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AvGFP Licensing
Following a series of strategic alliance deals with BioImage A/S, Columbia University (in City of New York) and Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc (the successor to an agreement originally with Aurora Biosciences Corporation), GE Healtcare is able to offer the intellectual property rights necessary to utilize Aequorea victoria GFP, giving a dominant position in the GFP market.
Why choose Aequorea victoria GFP?
- Versatile, genetically encodable fluorescent label for live-cell assays
- No extrinsic co-factors or chemical substrates
- Quantitation of previously intractable targets
- Well-validated technology
- Fluorescent as a monomer; reduced likelihood of problems stemming from target aggregation
- Access to patented AvGFP mutants for improved performance in cellular assays
GFP License
Wild type AvGFP derives from jellyfish existing in cold sea water. The introduction of certain folding mutations dramatically improves the yield of correctly folded GFP molecules at 37°C. Red-shifted mutations are also required to enable the fluorescence to be detected by standard laboratory fluorescence detection instruments. Both Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc. and BioImage A/S have granted patents in Europe and USA which claim these performance enhancing mutations. Other patented mutations cover the blue, cyan and yellow color-shifted variants of AvGFP. The patent portfolio includes the following granted/issued patents from Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc and BioImage A/S:
US 5,625,048 US 5,777,079 US 5,804,387 US 5,968,738 US 5,994,077 US 6,054,321 US 6,066,476 US 6,077,707 US 6,090,919 US 6,124,128 US 6,172,188 EP 851874 EP0804457 JP 3283523
A number of additional patent applications from Aurora Biosciences, BioImage and Amersham Biosciences can also be included in the license. By pooling these patent portfolios GE Healthcare is able to provide a single consistent license that covers the folding and red shifted mutations ofl AvGFP variants
Columbia GFP License
Columbia University control granted patents that cover the use of Aequorea victoria GFP in cellular systems. In order to further simplify the licensing position Amersham Biosciences is offering customers this intellectual property in addition to the GFP License or as a stand alone agreement.
Who needs a License?
- Academic and non profit organisations may use AvGFP freely, if they are not providing services for a commercial organisation, or the products of the research are not passed through to a commercial organisation.
- All other users of AvGFP are required to obtain a licence to use the technology prior to starting research work.
- The purchase of a licence from GE Healthcare enables the sub-licensee to purchase products from other licensed vendors, such as BD Biosciences Clontech, who have a wide range of GFP based vectors available. These products cannot be purchased without first acquiring a license from GE Healthcare.
- Alternatively, a range of GFP based cellular assays are available from GE Healthcare, which include full user rights for that assay technology.,a licence is therefore not required prior to purchase and use of these assays
What licensing options are available?
A wide variety of licenses spanning a broad range of applications and price points are available to accommodate most user needs.
The following information summarises the type of licenses that are typically available from GE Healthcare, although broader licenses tend to have more negotiable terms, and may be customised to specific requirements. The summary below is intended as a general guide, and is not intended to fully define the user rights for any one license. For further detailed information, contact your local office or e.mail gfp@amersham.com
- Single source of access to intellectual property rights
- Highly flexible options to suit user requirements
- Flexibility to upgrade
- Access to the most widely used and proven FP available
Typical licence features summary:
Technology Evaluation License
- Initial access and evaluation of the technology in a cost effective manner
- 6 or 12 month duration, non renewable, typically covering single site, single project
Single Project License
- Access to the technology for a specific project when wider coverage is not required
- Typically renewed annually, may include some primary or secondary screening and transgenic applications
Research License
- Allows wider access to the technology within an organisation for general research, where screening applications are not required
- Flexible renewal & location options, excludes primary or secondary screening but may include some transgenic applications.
- Will typically confer immunity to past infringement activities
Screening License
- Wide access to the technology within an organization, for screening applications
- Flexible renewal and location options, includes primary or secondary screening, and some transgenic applications. Screening evaluation & IN Cell analyzer 1000 screening options also available
- Options available for smaller organisations with more limited screening requirements
- Will typically confer immunity to past infringement activities
Fields of Use
The primary field of use offered by GE Healthcare is for research and development into human therapeutics. However, the field may be extended to include agrochemical, veterinary and plant applications on request.
Licences for organisations wishing to sell of transfer GFP containing materials are also be available, but will be subject to review by all head licensees. Please contact us for further information. |
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