Success Stories
Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM)
NIH’s (NCI & NICHD) Contribution
- Conceived the idea of microdissection
- Invented a special thermoplastic polymer film activated by laser beams
- Developed a prototype LCM unit that used a carbon dioxide laser
Arcturus’ Contribution
- Contributed the laser diode technology
- Developed a prototype Laser Diode System LCM
Results of Collaboration
- Product – Laser Capture Microdissection machine
- More than 700 articles have been published based on LCM technology
- Nearly a thousand LCM machines have been sold for use in research on breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers
Multi-Replica Blotting Kit
NIH’s (NCI) Contribution
- Developed Layered Expression Scanning (LES) technology
20/20 GeneSystems’ Contribution
- Refined the LES system in collaboration with the NCI, NIH
- Commercialized the Multi-Replica Blotting Kit
Results of Collaboration
- Product – Multi-Replica Blotting Kit
- The kit allows the simultaneous detection of up to ten different proteins of interest from one protein gel using Western Blot technique
Velcade®
NIH’s (NCI) Contribution
- Conducted preclinical studies for Velcade®
- Developed a formulation with a longer, stable shelf life
Industrial Partners’ Contribution
- Myogenetics synthesized the active ingredient for Velcade®
- ProScript conducted preclinical oncology studies in collaboration with institutions including the NCI, NIH
- Millennium Pharmaceuticals initiated the clinical trials that resulted in FDA approval
Results of Collaboration
- Product – Anti-cancer drug Velcade®
- FDA approved Velcade® as treatment for refractory multiple myeloma, which accounts for 2% of all cancer deaths each year
- Velcade® is being clinically tested against ovarian, colon, pancreatic, lung, and prostate cancers, as well as leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Taxol®
NIH’s (NCI) Contribution
- Identified paclitaxel from the Pacific yew tree bark by screening natural products for antitumor activity
- Conducted pre-clinical testing and clinical trials
- Developed alternative drug administration methods
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Contribution
- Developed supplies of Taxol® by licensing Taxol semisynthesis technology from Florida State University
- Collaborated in the clinical development with the NIH
Results of Collaboration
- Product - Anti-cancer drug Taxol®
- FDA approved Taxol® for the treatment of breast, ovarian, lung cancer and Kaposi’s sarcoma
- Over 1 million patients received treatment with Taxol® (paclitaxel)
Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System
NIH’s (NIA) Contribution
- Invented the method of using the anticancer drug paclitaxel at a lower dosage to treat restenosis
- Incorporated the drug in a slow-release polymer for coated stent
- Carried out the early animal experiments
Industrial Partners’ Contribution
- Invented the method of using stent coated with paclitaxel for clinical applications
- Angiotech collaborated with Boston Scientific to develop the coated stent for human use
- Boston Scientific launched the commercial product
Results of Collaboration
- Product - Taxus® Express2TM device
- This product and similar drug-coated stents are expected to substantially replace open-heart bypass surgeries currently performed on more than 350,000 Americans a year
Page Last Updated: 12-02-2008