Expression of Polypeptides in Yeast
Tech ID: 10-82-13

Transformed yeast can be used to produce recombinant proteins inexpensively and in large quantities.  Recombinant proteins are widely used in:

• diagnostics, particularly immunoassays;
• therapeutics, as well as vaccines and medical devices;
• foodstuffs, including sweeteners and  growth enhancers;
• industrial enzymes, detergent enzymes and fabric softeners; and
• drug discovery.

Washington Research Foundation (WRF) is licensing the rights to produce recombinant proteins in yeast using methods and compositions claimed in a family of patents entitled "Expression of Polypeptides in Yeast." 

Background

In 1980, University of Washington and Genentech, Inc. scientists began collaborative work in the field of polypeptide expression in yeast.  Their pioneering research resulted in a widely used technology which is covered by a family of patents entitled “Expression of Polypeptides in Yeast.”

WRF was assigned the technology by the University of Washington and became a co-owner of the patents with Genentech.  An agreement signed in 1988 with Genentech appoints WRF the sole and exclusive licensor for these patents.

Patents

Country	Number	Issue Date	Expiry Date
U.S.A.	5,618,676	4/8/1997	4/8/2014
U.S.A.	5,854,018	12/29/1998	4/8/2014
U.S.A.	5,856,123	1/5/1999	4/8/2014
U.S.A.	5,919,651	7/6/1999	4/8/2014
Malaysia	MY101599A	12/17/1991	12/16/2006

Licensing Opportunities

WRF offers field-of-use commercial licenses, as well as research-use-only licenses. Commercial licenses are not available for the following fields: any antigen of hepatitis B virus for human vaccines; human serum albumin (HSA) and HSA derivatives for administration to human beings; or human papillomavirus proteins.

Research Use Only License Agreement
 

For further information and to discuss a commercial license, please contact: