University of Oklahoma Elevates the State’s Bioscience Industry

University of Oklahoma researchers develop life-changing technologies

The University of Oklahoma is a dedicated contributor to the advancement of the state’s bioscience industry. With six professional colleges and the Graduate College located within the academic medical campus (OU Health Sciences Center), clinical and translational research programs, centers of excellence, and robust basic science programs, OU is proud to conduct life-changing research that economically benefits the state. A strong driving force for OU’s economic impact is the commercialization of intellectual property through licensing, partnering, and the creation of start-ups. The OU Office of Innovation and Corporate Partnerships, together with the Office of Technology Commercialization, assists researchers in transforming research innovation into tangible impact for the betterment of society.

Researchers at the OU Health Sciences Center have produced several spin-out companies that have successfully partnered with the pharmaceutical industry. Three such companies are Pure Protein, Heparinex, and Choncept, which were all funded in large part by Austin-based Emergent Technologies, Inc.

William Hildebrand, Ph.D., is founder and chief scientist for Pure Protein and its subsidiary, Pure MHC. Pure MHC is a discovery and development company with platform technology and expertise in disease-specific target identification and validation, as well as immunotherapeutic drug development for cancer, infectious disease, and autoimmune disease. In April 2022, Pure MHC and Myrio Therapeutics announced a collaboration to develop new antibody-based oncology therapeutics.

Heparinex and Choncept, two companies based on carbohydrate research expertise from Paul DeAngelis, Ph.D., have also entered into commercial deals with large pharmaceutical companies. Caisson, a subsidiary of Heparinix, subsequently partnered with Novo Nordisk and Corden Pharma to commercialize their HEPtune® platform technology. The OU Health Sciences Center has also participated in the research and development of a novel antibody therapeutic for sickle cell disease. Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corp. developed the therapeutic through Phase 2 clinical trials and was then acquired by Novartis in 2016. A Selexys spin-off, Tetherex Pharmaceuticals, continues to develop novel therapeutics targeting cell adhesion proteins in thrombotic, inflammatory, and oncologic diseases.

Emerging biotech companies that continue forging the path for OU start-up companies include COARE, Moleculera Labs, Biolytx, Excitant Therapeutics, and Hexakit, Inc.

Courtney Houchen, M.D., is founder and Chief Medical Adviser of COARE Biotechnology. COARE is a multidisciplinary drug development company that has several novel therapeutic technologies aimed at eradicating cancer system cells and associated metastatic processes.

Moleculera Labs originated from the research of Madeleine Cunningham, Ph.D. Moleculera produces clinical assays for use in determining whether an autoimmune reaction is causing neurological or psychiatric symptoms. Testing with the Cunningham Panel™ to measure circulating levels of antibodies aids physicians in the identification of infection-triggered autoimmune neuropsychiatric conditions and guides target treatments.

Biolytx Pharmaceuticals was founded by and is based on research by Anne Pereira, Ph.D. Biolytx is a drug development company confronting the crisis in antibiotic drug resistance through the advancement of a suite of antimicrobial peptide drug candidates for use in wound healing and in the treatment of serious hospital-acquired infections.

Excitant Therapeutics is an Oklahoma City-based start-up company developing pre clinical therapeutics resulting from the interdisciplinary effort of Adam Duerfeldt, Ph.D., Jian-Xing Ma, M.D., Ph.D., and Henry Shin, Ph.D. Excitant has secured over $1 million in SBIR grant funding to develop novel therapeutic agents for ophthalmic diseases.

Hexakit, Inc., is an Oklahoma-based biopharmaceutical company originating from the research of Vibhudutta Awasthi, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Research at the OU College of Pharmacy. Hexakit is engaged in early stage research and development of drugs and diagnostic agents for cardiovascular, oncologic, and neurologic diseases. The company is also a worldwide supplier of key pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates, and fine chemicals.

Groundbreaking research from University of Oklahoma College of Medicine enters clinical trial testing.

Rodney Tweten, Ph.D., identified a serotype-independent mutant pneumolysin toxin of Streptococcus pneumonia, the primary bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia and meningitis. This technology is part of a novel fusion-protein vaccine that recently entered Phase 1 clinical testing.

OK-1, a vitamin A derivative developed by Doris Benbrook, Ph.D., received FDA approval for a Phase 1 clinical trial, which is currently underway at Stephenson Cancer Center, in women with advanced-stage ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer. The drug, which additionally shows promise in preventing cancer, will also be tested in the Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network, a program of the National Cancer Institute. Augmented reality technology originating from OU College of Medicine and OU Health receives FDA clearance.

Xironetic, founded by Christian El Amm, M.D., creator of the platform technology, is developing a three-dimensional hologram-based technology to provide enhanced surgical planning and visualization for improved outcomes.

Mobile Health Platform technology for the creation of applications with real-time interventions capabilities to aid in behavioral modifications from Stephenson Cancer Center’s Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center.

Michael Businelle, Ph.D., and his TSET team lead the mHealth Core and have created an easy-touse, efficient platform, Insight, that allows for the creation of mobile applications by researchers or others interested in studying, tracking and improving behavior changes such as smoking cessation.