World Intellectual Property Day 2023. Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity

World Intellectual Property Day 2023. Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity

26 April is World Intellectual Property Day. This year WIPO’s theme is Women and Intellectual Property: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity.

To mark this day, we would like to promote two fascinating research projects in which two female researchers have participated. These are a good example of women’s role in the field of R&D studies and projects and of the fundamental support that intellectual property provides for the development of research itself, thereby fostering technological heritage and societal progress.

Cátia Patricia Domingues Monteiro.

World IP Day. CM. MSDDownload

CNIO / Merck Sharp & Dohme Española S.A. Research project focused on the molecular mechanism responsible for resistance to radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases.

Despite advances in radiotherapy technology, treatment resistance remains a major challenge affecting treatment efficacy and patients’ quality of life. Our study focused on investigating the molecular mechanism responsible for resistance to radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases. We identified a protein called S100A9 as an indicator of radiotherapy sensitivity in these patients. We observed that high levels of S100A9 are associated with increased resistance to radiotherapy, while low levels or the absence of this marker correlate with a better response to such therapy.

In addition, we identified a drug that could be used to overcome resistance to radiotherapy in patients with high levels of S100A9. This drug, which is already used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, has demonstrated an ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain, where it inhibits the protein to which S100A9 binds to activate resistance to radiotherapy.

In summary, our study offers a comprehensive strategy to personalise radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases, identifying patients who may have resistance to radiotherapy through the S100A9 marker, and offering combination therapy with the use of a drug to overcome this resistance. This represents an important step towards developing more effective and personalised approaches to treating patients with brain metastases and improving clinical outcomes in these cases.

This year’s World Intellectual Property Day #WorldIPDay seeks to recognise and celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in generating ideas, creating works, and innovating. It highlights the proactive attitude of all the women inventors, creators, scientists and entrepreneurs around the world who, day in and day out, dedicate their energy, work and efforts to accelerating innovation and creativity.

In short, this day represents an opportunity to reflect on the importance of creating an inclusive and equitable environment that promotes and protects the intellectual property rights of all people, regardless of gender, in order to drive innovation and societal progress.

Our work could have a significant impact on improving radiotherapy treatment for patients with brain metastases, as it would allow us to tailor treatment more precisely to the needs of each patient. This would optimise treatment efficacy and minimise side effects on normal brain tissue, which is an important advance in care for these patients. Our study has the potential to benefit patients with brain metastases by offering a more personalised and effective approach to their radiotherapy treatment.

Importantly, a clinical trial is currently under way to validate the results obtained in our study. This clinical trial will provide us with additional information on the efficacy of our strategy, bringing us ever closer to the possibility of changing clinical practice and having a positive impact on patients’ lives.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01749-8

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Rita Manzanares Estrada.

World IP Day. RM. TakedaDownload

Takeda Farmacéutica España S.A. Research project focused on exploring the reality for patients with narcolepsy in Spain.

Based on the agreement established with the University of Alcalá, Takeda has launched a research project focused on exploring the reality for patients with narcolepsy in Spain. The aim of this observational study is to learn about the clinical management of patients with narcolepsy in Spain, in terms of diagnostic techniques and treatments, and to reflect on the impact that narcolepsy has on the healthcare system, on the quality of life of patients and on their employment/social situation.

I am very proud of the opportunity to develop my research skills with Takeda and to have the necessary tools to conduct this project, which will help improve knowledge about this pathology.

Research in science is invaluable and contributes greatly to the advancement of society. Intellectual property protection is key in recognising research work and recovering economic investment, and therefore in promoting continued research, which fosters ongoing progress in our society. 

Knowing more about the reality for patients with narcolepsy in Spain is an essential starting point in terms of improving the development of new therapies for this pathology. The aim is to conduct appropriate studies that can demonstrate added value for patients, help to point out existing problems in the management of these patients and contribute to better decision-making by health professionals and the competent authorities, resulting in improved overall care for these patients.

Furthermore, studies like this can help give visibility to a pathology whose consequences are unknown to most of society.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04667338?term=somnus&draw=2&rank=2

World Intellectual Property Day 2023

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This post is also available in: Spanish