title: From academic laboratory to the market: Disclosed and undisclosed narratives of commercialization.
abstract: This paper examines how the Weizmann Institute of Science has been telling the story of the successful commercialization of a scientific invention, through its corporate communication channels, from the early 1970s to today. The paper aims to shed light on the transformation processes by which intellectual-property-based commercialization activities have become widely institutionalized in universities all over the world, and on the complexities, ambiguities and tensions surrounding this transition. We look at the story of the scientific invention of Copolymer-1 at the Weizmann Institute of Science and its licensing to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which subsequently developed the highly successful drug Copaxone for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We argue that, in its tellings and retellings of the story of Copolymer-1, the Weizmann Institute has created narratives that serve to legitimize the institution of academic patenting in Israel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Leadership and Policy in Education, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sapir
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Amalya L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Oliver
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000266:history*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000266:history; D034462:Dissent and Disputes / Q000266:history; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000266:history; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D018973:Intellectual Property; D007557:Israel; D010330:Patents as Topic / Q000266:history*; D011108:Polymers / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018581:Technology Transfer; D014495:Universities / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate
keywords: intellectual property; patents; research commercialization; technology transfer