New IP pact pushes iPierian closer to "franchise-size" deals

In a single stroke iPierian has struck a deal to pool its IP on induced pluripotent stem cell technology with Kyoto University and signed on one of the most recognizable names in the field to its scientific advisory board. The South San Francisco-based iPierian already has some of the leading names in the stem cell field on its advisory group. And now the world-famous pioneer of iPSC technology, Shinya Yamanaka, will take a hand in guiding the company forward.

For iPierian, a 2010 Fierce 15 company, the deal clears the path of a looming patent dispute that could have slowed the biotech's progress in striking new research deals regarding its 400 banked stem cell lines, which are designed to lead the way in the industrialization of iPSC technology in early-stage drug discovery work.

"This (deal) sets the stage for doing the size deals we anticipated (last year)," Mike Venuti, the CEO of iPierian, tells FierceBiotech. "We're hoping for franchise-sized deals in 2011; at least one or two." Venuti added that the company is engaged in collaboration discussions with a couple of U.S.-based companies, and the IP pact could clear the way to partnering in Japan.

"Because it's Japanese-derived technology," says Venuti, "they're more inclined to put it into use more quickly." And Yamanaka plans to regularly lend his hand to the company's work on his routine trips to the Bay area.

"Kyoto University hopes to disseminate its patents non-exclusively to maximize research results and my goal is to bring iPSC technology to patients with intractable diseases as soon as possible. This agreement meets these wishes, and I expect the development of iPSC technologies will now advance further at even higher speeds," said Professor Yamanaka. "Many of my colleagues at The Gladstone Institute, UCSF and Harvard are already actively involved with iPierian, and I am delighted to join them in guiding iPierian's industrialization of iPSC technology for drug discovery and development."

- check out the iPierian release
- and here's the story from the San Francisco Business Times