Transgenic swine model for preclinical Alzheimer's drug
This technology involves pigs that have been genetically engineered to carry mutations in two specific genes — PSEN1 and APP — that are directly linked to Alzheimer's disease in humans. Because pigs have a brain size and physiology much closer to humans than mice do, these animals can serve as far more realistic models for testing Alzheimer's treatments before human clinical trials. The genetic modifications mimic the mutations found in familial Alzheimer's patients, giving researchers a large-animal platform to study disease progression and drug efficacy. This fills a long-standing gap where mouse models routinely fail to predict outcomes in human trials.
What you could build
A licensed or contract-research swine model offered to pharmaceutical and biotech companies for preclinical Alzheimer's drug validation — buyers would be CNS-focused drug developers needing large-animal proof-of-concept data before IND filings.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based contract research organizations (CROs), veterinary research programs at Virginia Tech, or pharma partners working with academic medical centers like UVA or VCU would be natural collaborators or licensees.
Readiness: Lab validated
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
- Kiho Lee, Randall S. Prather, Kyungjun Uh, Tim Allen, Tim Jarome
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed October 6, 2023
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20240172729A1
Jointly owned. Virginia Tech holds this patent together with THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. VTIP can license Virginia Tech's interest; terms are worked out in the first conversation.
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology. Email us for an introduction prosim@harbor.capital.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.