrich’s ataxia. The technology has been licensed to Chondrial, a start-up company spun out of Wake Forest Baptist with funding from Deerfield and the Catalyst Fund, a $15 million technology development fund from Wake Forest Baptist.

TREX1 Mutant Mouse Model

TREX1 Mutant Mouse Model, a novel mouse model of human lupus developed by Fred Perrino, PhD, can aid in studying and testing therapeutics for the treatment of lupus, which affects 1.5 million Americans. The Center for Technology Innovation & Commercialization facilitated a non-exclusive license of the TREX1 model to a drug discovery company for testing of preclinical candidates.