Weizmann's Yeda Research and Development Company is considered to be
the top royalty generator among Israel's academic institutions,
garnering some $60 million. However, Weizmann, whose main breadwinner
is the drug Copaxone, is reluctant to comment about these figures.
Hebrew University receives $25 million of its royalties from two
drugs - the anti-cancer Doxil, and Exelon for Alzheimer's disease.
Exelon generates some $440 million in annual sales for the
pharmaceutical company Novartis. Millions of additional dollars are
derived from cherry tomatoes developed by the agriculture faculty in
Rehovot.
University Vice-President and Director-General Moshe Vigdor said,
"We have 1,200 patents, and will be registering 93 new patents this
year. A handful of the principal patents are enough to generate
income. Our income is expected to increase as soon as certain drugs
developed by our researchers are approved - Doxil for treating
breast cancer and Pharmos' new drug dexanibol for treating brain
injuries. Our revenue rises 10-15 percent per year. Were we an
American institution, we would be among the top seven in the field.
Yet, regrettably, we still have no Nobel Prize."
The Hebrew University, through its research development company,
Yissum, anticipates in 2004 $40 million royalties. Its researchers,
whose patents have been commercialized, will receive some $10 million
in pre-tax revenue.The university has a $85 million research budget.
In recent years patent royalties earned by the Hebrew University,
and the Weizmann Institute of Science, have surpassed those of more
prestigious institutions, such as the American Harvard and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, institutions whose research
budgets are at least six times greater.