MILWAUKEE _ The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Research Foundation (UWMRF) has granted a second patent license to Pantherics Incorporated to support the company’s commercial drug development programs.

The latest license provides worldwide commercial rights to patents for novel drug compounds useful in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases. The license was issued to Pantherics jointly with the following partners:

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto
• WiSys
• University of Tours in France
• University of Belgrade in Serbia-Faculty of Pharmacy

UWMRF previously granted a license to Pantherics covering a separate family of drug compounds that includes lead compound PI301, also being developed by the company for inflammatory disorders. That license was issued jointly with Columbia University.

Formed in 2018, Pantherics is at the forefront of developing drugs that modulate GABA_A receptors (GABA_AR) to treat inflammatory and smooth muscle disorders. Their pioneering work offers an improved approach to treat inflammatory diseases with a focus on oral treatment of pulmonary (such as asthma and COPD), dermatologic and gastrointestinal disorders.

The patents are based on research by the following individuals:

•  Alexander Arnold: Pantherics’ chief scientific officer and a founding scientist, professor of chemistry at UWM, and director of the Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery (MIDD). The institute advances research and later-stage development of new drugs developed at UWM and collaborating institutions.
• James Cook: Distinguished professor emeritus of chemistry and MIDD member.
• Douglas Stafford: President of Pantherics and a founding scientist, and former MIDD director.

UWMRF has also supported their work through three catalyst seed grants that fund translational academic research.

Pantherics has also received two recent awards through the UWMRF Bridge Grant program to support development of licensed technologies. The program bolsters efforts to commercialize innovative research developed at UWM and support new companies that improve the Wisconsin economy. The program leverages grant funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Capital Catalyst program.

“Our partnership with UWMRF has provided essential resources for patenting, licensing and financial support for early-stage commercial drug development,” Stafford said. “The UWM Research Foundation’s support is essential to our work.”

UWMRF is a nonprofit corporation that supports research, commercialization and innovation at UWM through a variety of programs, including patenting, licensing and startup support.

“The Pantherics leadership team and their research collaborators are truly top-notch with deep experience in all stages of drug discovery and commercial development. PI301 is a great example of the impactful research taking place in MIDD labs,” said Jessica Silvaggi, vice president of the UWMRF.

For more information, please contact Silvaggi at jessica@uwmrf.org or Stafford at info@pantherics.com.