Program faculty members keep licensing revenue stream flowing

Sept. 16, 2010

The work of two biomedical engineering program faculty members who are keys to the development of research at Ohio University’s Edison Biotechnology Institute have contributed greatly to university licensing revenue that totaled $8.2 million in fiscal year 2010.

John Kopchick, Goll Eminent Scholar and professor of molecular biology, and a former graduate student, Wen Chen, developed the growth hormone antagonist that became the basis for the drug Somavert, the sale of which brought the university more than $8 million from the Pfizer corporation in fiscal year 2010. The drug is used to treat acromegaly, a form of gigantism.

Leonard Kohn, Emeritus Distinguished Senior Research Scientist and president and CEO of Interthyr Corp., conducted research that led to the development of Thyretain, a diagnostic for Graves’ disease that is marketed by Diagnostic Hybrids.