Cortex Granted Patents

Cortex learned the hard way about the importance of patents.

When the Irvine company started a decade ago, its founding scientists from UC Irvine figured they would reap some commercial benefits from their research findings by developing a smell test for diagnosing patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Trouble was, the research was widely published and nobody had bothered to patent the findings, so that project died.

Shrewder now, Cortex recently announced patents have been issued on two proprietary groups of molecules. One of the molecules--CX516--is now being tested as a treatment for schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.

The company also has expanded a licensing agreement with UCI to include use of related compounds as possible treatments for schizophrenia.

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Barbara Marsh covers health care for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7762 and at barbara.marsh@latimes.com