Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer has transformed many ideas into products on the market in the last 40 years. You may have even heard of some of our products, like the HIV antiretrovirals emtricitabine and lamivudine, which went on to become brand names like Truvada, Dovato, and Descovy. Or maybe you’ve heard of molnupiravir, one of the world’s first approved oral medications for the treatment of COVID-19.
While not all of Emory’s 65+ products to make it to the market have been blockbusters, they all certainly have created positive impact. Here, we’re highlighting a few under-the-radar success stories that demonstrate the variety in our product pipeline and the necessity of technology transfer.
Obizur
Hemophilia is a broad term for a group of blood clotting disorders where injuries turn into excessive bleeding. Emory hematologist Pete Lollar, MD, stumbled upon a solution: a modified clotting factor delivered intravenously that doesn’t prevent provoking of the immune system, which is what stimulates hemophilia disorder. Lollar filed an invention disclosure for his drug, at the time called OB-1, in 1992 – before Emory OTT was even a formalized office! He later licensed the product through his Emory start-up company, Octagen, which conducted clinical studies on the drug. Baxter International eventually acquired and completed the drug’s testing, renaming it Obizur. In 2014, 22 years after the drug was first disclosed, the FDA approved Obizur. Read more on Obizur’s long but rewarding journey here.
Sucrets® DEFENSE
Looking to up your flu prevention? Emory University Professor of Medicine Dean Jones, PhD, discovered glutathione, a natural antioxidant found in food that acts as an immunity bump against influenza. Though glutathione had been studied before as a defense against cancer, Jones and his team discovered its applicability to flu prevention because of its ability to create blockades against toxic chemicals. It was also shown to lessen the viral load in the trachea and lungs. A Japanese pharmaceutical company, Kyowo Hakko USA Inc., developed Sucrets® DEFENSE and Insight Pharmaceuticals sublicensed it in the U.S. Jones said the drug would help those most at risk for influenza like children, people with compromised immune systems, and the elderly. The product made it to market in 2006 as Sucrets® DEFENSE, a lozenge to help prevent infection. While Sucrets® DEFENSE is no longer on the market, it proves the commercial value of glutathione, says Jones, one of nature’s most powerful immune boosters. Read more about the science behind Sucrets® DEFENSE and its path to the market here.
Velocity AI
Emory radiation oncologists Tim Fox, PhD, and Ian Crocker, MD, created Velocity AI in 2004 to create 3D images of cancer tumors. The tool allows doctors to assess tumor response to treatment and adjust treatments accordingly. It blends different images to create a 3D image that shows tumor boundaries. “Essentially, we’re trying to use imaging more as a predictive tool for cancer,” Fox said. “If you’re able to assess the tumor response more quickly, then you can modify the treatment if the patient is not responding. It could have a huge impact on patient care.” Velocity AI offers an efficient and easy workflow as well as portability, allowing physicians to speed up cancer analysis in a clinical setting. The technology is in use at over 200 cancer treatment centers around the world. Read more about the journey to Velocity AI’s creation here.
Virtually Better
Exposure therapy, where patients experience fear in a controlled environment, is traditionally expensive and time-consuming, making it difficult to access for patients and therapists. For example, a patient and their therapist might have to ride an airplane to treat a fear of flying. But what if it could be done in the relative comfort of the doctor’s office? Professor of Psychiatry Barbara Rothbaum, PhD, at Emory’s School of Medicine invented Virtually Better, a virtual reality therapy program that creates computer-generated environments to treat anxiety disorders. With specialized suites for anxiety, PTSD, and phobia disorders, the technology is now used to treat a range of conditions. Virtually Better has even been used for specialized treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans. Read more about Virtually Better’s journey to the market in our success story here.
Innovation happens at Emory every day. With hard work, patience, and a relationship with Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer, researchers can see their work transform patients’ lives for the better.
— Chaya Tong