WOBURN, MA--(Marketwire - May 19, 2009) - Mercury Therapeutics, a privately held biotech company based in Woburn, Massachusetts focusing on the development of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators for the development of novel therapeutics for type 2 diabetes, oncology and cardiovascular disease, announced today the signing of a world wide exclusive license with Millipore Corp. of Bedford, Massachusetts for the rights to human AMPK in the field of research products and services.
The AMPK patent was originally licensed by Mercury Therapeutics in 2000 from Dartmouth College. The patent is co-invented by Dartmouth Professor Dr. Lee Witters and Dr. Bruce Kemp, his collaborator at St. Vincent's Institute for Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia. The transaction includes an upfront license fee, royalties on net sales, and sharing of all sublicense revenue for the life of the Agreement.
"This association with Millipore promises to advance significantly the field of AMPK-directed therapies," says Lee A. Witters MD, Eugene W. Leonard 1921 Professor of Medicine & Biochemistry, Dartmouth Medical School, Professor of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College.
Alla Kan, Director of Dartmouth's Technology Transfer Office, says: "This technology, capable of alleviating symptoms of so many diseases, has always been seen by us as one of our crown jewels, and now with this exciting development, its time has come."
Katan Associates has advised Mercury on this transaction.
Contact Information: For further information please contact: Katan Associates (310) 374 0808