Ipomoeassin natural-product compounds for cancer therapy
This patent covers a family of natural compounds called ipomoeassins, extracted from a morning glory plant species found in Suriname. These molecules have shown activity against cancer cells and may also have potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The patent claims both the specific isolated compounds and a range of chemical variations built around the same core structure. The work essentially identifies and characterizes a novel class of bioactive molecules derived from a tropical plant source.
What you could build
A pharmaceutical compound or drug candidate built on ipomoeassin scaffolds, licensed to a biotech or pharma company for further development into oncology or CNS therapeutics; the most likely buyer would be a natural-products drug discovery firm or an academic spinout seeking a lead compound.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based biotech firms or university research groups focused on natural product drug discovery, as well as pharma licensing offices connected to mid-Atlantic academic medical centers.
Readiness: Concept
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- David G. I. Kingston, Shugeng Cao
- Granted
- July 14, 2009
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 7560536
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.