UC San Diego Technology Transfer Office Newsletter http://invent.ucsd.edu 1

Innovator SpotlightDeborah Spector: Breaking the Cycle with PersistenceIn research endeavors and technology transfer, discovery breakthroughs do not occur overnight. The application of slow, methodical, and persistent efforts in research often yields a promising solution for a stubborn and refractory problem.This is the case with our featured innovator: Dr. Deborah Spector. A professor and researcher at UC San Diego since 1978, Spector began with a purpose: finding a vaccine for human cytomegalovirus (hCMV). Her determination produced tangible results with issued patents U.S. Patent Number 4,762,780–Method and composition for screening and diagnosing "HCMV" and U.S. Patent Number 5,173,402–Method and compositions for screening and diagnosing human cytomegalovirus ("hCMV"). Spector’s most recent patent application WO/2007/106404–Vaccine for viruses that cause persistent or latent infections, explains the methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of infections caused by viruses such as herpesviruses, retroviruses, hepatitis viruses, papillomaviruses, and cytomegalovirus.Along with her research team at UC San Diego’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Spector has worked diligently towards understanding the replication cycle and infection process for hCMV and similar viruses. In the case of hCMV, it is believed that this virus infects as many as sixty to ninety percent of adults in the U.S. While dormant in many, hCMV can be life threatening for individuals who are immuno-compromised and often results in birth defects when transmitted to a developing fetus. In fact, hCMV causes more birth defects than any other virus.According to Spector, “Between 0.5 percent to 2.5 percent of newborns are infected with hCMV, and of the 5 percent to 10 percent that are symptomatic at birth, most develop a secondary consequence, such as microcephaly, hearing loss, or motor disabilities. Even in the asymptomatic group, approximately 15 percent will later show hearing or vision loss. It is estimated that each year in the United States, 40,000 children are born with congenital hCMV infection, resulting in 400 deaths and

leaving approximately 8,000 children with permanent impairment.”Current medical practice utilizes blood tests to identify the specific antibodies that indicate an hCMV infection. Viral cultures are another diagnostic tool often used. However, once identified, treatment options are limited and there are no cures. Through her CMV research, Spector has already made a substantial contribution to the field of medical diagnostics. An earlier innovation was licensed to a diagnostics company that developed and marketed a test to detect the presence of CMV

in blood or plasma. With her ongoing studies in virology, Spector hopes to continue to make strides in addressing infectious diseases that have limited treatment options.Dr. Deborah Spector received her Ph.D. in

1975 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratories of Drs. Michael Bishop and Harold Varmus at UC San Francisco, where she showed that the src oncogene is a conserved eukaryotic gene expressed in both normal and transformed cells. She became an assistant professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at UC San Diego in 1978 and began her studies on cytomegalovirus. In 2005, she moved to the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr. Spector’s faculty web site is located at http://pharmacy.ucsd.edu/faculty/Spector.shtml.

Deborah H. Spector, Ph.D. Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Skaggs School of Pharmacy

invent@ucsd June 2010 Volume XVII

Dr. Spector with members of her research team.

UC San Diego Technology Transfer Office Newsletter http://invent.ucsd.edu 2

UC San Diego Technologies in the PipelineNearly three hundred new innovations were disclosed to the TTO in the first three quarters of FY2010 (7/1/09 - 3/31/10). Listed below is a sample of these innovations, more information is available on the TTO web site at http://invent.ucsd.edu.LIFE SCIENCES/MEDICAL/BIOTECHNOLOGY

AGRICULTURE/PLANT SCIENCE:Nitrate-Responsive Synthetic Promoter Produces Nitrate-Regulated Gene Expression in Plants; Case No. 2010-073 (Crawford, Nigel M.)

AUTOIMMUNE/INFECTIOUS DISEASE:New Method to Predict Immune Recovery; Case No. 2010-039 (Woelk, Christopher H.)

CANCER:Identification of Liver-Cancer Initiating Cells and a Method to Inhibit Their Tumorigenic Potential; Case No. 2010-115 (Karin, Michael)

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE:New GPCR Protein Targets for Cardiac Fibrosis; Case No. 2010-128 (Insel, Paul A.)

Stimulus-Triggered Metalloenzyme Inhibitors; Case No. 2010-123 (Cohen, Seth M.)

System and Method to Diagnose, Localize, and Treat Heart-Rhythm Disorders; Case No. 2010-102 (Narayan, Sanjiv M.)

DERMATOLOGY:A New Method To Accelerate Tissue and Wound Healing Rates and Reduce Swelling and Scar Formation; Case No. 2010-084 (Schmid-schonbein, Geert W.)

DIAGNOSTIC/DEVICE:Chemically Amplified Response Strategies for Medical Sciences; Case No. 2010-089 (Almutairi, Adah)

GENOMICS/NUCLEIC ACIDS:Improved “One and Two Yeast Hybrid” Systems for Individually Arrayed Libraries; Case No. 2010-069 (Kay, Steve A.)

METABOLIC/ENDOCRINOLOGY: Pancreastatin, A Novel Peptide Regulator of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism; Case No. 2010-026 (Mahata, Sushil K.)

STEM CELL:Defined and Xeno-Free Serum Replacement for Maintenance of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs); Case No. 2010-036 (Muotri, Alysson)

Scalable Generation of Erythrocytes from Embryonic Stem Cells Can Increase the Transfusion Capacity of the Blood Supply; Case No. 2010-045 (Carrier, Ewa)

PHYSICAL SCIENCES/ENGINEERING

NETWORKING:A New Method to Synchronize Data Streams Over a Local Area Network; Case No. 2010-035 (Makeig, Scott)

ROBOTICS/ANIMATION:

IceCube: A Totally Self-Contained Multi-Directional Robotic Sphere; Case No. 2010-032 (Bewley, Thomas R.)

iHop, A Reconfigurable Hopping/Stair Climbing Robotic Rover; Case No. 2010-033 (Bewley, Thomas R.)

Switchblade: A Mobile Balancing Robotic-Rover; Case No. 2010-034 (Bewley, Thomas R.)

SEMICONDUCTORS/SENSORS:Cladding Modulated Bragg-Gratings in Silicon Waveguides; Case No. 2010-119 (Fainman, Yeshaiahu)

Methods For Layout Decomposition For Double Patterning Lithography; Case No. 2010-015 (Kahng, Andrew B.)

High-Efficiency, High-Linearity, Acoustic to Ultrasonic Power Amplifier for Low-Cost Underwater Modem Applications; Case No. 2010-161 (Kimball, Donald F.)

WIRELESS:Unrestricted Spherical Quantization for Data Compression; Case No. 2010-070 (Palmer, Jason A.)

A Zero Turn-On Voltage Rectifier for Efficient Wireless Power Supplies and Energy Harvesting; Case No. 2010-135 (Asbeck, Peter)

IceCube Image

iHop Illustration

UC San Diego Technology Transfer Office Newsletter http://invent.ucsd.edu 3

Asbeck, Peter et al.7,652,532 – Correlation method for monitoring power amplifier

Carson, Dennis et al.7,601,846 – Compounds having activity as inhibitors of apoptosis (SD2000-E70)7,682,607 – Wnt and frizzled receptors as targets for immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (SD2001-C78)

Cavenee, Webster et al.7,589,180 – Specific binding proteins and uses thereof

Cheng, Chung-Kuan et al.7,622,779 – Interconnection architecture and method of assessing interconnection architecture 7,679,416 – High speed clock distribution transmission line network

Chojkier, Mario et al.7,655,472 – Treatment of disease by inducing cell apoptosis

Cohen, Seth et al.7,579,486 – Metalloprotein inhibitors 7,705,164 – Metalloprotein inhibitors

Cruz, Rene et al.7,633,894 – Scheduling methods for wireless networks (SD 2002-222)

De Callafon, Raymond7,688,984 – Active noise control method and apparatus including feedforward and feedback controllers

Du, Jiang7,602,184 – Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging with short echo times

Evans, Sylvia et al.7,625,874 – Compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with T-box and N-Myc (SD2005-223)

Fahey, Robert et al.7,560,229 – Methods of use of the enzymes of mycothiol synthesis (SD2002-094)

7,642,280 – Inhibitors of acyl glucosaminyl inositol amidase and methods of use (SD2001-169)

Fenical, William et al.7,635,712 – Salinosporamides and methods for use thereof

Fu, Xiang-Dong et al.7,601,492 – Genome mapping of functional DNA elements and cellular proteins (SD2003-244)

Galton, Ian et al.7,602,323 – Digital background correction of nonlinear error ADC's

Haas, Martin7,569,385 – Multipotent amniotic fetal stem cells (SD2005-041)

Hostetler, Karl et al.7,652,001 – Pharmacologically active agents containing esterified phosphonates and methods for use thereof (SD2004-100)7,687,480 – Phosphonate compounds

Hu, TC7,565,391 – Binary digit multiplications and applications (SD2005-046)

Intaglietta, Marcos et al.7,670,844 – Supported molecular biofluid viscosity sensors for in vitro and in vivo use (SD2003-145)

Kahng, Andrew et al.7,614,032 – Method for correcting a mask design layout

Karin, Michael et al.7,695,921 – Method for detecting the presence of prostate cancer (SD2007-141)

Kelner, Michael et al.7,629,380 – Antitumor Agents (SD2008-218)

Kriegman, David et al.7,689,035 – Methods for identifying, separating and editing reflection components in multi-channel images and videos

La Clair, James7,706,984 – Method and device for identifying molecular species (SD2003-060)

Larsen, Lawrence et al.7,567,123 – Adaptive bias current circuit and method for amplifiers

Lo, Yuhwa et al.7,675,686 – Fluidic adaptive lens

Marrow, Marcus7,564,933 – Method and system for near optimal iterative detection of the 2-dimensional ISI channel (SD2004-159)

Nguyen, Truong et al.7,623,719 – Video encoding methods and devices (SD2003-247)

Raz, Eyal et al.7,560,436 – Methods of treating gastrointestinal inflammation (SD2004-B64)

Sullivan, Benjamin7,574,902 – Tear film osmometry

Tsien, Roger et al.7,560,287 – Long wavelength engineered fluorescent proteins

Vecchio, Kenneth et al.7,621,435 – Designs and fabrication of structural armor

Viirre, Erik et al.7,572,234 – EEG feedback controlled sound therapy for tinnitus

Witztum, Joseph et al.7,556,927 – Methods for diagnosing, imaging and treating atherosclerotic disease7,575,873 – Reagents for diagnosing, imaging and treating atherosclerotic disease

Wong, Eric et al.7,587,233 – Velocity-selective arterial spin labeling without spatial selectivity (SD2001-175)

U.S. Patents More than 50 U.S. patents were issued to UC San Diego researchers during the ten-month period from July 2009 through April 2010. Listed below are some of these patents. Patents in bold are available for licensing.

UC San Diego Technology Transfer Office Newsletter http://invent.ucsd.edu 4

A Different Kind of “Early Stage” Technology Transfer2010 Junior Solar Sprint Competition

Staff members at TTO volunteer within the community by providing their time and expertise on various technology transfer-related projects. Recently, Senior Licensing Officer Victoria Cajipe was one of the volunteers who promoted and organized educational activities and a racing event for the 2010 Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) competition hosted by the San Diego Renewable Energy Society.

“What can you do to enhance solar collection in a photovoltaic panel?” A challenge for university inventors, certainly, but also a question for the middle-school students who participated in the JSS competition that culminated with a race of model solar-electric cars on June 5. “Junior Solar Sprint is a wonderful hands-on learning program launched in the 1990s by the U.S. Department of Energy to stimulate students’ interest in science and encourage them towards a technical career. The kids receive a standard solar panel and motor to then figure out how to build a solar car,” Victoria explains.

“The program brings together the same elements of technology, fun, and team spirit fostered by the San Diego Science Festival and deepens the students’ appreciation of renewable energy sources.”

Victoria lectured about solar cells and electricity during the JSS teacher training workshops and was one of the judges for best craftsmanship, innovation, and technical merit among the model cars. “Armed with basic concepts and practical guidelines, the kids got to experience the process of invention,” she says. “They learned about photoconversion and understood the advantages of adjustable angle of incidence and reflectors–the principles behind sun-tracking solar panels and concentrator photovoltaic systems.” JSS Race Day was a sunny success with 31 model cars of all shapes, colors, and styles participating. It was a different kind of “early stage” technology transfer–to creative 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who built working prototypes within weeks–facilitated by joint efforts

of the local community, non-profit organizations, and cleantech companies*.

*The 2010 JSS sponsors were: Sullivan Solar Power, Butler Sun Solutions, the San Diego Electrical Training Center, and the California Center for Sustainable Energy.

!! !

1 2 3

!

4

Photo captions: (1) At the starting line, with solar panels under shade. (2) Away they go! (3) Nifty solar turtle. (4) Solar stretch limo. (5) A-frame solar vehicle. (6) Hawaiian-theme solar car.

!

6

(Event photos courtesy of Elaine Gillum, Marshall Middle School and Grazyna Krajewska, SDRES board member)

Victoria Cajipe, Ph.D. Senior Licensing Officer

!

5

UC San Diego Technology Transfer Office Newsletter http://invent.ucsd.edu 5

TTO Move/TPCN Renovation

The Technology Transfer Office will be moving to temporary offices this summer in McGill Hall on the Muir campus while it’s current location at Torrey Pines Center North (TPCN) undergoes a total renovation. According to the renovation web site, the strategic renovation of TPCN will allow UCSD

to vacate leased properties at Executive Drive and McKee Street—eliminating over $600,000 of annual rent expenses, strengthening functional relationships between units, and better aligning workplace design with future needs. In addition, the renovation will provide opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint and achieve greater energy efficiency consistent with a LEED Silver rating, as well as ensure compliance with ADA requirements.

TPCN renovation is slated for completion in March 2011. In the interim, you can contact the TTO staff at the same phone numbers and email addresses (http://invent.ucsd.edu/about/staff.shtml). Disclosure forms and policy information are always available on our website at http://invent.ucsd.edu.

UC San Diego TTO Forging Stronger Ties with Industry

What do three business executives from different fields have in common with a university technology transfer office? They comprise the university’s industry technology transfer advisory committee.

UC San Diego’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO), established in 1994, has been in the business of promoting and licensing university technologies to the commercial sector for over 15 years. Prior to 1994, university technologies were managed by a central office at the University of California Office of the President in Oakland, California—an office established before the passage of the Bayh-Dole Act (University and Small Business Patent Procedures Act) in 1980.

UCSD’s TTO has retained an academic advisory committee for guidance and oversight for many years; last year an industry technology-transfer advisory committee (I-TTAC) was assembled to expand ties with industry. The current members of the industry advisory team are Julia Brown, Scott Minick, and Bob Slapin.

Julia Brown is prominent in the local biotechnology community with previous senior management stints at Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Dura Pharmaceuticals, IVAC Corporation, and Hybritech Corporation. She also serves on the board of directors for several biotechnology

companies and is active in local business development groups.

Scott Minick is a bicoastal business executive who splits his time between two major biotechnology hubs: San Francisco and Boston. He is president and CEO of BIND Biosciences, Inc. and a venture partner with ARCH Ventures. His experience includes senior positions with biotechnology start-ups, large medical-device companies, and large pharmaceutical companies.

Bob Slapin brings high-tech savvy to the mix; he is known in the local high-tech community and has extensive experience in software distribution, joint ventures, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) arrangements, and channel marketing. He has held executive positions in several high-technology companies and is involved in international trade and business development for emerging companies.

The industry advisory committee provides guidance from a practical business perspective. “They help our office to remain connected with an ever-changing technology and business landscape,” said Jane Moores, who leads the campus’ Technology Transfer Office. Serving as an interface between the university and industry, this recently formed committee communicates and provides feedback on industry concerns regarding the technology transfer process. All members were selected for their expertise in business areas that the TTO targets for potential partnering opportunities.

Team Cognionics Wins

Mike Chi, a graduate student in electrical engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering and members of Team Cognionics won the top prize—$25,000 in start-up funding and $15,000 in legal services—at the 2010 UCSD Entrepreneur Challenge. The team included graduate engineering and MBA students at UCSD, the Salk Institute, and The Scripps Research Institute. Cognionics also won the audience choice award for its demonstration and executive summary presentation and best entry in the high-tech track. Cognionics uses a wireless sensor to detect biopotentials, tiny voltage signals that emanate from electrically active cells, such as neurons and cardiac cells that propagate to the skin through the conductive media of the human body. The device also uses wireless networks to transmit the cardiac data to computers for review. The technology co-inventor and principal investigator is Gert Cauwenberghs, Professor of Bioengineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering.

UC San Diego Technology Transfer Office Newsletter http://invent.ucsd.edu 6

Technology ransfer fficeT O

News Roundup from LicenseesSenomyx Signs Letter Agreement With Pepsico Regarding Potential Collaboration Related To The Discovery, Development, And Commercialization Of New Sweet Flavor Ingredients

SAN DIEGO, 6/24/2010--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Senomyx, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNMX), a leading company focused on using proprietary technologies to discover and develop novel flavor ingredients for the food, beverage, and ingredient supply industries, announced that it and PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP), the world’s second-largest food and beverage company, have signed a letter agreement and entered into an exclusive 60-day negotiation period regarding the completion of a definitive agreement for a new collaboration related to Senomyx’s sweet taste technology.

Nereus Pharmaceuticals Raises $20 Million

SAN DIEGO, Calif.,6/23/10 — Nereus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a San Diego-based drug developer that uses marine microbial sources, has raised $20 million in new VC funding. HBM BioVentures led the round, and was joined by Alta Partners, Forward Ventures, Gimv, Advent International, Pacific Venture Group, Roche Venture Fund and Astellas Venture Management. The company has raised over $145 million in total VC funding since 1998.

Nereus also announced completion of enrollment in the randomized Phase 2 ADVANCE study evaluating its tumor selective vascular disrupting agent (VDA), plinabulin (NPI-2358), in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have failed treatment with chemotherapy.

Genomatica Raises $15 Million to Commercialize Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Sustainable Chemicals Platform

SAN DIEGO, Calif., 3/25/10 — Genomatica, a leading sustainable chemicals company, announced today that TPG Biotech has led the new investment in Genomatica’s bold vision for a sustainable chemical industry. TPG Biotech, part of the venture capital platform of global private investment firm TPG, augments the full participation of existing investors Mohr Davidow Ventures, Alloy Ventures and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. The firms have collectively invested $15 million for the initial close of the Series C funding.

Ringing in the New Year: Five San Diego Tech Companies Raise Cash in December;

Xconomy - Bruce V. Bigelow - 12/ 24/2009

—Ortiva Wireless, a San Diego company that specializes in software for mobile video delivery, has raised almost $1.7 million toward a $2.5 million equity round, according to a recent regulatory filing. Previous investors include Artiman Ventures, Avalon Ventures, Comcast Interactive Capital, and Mission Ventures, according to the company’s website.

Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. Announces Closing of $7.5 Million Registered Direct Offering

NOVATO, Calif., 12/23/2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. ("Raptor" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: RPTP), today announced that on December 22, 2009, it completed its registered direct offering with institutional investors, raising an aggregate amount of approximately $7.5 million of gross proceeds (before placement agent fees and offering expenses) through the sale of 3,747,558 units.

Neoprobe Files Phase 3 Report with FDA – Lymphoseek End-of-Phase 3 Meeting Request Made

DUBLIN, OHIO – 12/8/2009 – Neoprobe Corporation (OTCBB: NEOP), a diversified developer of innovative oncology surgical and diagnostic products, has completed a Phase 3 clinical trial of Lymphoseek® (NEO3-05) with positive results. The Phase 3 clinical trial was designed to provide, and achieved its primary endpoint of, the evaluation of the efficacy of Lymphoseek in anatomically delineating lymph nodes in both breast cancer and melanoma patients that may be predictive of determining whether cancer has spread into the lymphatic system. Based on these positive outcomes, Neoprobe has submitted an end-of-Phase 3 meeting request to the US FDA to discuss the results of the clinical trial as part of our continuing preparation of a New Drug Application (NDA), which we plan to file later in 2010. The NEO3-05 study has been closed on the national clinical trials website www.clinicaltrials.gov.

The BIO International Convention was held May 3-6, 2010 at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, IL. This global event on biotechnology drew 15,322 industry leaders from 49 states and 65 countries. BIO’s annual gathering provided a broad array of top-level speakers addressing critical global challenges and the top issues in biotech. The BIO Business Forum hosted a record-number 17,100 partnering meetings between 2,125 companies and 190 company presentations. Drs. Denise Lew and Melissa Fitzgerald represented UCSD TTO and met with dozens of potential corporate partners during BIO to market university technologies at this large industry gathering.

UC Technology Transfer @ BIO

Staffing the UC Booth at BIO were Dr. Denise Lew (UC San Diego TTO) and Dr. Gonzalo Barrera-Hernandez (UC Office of the President IAS). UC representatives met with potential industry partners interested in licensing university innovations.