ACE2 DIMER CONSTRUCT (Research Tool for Drug Development)
In May 2022, under the auspices of WHO’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP), MPP signed two licensing agreements with the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the development of 11 innovative therapeutics, early-stage vaccines and diagnostic tools for COVID-19.
Among these COVID-19 technologies is a research tool for drug development:
ACE2 Dimer construct:
NIAID scientists developed a plasmid encoding human ACE2 dimers (two copies of ACE2 that are joined together). ACE2 is the protein on the surface of human cells to which the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 must bind to infect cells. This research tool can be used in studies testing the binding of spike protein probes to ACE2 and for selecting and isolating antibodies generated against SARS-CoV-2. This tool has been used widely by scientists to study COVID-19 and can be used to study other viruses that bind to ACE2.
MPP invites interested developers anywhere in the world to express their interest in obtaining a sublicence for any of these technologies by submitting an e-mail to C-TAP-NIH@medicinespatentpool.org providing as much detail as possible as to what the developer intends to do with a sublicence.
| Aim of the licences | To facilitate the manufacture and commercialisation of Covid-19 related health products and vaccines around the world |
| Technology | One licence covers different patents and materials on technologies potentially relevant in the fight against COVID-19. The second licence specifically covers patents on the spike protein. |
| Products | Any product or vaccine that is covered by the Patents or Patent Applications or uses the Licensed Material. |
| Field of use | While one licence on the different technologies is granted for SARS-CoV-2 products for the WHO C-TAP program, the second licence, in relation to spike protein, refers to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for the WHO C-TAP program. |
| Territory | Worldwide |
| Term | Continuing until the date the last Patent has lapsed, expired, or been invalidated |
| Scope of the grant | Non-exclusive right to grant royalty-bearing sublicences to develop the licensed patents/material into licensed products or vaccines, and to commercialise the licensed products or vaccines |
| Sublicence | MPP invites interested developers anywhere in the world to express their interest in obtaining a sublicence for any of these technologies by submitting an e-mail to C-TAP-NIH@medicinespatentpool.org providing as much detail as possible as to what the developer intends to do with a sublicence |
