Patents, Contracts, and Progress – Professor Pål Stenmark's Journey with the Innovation Office

– I don't think I could have managed it without the support from the Innovation Office, he says.

Pål Stenmark and his research group focus on Botulinum toxin, a family of toxins with Botox being the most well-known product. They have discovered new toxins, the first in almost 50 years, which can be used as novel medications. Collaborating with researchers in the USA, they have also developed improved variants of the old toxins to enhance their effectiveness as medications for humans.

Innovation Office's Significant Support

To translate research into practical applications, researchers often need to patent their discoveries, a process that can be both complex and costly.

– In comes the Innovation Office; they have been extremely helpful, especially in the beginning, but also ongoing. I can do basic research and development, but I had no idea how to patent a discovery or establish agreements, says Pål Stenmark. I received assistance with all of that, including financial support.

This assistance resulted in several outstanding publications with the pharmaceutical companies he collaborates with. Despite their eagerness to showcase ongoing projects, he emphasizes the crucial nature of having patents and agreements in place first.

Taking more risks with Financial Support

Pål Stenmark and his research group also received financial support from the Innovation Office, which covered costs incurred at the start of the process. This financial support encouraged them to take more risks along the way. They also received legal assistance with contracts, patents, and finances.

Patent protection is necessary for advancing and contributing to pharmaceutical research. For Pål Stenmark, it resulted in more research funds for his group, which, in collaboration with Harvard University, patented and licensed several patents to a major pharmaceutical company. He has also independently obtained multiple patents and started two small companies while continuing to drive the group's basic research towards practical applications.

– The support I have received has made research possible that I wouldn't have had the opportunity for without collaborations with companies. If there's one thing I want to emphasize, it's how important and excellent the work of the Innovation Office is, he concludes.

Read more about Pål Stenmark here:

Dong M, Masuyer G, Stenmark P.

Botulinum and Tetanus Neurotoxins.

Annual Review of Biochemistry. 2019 Jun 20;88:811-837.

Other publications:

Zhang S, Masuyer G, Zhang J, Shen Y, Lundin D, Henriksson L, Miyashita S, Martinez M, Dong M*, Stenmark P*

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Botulinum Neurotoxin

Nature Communications. 2017 Aug 3;8:14130.

Yin L, Masuyer G, Zhang S, Zhang J, Miyashita SI, Burgin D, Lovelock L, Coker SF, Fu TM, Stenmark P*, Dong M*.

Characterization of a membrane binding loop leads to engineering botulinum neurotoxin B with improved therapeutic efficacy.

PLoS Biology. 2020 Mar 17;18(3):e3000618.

Elliott M, Favre-Guilmard C, Liu S, Maigne J, Masuyer G, Beard M, Boone B, Carré D, Kalinichev M, Lezmi S, Mir I, Nicoleau C, Palan S, Perier C, Raban E, Zhang S, Dong M*, Stenmark P*, Krupp J*.

Engineered botulinum neurotoxin B with improved binding to human receptors has enhanced efficacy in preclinical models

Science Advances. 2019 Jan 16;5(1):eaau7196.

Click here for the complete list of Pål Stenmark's publications.