The University of Southern California (USC) is thrilled to announce that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the Ellison Medical Institute (EMI) for the rights to develop and commercialize a novel therapeutic drug for the treatment of prostate cancer and related diseases.
Beginning in 2019, Chemistry Professor Charles McKenna, Co-Director of the USC Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development, and EMI Founding CEO and Keck School of Medicine of USC Professor David Agus, created a joint research project to discover small molecule androgen receptor modulators targeting advanced prostate cancer. Their efforts have resulted in the identification of several promising candidates for clinical translation while offering graduate students a unique opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research early in their careers.
“This agreement stems from a successful collaboration between Dr. McKenna and Dr. Agus, whose dedication to advancing prostate cancer research has been instrumental in advancing this promising program. At USC Stevens, we are committed to supporting translational programs by offering fair and reasonable terms to our development partners to enable the rapid advancement of life-changing therapies. EMI is uniquely positioned to take this technology forward, and we eagerly await the progress of the exciting lead drug toward clinical trials,” said USC Stevens Executive Director Dr. Erin Overstreet.
Conceived by Dr. Agus, EMI was initially established at USC with Larry Ellison’s support, focusing on transformative cancer research and patient care through interdisciplinary collaboration. It has since evolved into an independent research institute, expanding its mission to address broader challenges in medical science and healthcare. USC is committed to advancing innovative research and bringing cutting-edge therapies to market. This licensing partnership with EMI marks a significant milestone in the efforts to translate scientific discoveries into tangible health benefits and deepens the relationship between the two organizations. Through this agreement, our collective goal is to accelerate the translation of these small molecule androgen receptor regulators, ensuring that patients with prostate cancer and related diseases have access to new, effective treatment options.
Photo credit: Ellison Medical Institute