Dr. Bankole A. Johnson professional portrait

Intellectual Property – Patent Portfolio Overview

Prof. Dr. Bankole A. Johnson is inventor of over 100 global patents (US and international) in neuroscience, molecular genetics, and translational medicine. His core patent estates include the serotonin transporter gene and treatment of alcoholism, a large molecular genetic platform for genotype-specific treatment and diagnosis of alcohol and drug dependence (AD04) with patents and divisionals issued in more than 40 countries, as well as additional patents covering genotype-specific treatments for opioid and stimulant use disorders, quantitative methods for alcohol sensitivity, and computational decision-support systems in internal medicine.

Major Patent Families

Serotonin transporter gene & treatment of alcoholism

Core concept: Pharmacogenetic identification of alcoholism risk and treatment response based on SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR and related variants), including companion diagnostics for ondansetron and related approaches.
Representative patents: US 8,697,361 B2 and EP 2 255 184 validated across ~30 EP member states, plus national patents in Germany, Croatia, and New Zealand.

Molecular genetic approach to treatment and diagnosis of alcohol & drug dependence (AD04 estate)

Core concept: Molecular genetic platform for diagnosing and treating alcohol and drug dependence, forming the principal pharmacogenetic basis for AD04.
Representative patents: Multiple US patents from a single 2010 priority date (e.g., US 8,753,815 B2; US 9,539,242 B2; US 10,603,307 B2; US 11,324,723 B2 and others) plus EP 3 045 173 and EP 2 801 625 and related national-phase entries (e.g., CA, AU, EA, UA).

AD04 genotype-specific patents – opioids, stimulants, broader SUDs

Core concept: Extension of the AD04 pharmacogenetic framework to opioid-related disorders, stimulant use disorder, and broader substance use and anxiety-related indications.
Representative patents: Recent US patents including genotype-specific treatment of opioid-related disorders based on rs1042173 (SLC6A4) using AD04, and US 12,208,083 B2 for genotype-specific treatment of stimulant use disorder.

Quantitative pharmacology, computational methods & devices

Core concept: Computational and device-based innovations for clinical decision support and risk modelling.
Representative patents: Methods and systems for individual assessment of alcohol sensitivity (ASI/CASI), a radiation-resistant spectrometer interface, and US 11,901,079 for dynamical tracking of hypoglycemia risk in diabetes.

Early UT inventions – topiramate & addiction

Core concept: Early translational inventions demonstrating the safety and efficacy of topiramate for cocaine addiction and related substance use disorders.
Representative status: Listed as released inventions originating from the University of Texas with Prof. Johnson as named inventor.

Summary Statement (for CVs and profiles)

Prof. Dr. Bankole A. Johnson is inventor of over 100 global patents spanning genotype-guided treatments for alcohol and drug dependence (including the AD04 platform with patents issued in more than 40 countries), serotonin-transporter–based stratification of alcoholism risk and treatment response, quantitative assessment of alcohol sensitivity, and advanced computational and device-based methods for clinical decision support.