Knowledge Center

Research Documents

Our Intellectual Property

A portion of our competitive advantage rests on a unique combination of patent and patent pending Intellectual Property (IP) coupled with trade-secret know-how. We have licensed exclusive rights to the patent applications covering the T2DN rat from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

T2DNmimic:

A rat model of human diabetic nephropathy (U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/398,446 filed July 25, 2002, full patent filed, July 2003). This invention covers the method used to genetically engineer the first diabetic rodent model that develops progressive diabetic nephropathy and renal lesions that resemble those seen in humans. We believe this rat strain has great utility as a model system for testing compounds for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and other complications of diabetes such as diabetic retinopathy, vascular disease, cardiac ischemia, stroke and peripheral neuropathy. We utilize this strain to identify the genetic basis of diabetic nephropathy and diabetes. Any genes that are identified may be patentable as new drug targets and diagnostic tests. We also enjoy additional protection for this strain due to the fact that no other party (except its licensor) has physical possession of T2DN animals.