News and Events > CU Signs Exclusive Option for IP to Help Prevent and Treat A Virus that Causes Cervical Cancer

CU Signs Exclusive Option for IP to Help Prevent and Treat A Virus that Causes Cervical Cancer

August 13, 2003

DENVER - The University of Colorado signed an exclusive option with MediGene AG, a German corporation for CU intellectual property that will be used in the therapeutic and prophylactic vaccine for the treatment and prevention of the papilloma virus infection. The technology was developed by Dr. Robert Garcea, Professor of Pediatric Oncology, at the CU-Health Sciences Center.

Papilloma virus is a leading cause of cervical cancer and its precursors (dysphasia). Cervical cancer affects 470,000 women a year worldwide and kills nearly half, 225,000. The vaccine has been designed to initiate a specific immune response that destroys the tumor cells caused by the viral infection. The vaccine has the potential to help prevent infection as well as treat persons who already have been infected, placing it in the therapeutic vaccine category.

Under the exclusive option, MediGene will conduct further development on the technology to determine its commercial potential, according to Vivian Dullien, director of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center technology transfer office. "We are very pleased to have an international partner that is committed to helping solve worldwide medical problems using novel technologies," Dullien added.

MediGene AG, a German publicly quoted, international biopharmaceutical company, combines a broad technology platform with products in pre-clinical and clinical development. Founded in 1994, the company has built up core competence in cardiac and cancer diseases.