University of Göttingen and Archroma develop new method for treating wood

Göttingen 20.09.2021

MBM Science Bridge GmbH successfully negotiated an agreement comprising the licensing of a novel technology for wood modification, which enables the transfer of this inventive technology from basic science into industry.

Wood scientists at the University of Göttingen, together with the Swiss company Archroma, a global specialty chemicals company, have developed a new method for turning affordable and ecologically friendly wood from European forests into high-quality, fire-resistant construction timber. Until now, European softwood and hardwood could either be structurally modified to have physical and biological properties similar to tropical hardwood, or it could be treated with chemicals to become fire resistant, where the chemicals would leach out of the wood by contact with water or weather. The structurally modified wood in most cases cannot be used in construction as a structural or cladding element due to strict fire safety regulations, and the hardwood is not suitable for outdoor use. This situation looks set to change thanks to this new method which will, in the future, be exclusively marketed worldwide by Archroma.

Popcorn – Packaging for the future

Göttingen, 11.5.2021

MBM ScienceBridge GmbH negotiates license agreement between the Georg-August University of Göttingen and Nordgetreide GmbH & Co. KG

Modern packaging must do much more than simply meet the specific requirements for transport, storage and presentation: it must also be sustainable. But what does sustainable really mean? It means that the material must be environmentally friendly and made from renewable resources, be sturdy enough to enable re-use and be easy to recycle when it comes to the end of its useful life. For many years, a research group at the University of Göttingen has put their energy and expertise into investigating manufacturing processes for products made of popcorn. These products have the potential to be environmentally friendly alternatives to polystyrene or plastic. The University has now signed a licence agreement with the company Nordgetreide for the commercial use of the process and products for the packaging sector.

Safety on the way to effective tumour cell killing

Göttingen, 13.10.2020


Scientists at the University of Göttingen develop drug for antibody tumour therapy

Chemists at the University of Göttingen have developed new cytotoxic drugs which could revolutionise antibody-based tumour therapy approaches. The research team succeeded in modifying the natural product Duocarmycin into “prodrug” formats – which means that it only develops its effect once inside the tumour cell, thus reducing the likelihood of potential side effects on passage through the body. The University has entered into an exclusive licence agreement with the biotechnology company Iksuda Therapeutics for onward development and commercialisation in cancer therapeutics.

Antibody tumour therapies have enabled significant therapeutic benefits to patients suffering from cancer, autoimmune diseases and other serious diseases. However, many antibodies lack sufficient anti-tumour activity in the cell. This can be achieved by the use of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), where antibodies, which target specific cancer antigens, are armed with powerful cell-killing (cytotoxic) agents or ‘payloads’. ADCs have become powerful additions to the cancer treatment armoury, with several recent drug approvals and expanding clinical validation. However, most early-wave ADCs are associated with poor tolerability profiles, often due to a reduction in efficacy caused by the loss of the toxic payload whilst in circulation. Some programmes have failed as a result of low efficacy, where the payload is not active enough once inside the cell. ADC innovators, such as Iksuda, are working on the development of ADCs with a higher therapeutic index and finding safer ways to deliver potent cell-killing toxins. Iksuda has developed their own stable conjugation platform which reduces the risk of loss of efficacy.
One way to enhance both safety and efficacy of an ADC is to ensure that the payload is only released via tumour-activated mechanisms. With this approach, the precursors, called prodrugs, are able to release more potent payloads inside the cancer cell, with limited impact outside the cell.

Fast, convenient & standardized: New lab innovation for automated tissue engineering & drug screening

Göttingen, 08.09.2017

MBM ScienceBridge GmbH successfully negotiated a license agreement between University Medical Center Göttingen and the biotech company Tissue Systems Holding GmbH about commercial use of a multi-well tissue plate for automated and reliable tissue engineering & drug testing.

This lab innovation is based on previous scientific work from the group of Prof. Dr. Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann, Director of the Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology at the UMG. Under the terms of the non-exclusive license agreement UMG will receive an upfront payment and, besides royalties, annual minimum license fees.