Pittsburgh-based UPMC has reached a commercialization agreement with the University of Pittsburgh, which could cut out months of negotiation between researchers and the hospital system, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.
Marc Malandro, PhD, interim director of the university's Innovation Institute, said the goal of the agreement is to get treatments to patients as quickly as possible by giving researchers a built-in licensing partner with built-in terms, such as those for licensing, royalty arrangements and equity in new companies, according to the report.
While Pitt and UPMC already collaborate for research, applying that research is another issue. The divide between university research and its commercialization is often called "valley of death." It's a long process and a good portion of research never moves forward. This agreement intends to minimize that valley, but is not exclusive. Pitt can still work with other commercial partners, and UPMC can still work with other technology developers.
The first technology to be licensed by UPMC Enterprises is a genetic discovery that could improve test accuracy for aggressive forms of prostate cancer, according to the report.