Eastman Chemical Co. announced the transfer of some intellectual information, including patents, to the ETSU Research Foundation during a news conference on Jan. 15.
During the conference, Eastman assigned two patents to the foundation and gave up rights to a third. The patents Eastman donated will be used for commercial production and the development of a startup company.
Eastman developed two of the patents and the third was created in collaboration between Eastman and Dr. William Stone. Stone is the CEO and president of Bioinventions LLC, a newly formed company in the ETSU Inno-vations Laboratory. The ETSU Research Found-ation has planned to license the patents to Bioinventions LLC for development and research, which may lead to commercialization.
The patents, although different, share a common factor. They all include the use of antioxidant. Antioxidants attack molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals are suggested to cause heart disease, early aging and cancer.
One patent, developed by Eastman and Stone, is the use of a commercial food antioxidant, a food preservative, known as TBHQ to lower cholesterol levels and triglyceride, which are both related to an increase risk of heart disease.
“If approved by the FDA, this could be sold over the counter to lower cholesterol for those who do not have an extremely high number,” said Dr. Michael Woodruff, ETSU vice provost for research and executive director for the ETSU Research Foundation.
Another patent will use antioxidant vitamin E in skin cream that may help decrease the effects of aging. This water-based compound could potentially reduce the damage from mustard gas and will reduce sun damage.
The third patent is another type of vitamin E could help control bone bleeding and bleeding from wounds as well as reduce swelling.
“Eastman could have transferred ownership of these patents to any institution in the world, and we are grateful and honored by the confidence and support the company has display for East Tennessee State University,” said Woodruff.

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