Commercializing Inventions

The Intramural Research Program (IRP) contributes to the development of biomedical products in many ways. One is by managing inventions made by IRP scientists, which are then patented and licensed to the private sector for commercial development. Examples include the first AIDS drugs (antiretrovirals), vaccines against hepatitis and HPV, treatments for cancer, and diagnostics for HIV and the rare genetic disease, familial Mediterranean fever.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) can also license unique biological materials to companies for use in commercial products. One example, Synagis, used for the prevention and treatment of serious lower respiratory tract disease in children, traces its beginnings to research conducted in the IRP.

The NIH Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), along with its partner technology transfer offices at NIH’s Institutes and Centers, serves as a bridge that connects the inventive discoveries made in the IRP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to commercial partners that develop these technologies into products and services that benefit public health.

Our inventions cover the spectrum of disease areas, including cancer, infectious diseases, neurology, ophthalmology, cardiovascular, nanotechnology, and beyond. Many of them involve rare or neglected diseases that afflict either very small populations or people in developing countries.

Whether you are interested in licensing inventions or collaborating with our scientists, learn more about our technology partnership opportunities by visiting OTT’s Web site.

Product Showcase

Products showcased on this site are utilized every day to detect, treat or prevent disease or assist researchers as they continue to explore ways to develop newer and more effective health care products and procedures.

Product Development Pipeline: Inventions in clinical development

Many inventions from the IRP have been licensed and are now in clinical development with the hope of eventually reaching the market. There are also almost 1,400 inventions from the Intramural Program that are currently available for licensing to companies for commercial development (see Licensing Opportunities).

Interactive Metrics

Commonly tracked Metrics at the NIH Office of Technology Transfer

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