The University of Minnesota has received more than $1 million in revenue during the last 15 years from a mouse that was engineered to help treat a type of cancer.
According to the Associated Press, researchers use the mouse to study the genetics of a bone marrow cancer called multiple myeloma and create better genetic testing for myeloma therapy, Minnesota Daily reported . The mouse’s plasma cells are used antibodies to detect cancer cells. Researchers used bacteria to create a gene that prevents cell death. They injected that DNA into an embryo of a female mouse so the offspring would have that gene. Researchers then created a second mouse in order to examine cells that won’t die while also developing cancerous tumors.
The mouse was licensed to Cell Signaling Technology, which sells the antibodies, according to the AP. The university receives four percent of all sales, according to the license agreement. The license for the mouse will expire in 2021.