Optosurgical Secures Exclusive Patent License from the National Cancer Institute for BL-760
October 27, 2026 | Columbia, Maryland
Optosurgical, LLC, a surgical imaging technology company, has signed an exclusive patent license agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Start-Up 3.0 Exclusive License Program. The agreement covers U.S. rights to develop and commercialize BL-760 for intraoperative fluorescence imaging of biliary anatomy.
BL-760 is an investigational, biliary-specific near-infrared fluorescence imaging agent being developed to help surgeons visualize bile ducts and related anatomical structures in real time during surgery. Its initial clinical development focuses on laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), where accurate identification of biliary anatomy is critical to reducing the risk of surgical injury.
The agreement includes intellectual property developed by NCI researchers, as well as certain jointly owned patent rights involving Children’s National Hospital through an inter-institutional agreement.
“Securing this license is an important milestone for Optosurgical and the development of BL-760,” said Yoseph Kim, CEO of Optosurgical. “We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring this agreement to completion, and we’re looking forward to advancing BL-760 toward its first clinical studies.”
With the license now executed, Optosurgical is continuing preparations for an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a planned Phase 1b clinical study. The study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, dose selection, and preliminary imaging performance of BL-760 in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Optosurgical would like to thank the NCI Technology Transfer Center, Children’s National Hospital, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) for their support throughout the licensing process.
About Optosurgical
Optosurgical is a Maryland-based surgical imaging technology company developing solutions to help surgeons visualize critical anatomy in real time. Through fluorescence imaging agents and advanced surgical visualization technologies, the company aims to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes.
Disclaimer: The licensing of this technology does not constitute an endorsement of Optosurgical, its products, or its services by NCI, NIH, or the U.S. Government. BL-760 is investigational and has not been approved by the FDA.
