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UIC Grants License for Novel Drug Therapy for Sleep Apnea
A promising drug therapy for the treatment of sleep apnea, a serious and
common sleep-related breathing disorder has been licensed by the University
of Illinois at Chicago, where it was first conceptualized, to an intellectual
property and technology commercialization company for clinical
development.
UIC signed a licensing and research agreement to further develop a novel pharmacological therapy for sleep apnea with BTG, of Conshohocken, Pa.
The basis for the therapy was uncovered by two noted UIC sleep researchers,
Drs. David Carley and Miodrag Radulovacki, who demonstrated in preclinical
and clinical studies that turning up or down the signaling pathways of
certain neurotransmitters can significantly reduce the incidence of sleep
apnea.
"This has real clinical significance," said Carley, who is professor
of medicine, pharmacology and bioengineering and director of research at
the UIC Center for Sleep and Ventilatory Disorders. "Although sleep apnea
is as common as asthma or diabetes, there is currently no cure and no fully
effective long-term treatment."
Sleep apnea is a serious respiratory disorder that involves cessation of
breathing for prolonged intervals during sleep. It is estimated that 15-20
million people in the United States suffer from apnea, which has been linked
to increased risk for hypertension, heart failure, depression and
diabetes.
Currently, no drugs are approved to treat sleep apnea. The novel therapy being developed by BTG and UIC comprises a combination of two drugs that are currently approved and in use to treat conditions unrelated to sleep apnea.
"We believe that safe and effective drug treatments are achievable for sleep apnea, and are delighted to have BTG as a strategic partner in this development program," said Radulovacki, who is professor of pharmacology and medicine.
Under the terms of the agreement, UIC grants BTG specific exclusive rights
to intellectual property and inventions related to the development of therapeutic
treatment of sleep apnea, as well as rights to new intellectual property
developed through a BTG funded research program. The agreement
also includes a revenue share arrangement between the parties upon successful
product commercialization.
"BTG is very proud to be working with UIC and investigators of Drs. Carley and Radulovacki's stature," said Thomas Logan, vice president of BTG's BioPharmaceuticals business unit. "Based on their groundbreaking laboratory and clinical research we are optimistic that a pharmacological therapeutic option to treat sleep apnea is achievable.
"This investment project is a continuation of a very productive relationship
between our institutions and is a lead program in BTG's portfolio of clinical
development programs that involve new uses for
existing drugs and drug combinations," Logan said.
UIC ranks among the nation's top 50 universities in federal research funding and is Chicago's largest university with 25,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, 15 colleges and the state's major public medical center. A hallmark of the campus is the Great Cities Commitment, through which UIC faculty, students and staff engage with community, corporate, foundation and government partners in hundreds of programs to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world.
For more information about BTG, visit www.btgplc.com
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