The University of Minnesota finalises second license with startup International Cardio for ultrasound technology to tackle artery disease.
The University of Minnesota has finalised a second license with International Cardio Corporation (ICC) for an ultrasound-based technology which could benefit millions with artery disease.
It follows a license in 2011 between the two for technologies which treat plaque build-up in the artery walls. The build-up leads to peripheral artery disease, a condition that affects over eight million in the US and is common with Americans suffering from diabetes.
Dennis Sellke, chief executive of ICC, said: “We were very excited by the possibility to treat people suffering from atherosclerosis in a completely non-invasive way. By using ultrasound technology in this way, we can potentially bring to market a totally non-invasive technology platform that can improve outcomes for many patients and reduce the current costs of treatment. We are excited by what we’ve seen in the lab, and now that we know there is a path forward, we wanted to explore ways to treat other conditions that can respond to this HIFU platform.”
Jay Schrankler, executive director of the University’s Office for Technology Commercialization, added: “The ongoing research is going very well and showing great progress and commercial potential. The license deals OTC helped to negotiate between the University and ICC are tremendous wins for continued innovation in medical device development and health care delivery and for the future of this promising enterprise. This kind of public/private partnership serves as a model for industry and university collaboration ushering new technology toward everyday use where it can benefit society.”
