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This technology uses telodendrimer prodrugs combined with boronate chemistry to improve drug delivery and effectiveness. Background:
The field of drug delivery has seen significant advancements over the past few decades, particularly in the development of targeted therapies that can improve the efficacy and safety profiles of pharmaceutical agents. One area of focus is the use of prodrugs—chemically modified versions of active drugs that are designed to be activated within the body. This approach can enhance solubility, stability, and bioavailability, while also allowing for more precise targeting of diseased tissues. As diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and chronic infections often require potent drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, there is a pressing need for delivery systems that can maximize therapeutic effects while minimizing systemic toxicity. Despite progress in prodrug and polymer-based drug delivery systems, current approaches face several limitations. Many conventional prodrugs suffer from premature activation or insufficient release of the active drug at the target site, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes and increased side effects. Additionally, the chemical linkages used in existing systems may lack stability in physiological conditions or may not respond efficiently to specific biological triggers. Furthermore, the complexity of synthesizing multifunctional carriers that can accommodate diverse drug molecules, achieve controlled release, and maintain biocompatibility remains a significant challenge. These issues highlight the necessity for innovative strategies that can overcome the shortcomings of current drug delivery technologies.Technology Overview:  
This technology centers on telodendrimer prodrugs that incorporate boronate chemistry, offering a sophisticated approach to drug delivery. Telodendrimers are highly branched, nanoscale polymers that can be engineered to carry therapeutic agents. By integrating boronate groups into their structure, these prodrugs can form reversible covalent bonds with specific biomolecules or respond to unique physiological conditions, such as changes in pH or the presence of certain metabolites. This enables the telodendrimer to encapsulate drugs securely during circulation and release them selectively at targeted sites within the body, thereby enhancing the precision and efficacy of treatment while minimizing systemic side effects. The differentiation of this technology lies in its combination of telodendrimer architecture with boronate chemistry, which provides both structural versatility and functional responsiveness. Unlike traditional drug carriers, the boronate groups allow for dynamic, stimuli-responsive drug release, adapting to the microenvironment of diseased tissues such as tumors or inflamed areas. This targeted delivery mechanism not only improves therapeutic outcomes but also reduces off-target toxicity. Furthermore, the modular design of telodendrimers allows for the customization of size, surface characteristics, and drug loading capacity, making this platform adaptable to a wide range of therapeutic applications and setting it apart from conventional prodrug and nanocarrier systems.https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_979063622.jpeg
Photo for reference only, not a depiction of the invention.Advantages:  
•    Enhanced drug delivery efficiency through targeted release
•    Improved solubility and stability of therapeutic agents
•    Reduced side effects due to controlled prodrug activation
•    Potential for customizable drug conjugation via bronate chemistry
•    Increased circulation time of drugs in the body Applications:  
•    Targeted cancer drug delivery
•    Controlled release chemotherapy
•    Improved drug solubility formulations
•    Personalized medicine applications Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application filed: 19/490,824 
https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2024254448A2/enStage of Development:
TRL 3 – Experimental proof of conceptLicensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.

This technology introduces novel compositions and methods using mutated forms of TIMP-2 to precisely regulate extracellular MMP-2 activity, offering targeted control over tissue remodeling processes. Background:
Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) plays a vital role in remodeling the extracellular matrix, which is essential for normal physiological functions such as tissue repair. However, its dysregulation is strongly linked to pathological conditions, including cancer metastasis and other diseases characterized by abnormal tissue degradation. Conventional methods for controlling MMP-2 activity have lacked specificity and efficacy, creating a need for innovative strategies that modulate this enzyme in a targeted manner. This need inspired research into the regulation of MMP-2 by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, particularly focusing on modifications through phosphorylation to achieve better control.Technology Overview:  
This invention centers on the use of engineered TIMP-2 mutants that selectively alter the activity of extracellular MMP-2 by modifying phosphorylation sites on TIMP-2. These mutants are designed either to enhance or inhibit MMP-2 activity, depending on therapeutic requirements. By targeting the phosphorylation events that regulate TIMP-2’s interaction with MMP-2, the technology enables fine-tuning of enzyme activity rather than complete inhibition, which is a novel approach compared to existing broad-spectrum inhibitors. The technology is supported by detailed biochemical studies demonstrating how specific amino acid changes in TIMP-2 influence MMP-2 function. Experimental data validate that these mutants can effectively regulate the enzymatic activity in vitro, providing a controlled mechanism to adjust extracellular matrix remodeling processes. This targeted modulation holds the promise of addressing diseases where excessive or insufficient MMP-2 activity contributes to disease progression, such as cancer and fibrotic disorders. The ability to selectively enhance or inhibit MMP-2 expands therapeutic options, potentially reducing side effects associated with non-specific metalloproteinase inhibition. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_1828918781.jpeg
Photo for reference only, not a depiction of the invention.Advantages:  
•    Precise modulation of MMP-2 activity through targeted phosphorylation site mutations on TIMP-2.
•    Potential to both enhance and inhibit MMP-2, providing flexible therapeutic strategies.
•    Reduced likelihood of off-target effects compared to non-specific metalloproteinase inhibitors.
•    Novel biochemical approach enabling regulation rather than complete suppression of enzyme activity.
•    Supported by experimental evidence validating efficacy and mechanism of action. Applications:  
•    Treatment of cancers where MMP-2 contributes to tumor invasion and metastasis through extracellular matrix degradation.
•    Therapies for fibrotic diseases involving abnormal tissue remodeling and matrix deposition.
•    Potential use in controlled wound healing processes by regulating tissue repair through MMP-2 activity.
•    Research tools for studying extracellular matrix dynamics and metalloproteinase regulation in various pathological contexts. Intellectual Property Summary:
Patented: 12,006,351
https://patents.google.com/patent/US12006351B2/enStage of Development:
TRL 3 – Experimental Proof of ConceptLicensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.

This technology introduces a novel approach to cancer treatment by targeting Protein Phosphatase 5 (PP5) to regulate apoptosis and inhibit tumor growth, particularly in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Background:
Cancer cells often evade programmed cell death, allowing tumors to grow unchecked. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma, dysregulation of key signaling pathways disrupts apoptosis, contributing to cancer progression. Protein Phosphatase 5 (PP5), a serine/threonine phosphatase, has been found to interact with proteins involved in the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, modulating cell survival. Understanding and manipulating this mechanism opens promising avenues for cancer therapy.Technology Overview:  
The invention focuses on PP5’s critical role in cancer cell survival by dephosphorylating and inactivating proteins that trigger apoptosis, such as caspase-8, FADD, and RIPK1. PP5 maintains the integrity of Complex II, a molecular assembly essential for initiating programmed cell death. The technology introduces a specific inhibitor named P-53, which blocks substrate binding to PP5, thereby preventing its anti-apoptotic action. Inhibition of PP5 by P-53 leads to increased apoptotic activity in VHL-null ccRCC cells, restoring the natural pathway for cell death and suppressing tumor growth. This targeted therapy offers a precise mechanism to selectively induce cancer cell apoptosis without affecting healthy cells, making it a potentially effective treatment for renal cancer and other malignancies with similar pathways. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_1041788413.jpeg
Photo for reference only, not a depiction of the invention. Advantages:  
•    Selective targeting of PP5 provides a focused therapeutic approach that minimizes damage to normal cells.
•    Restores the natural apoptotic process in cancer cells, overcoming resistance to cell death.
•    Potentially effective against clear cell renal cell carcinoma, especially VHL-null tumor types which are typically difficult to treat.
•    Novel mechanism of action that differs from conventional chemotherapies, offering new treatment options.
•    Supported by a robust scientific understanding of PP5’s role in apoptosis and cancer signaling pathways. Applications:  
•    Treatment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma through targeted apoptosis induction.
•    Potential application in other cancers where PP5-mediated dephosphorylation disrupts apoptotic pathways.
•    Development of new cancer therapeutics based on PP5 inhibition as a mechanism to trigger tumor cell death.
•    Research tool for studying PP5’s role in cancer biology and apoptotic regulation. Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application filed: 18/873,996
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250360108A1/enStage of Development:
TRL 3 – Experimental Proof of ConceptLicensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.

This technology offers a novel approach for new cancer treatments based on inhibiting HIF2α-related processes. Background:
Hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2α) transcription factor is involved in the adaptation of cancer cells (including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)) to low oxygen conditions (hypoxia). It plays a role in promoting tumor growth and angiogenesis. Pharmacologic inhibition of HIF2α offers a novel therapeutic strategy for cancers driven by HIF2α signaling. Belzutifan, a highly specific and well-tolerated HIF2α inhibitor, recently received FDA approval for the treatment of nonmetastatic renal cell carcinomas, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and central nervous system hemangioblastomas from patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease, who carry VHL germline mutations.Technology Overview:  
This technology is a selective HIF2α inhibitor that has a different mode of action compared to Belzutifan. It works by disrupting the binding of HIF2α from its molecular chaperone Hsp70. Additionally, this HIF2α inhibitor may potentially combat Belzutifan resistance in cancer patients. Compound-c2 binds to the PAS-B domain of HIF2α and disrupts its interaction with the molecular chaperone Heat shock protein-70 (Hsp70). This leads to proteasomal degradation of HIF2α and activation of apoptosis in ccRCC. This offers a promising alternative for addressing drug resistance and presents a unique approach to inhibiting HIF2α-related processes. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_535202789.jpeg
Photo for reference only, not a depiction of the invention.Advantages:  
•    Offers a promising alternative for addressing Belzutifan drug resistance.
•    Provides a unique approach in inhibiting HIF2α-related processes. Applications:  
The primary application for this technology is developing cancer treatments.  Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent pendingStage of Development:
TRL 3 – Experimental proof of concept