[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4069-4071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2062]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health.
ACTION: Notice.
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The inventions listed below are owned by agencies of the U.S.
Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance
with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results
of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent
applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage
for U.S. companies and may also be available for licensing.
ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville,
Maryland 20852-3804 (telephone 301/496-7057; fax 301/402-0220). An
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA) will be required to
receive copies of the patent applications.
Immunotoxin (MAB-RICIN), for the Treatment of Focal Movement
Disorders
J Hott, R Youle, M Hallet, M Dalakas (NINDS)
Serial No. 60/027,458 filed 19 Sep 96
Licensing Contact: Stephen Finley, 301/496-7735 ext 215
This invention describes the use of an immunotoxin designed to
treat focal dystonias that are currently being treated by injections of
botulinum toxin (BTX) or by surgical myectomy. The immunotoxin (ITX) is
prepared from a monoclonal antibody (MoAb35), specific to the nicotinic
acetylcholine receptor in skeletal muscle, and is covalently linked to
the toxin, ricin. ITX utilizes ricin's alpha chain and beta chain for
its improved potency. ITX's potency was demonstrated by intramuscular
injections into a rat model. The effects of intermuscular injections of
ITX were compared to that of BTX. Even lower doses of ITX proved more
effective and longer lasting than BTX in weakening muscle. The ITX
selectively removed muscle fiber at the injection sites. It is believed
that ITX may have clinical applications to those patients who have
become refractory to BTX, or when used in combination or in place of
BTX. In addition to the use of ITX in the treatment of all focal
muscular spasms, ITX may prove useful in the treatment of other
disorders of muscular spasms such as blepharospasms, cervical dystonia,
hand dystonia, limb dystonia, hemifacial spasm, bruxism, strabismus, VI
nerve palsy, for spasmodic, dysphonia, and oromandibular dystonia.
(portfolios: Central Nervious System--Therapeutics, neurological,
other; Central Nervous System--Therapeutics, neurological, muscle
relaxants; Internal Medicine--Therapeutics, other)
Methods and Compositions for p300/CBP-Associated Transcriptional
Co-Factor (P/CAF)
Y Nakatani, B Howard (NICHD)
Serial No. 60/022,273 filed 23 Jul 96
Licensing Contact: Ken Hemby, 301/496-7735 ext 265
The adenoviral oncoprotein E1A induces cell transformation by
binding to various cellular components, such as the products of the
retinoblastoma and p300/CBP gene families. This invention provides a
transcriptional co-factor, p300/CBP-associated factor (P/CAF), which
has intrinsic histone acetylase activity and also competes with E1A for
binding to cellular targets. Also provided are methods of screening for
compounds that affect P/CAF activity. Methods for directed gene therapy
to provide functional wild-type or mutant P/CAF to cells producing
varying levels of P/CAF protein are also provided. (portfolios:
Cancer--Diagnostics; Cancer--Therapeutics, biological response
modifiers; Devices--Research Tools and Materials, biologicals and
chemicals)
Conformationally Locked Nucleoside Analogs
VE Marquez, JB Rodriquez, MC Nicklaus, JJ Barchi Jr, MA Siddiqui (NCI)
Serial Number 08/311,425 filed 23 Sep 94 (with priority to 24 Sep 93)
and
Conformationally Locked Nucleoside Analogs as Antiherpetic Agents
VE Marquez, MC Nicklaus, JJ Barchi Jr, JB Rodriguez, MA Siddiqui (NCI)
Serial Number 60/023,565 filed 07 Aug 96
Licensing Contact: Robert Benson, 301/496-7056 ext 267
[[Page 4070]]
These inventions concern novel nucleoside analogs comprising
carbocyclic-4', 6'-cyclopropane-fused-2', 3'-derivatives of ribo,
deoxyribo and dideoxyribo purines and pyrimidines, and the
corresponding nucleotides. The first patent application describes an
anti-HIV utility. It has been foreign filed as PCT/US94/10794. The
second application describes a new utility of the deoxyribo derivatives
of the first application, namely as anti-Herpes Virus agents. The
thymidine analog, in particular, showed good activity against Herpes
Simplex Type 1 and Herpes Simplex Type 2 viruses, and Epstein-Barr
virus as shown in an in vitro assay. It showed better antiherpes
activity than acyclovir in a plaque reduction assay. Descriptions of
the invention are to be found in Rodriguez et al., Tetrahedron Letters
34: 6233-6236, 1993; Rodriguez et al., J. Medicinal Chemistry 37: 3389-
3399, 1994; Siddiqui et al., Nucleosides Nucleotides 15: 235-250, 1996
and Marquez et al., J. Medicinal Chemistry 39: 3739-3747, 1996.
(portfolio: Infectious Diseases--Therapeutics, anti-viralsa, AIDS)
Long Distance Sequencer Method: A Novel Strategy for Large DNA
Sequencing Projects
K Hagiwara, CC Harris (NCI)
Serial No. 60/017,569 filed 15 May 96
Licensing Contact: Leopold J. Luberecki, Jr., 301/496-7735 ext 223
The current invention represents an improvement over existing
technologies used in sequencing long fragments of DNA. Existing
technologies allow for the sequencing of a 10 kb fragment of DNA in two
to three months; the present invention allows for such sequences to be
obtained in two to three weeks. Specifically, the method consists of
the cloning of a long (5 kb or longer) fragment of DNA into an
appropriate vector, followed by the generation of a series of shorter
fragments by a number of restriction digests. A ``vectorette unit'' is
then ligated to each restriction fragment. This vectorette unit is an
oligonucleotide 53 bases in length, and has a unique sequence which is
not found in the human genome. Through use of the vectorette as a
``known end,'' together with a specific primer, the DNA is amplified
via PCR and directly sequenced using current technologies. The
investors have successfully used this method to sequence a 35 kb
fragment of DNA.
This method appears to represent four key advantages over existing
sequencing methods. First, the sequence of a long fragment of DNA can
be obtained far more rapidly than is currently possible. Second, as
multiple cloning steps are not necessary, it is easier to perform.
Third, a much smaller amount of DNA is needed for this method than is
necessary when using currently available sequencing techniques. Fourth,
because of its organized way of sequencing, one can clearly identify
the region being sequenced. (portfolio: Devices/Instrumentation--
Research Tools and Materials)
Hepatitis B Core Antigen Fusion Proteins as Tumor Vaccines
LW Kwak, A Biragyn (NCI)
Serial No. 60/013,839 filed 21 Mar 96
Licensing Contact: Joseph Contrera, 301/496-7056 ext 244
Hepatitis B Core Antigen (HBcAg) represents a potentially potent
carrier of vaccines. Embodied in this invention are a number of fusion
proteins of HBcAg. It has been shown that HBcAg elicits a strong immune
response, and it was thought that if one were to attach other weakly
antigenic peptides of choice to the HBcAg protein in order to form a
fusion protein, the antigenicity of the attached peptide of choice
would be considerably enhanced. The fusion proteins embodied in this
invention, which contain specific H-ras or MUC-1 (human epithelial cell
mucin) peptides, have been shown to elicit protective anti-tumor
immunity in vivo. This immunity is, in fact, superior to that elicited
through immunizing with tumor antigen alone. These HBcAg fusion
proteins, therefore, are believed to represent powerful new vaccines to
be used toward the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of
cancers. (portfolio: Cancer--Therapeutics, immunoconjugates Mab;
Cancer--Therapeutics, immunoconjugates, conjugate chemistry; Cancer--
Therapeutics, immunomodulators and immunostimulants)
Substantially Pure Non-IL-2 T-Cell Growth Factors
TA Waldmann, R Bamford, E Roessler, CK Goldman, G Szakiel, JD Burton, C
Peters, AJ Grant, J Brennan, M Moos (NCI)
Serial No. 08/572,423 filed 14 Dec 95
Licensing Contact: Jaconda Wagner, 301/496-7735 ext 284
The invention provides isolated interleukin-T in human form, along
with the methods for isolating the interleukin, and its respective non-
IL-2 T-Cell growth factor and antibodies.
T cells play both regulatory and effector functions in human immune
responses that are often mediated by interleukins. Interleukins are
highly redundant and pleitrophic, controlling a wide range of
functions. Abnormalities of interleukin and interleukin receptor
systems are observed with a broad array of human diseases, including
the forms of leukemia and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid
arthritis that are caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus-I. Thus,
the invention could be used to treat a disorder associated with immune
function, such as cancer, AIDS or other immunodeficiencies, by
enhancing the immune system or, in treating an immune disorder, such as
graft-versus-host disease, leukemia, lymphoma or an allograft
rejection, by suppressing the immune system. (portfolio: Internal
Medicine--Therapeutics, anti-inflammatory; Cancer--Therapeutics,
biological response modifiers, growth factors)
Method of Preventing or Treating Disease Characterized by
Neoplastic Cells Expressing CD40
RJ Armitag (Immunex), WC Fanslow (Immunex), DL Longo (NCI), WJ Murphy
(NCI)
Serial No. 08/172,664 filed 23 Dec 93 and Serial No. 08/360,923 filed
21 Dec 94 (CIP)
Licensing Contact: Joseph Contrera, 301/496-7056, ext 244
The subject invention proposes a method for treating a mammal
afflicted with a neoplastic disease caused by cells that express CD40.
CD40 is a receptor protein present on B cells, monocytes, endothelial
cells, and various carcinomas. The ligand for CD40 (CD40L) is present
on activated T cells. CD40 has been shown to play a critical
stimulatory role in normal B cell development. It has been previously
demonstrated that signals that activate normal cells can lead to
inhibition of neoplastic cells by inducing activation-induced cell
death. Therefore, inhibition of neoplactic cell growth can be achieved
through the use of CD40 stimulation. The invention discloses monoclonal
antibodies to CD40, CD40 ligands, and combinations thereof. Oligomeric
forms of CD40 ligands and fusion protein ligands are also disclosed.
This invention is jointly owned by the National Institutes of Health
and Immunex Corporation. All fields of use are available for licensing.
(portfolio: Cancer--Therapeutics, immunoconjugates, Mab)
Recombinant DNA Clone Encoding Laminin Receptor
ME Sobel, LA Liotta, UM Wewer, MC Jaye, WN Drohan (NCI)
Serial No. 06/911,863 filed 26 Sep 86, which issued as U.S. Patent No.
4,861,710 on 29 Aug 89
Licensing Contact: Raphe Kantor, 301/496-7735 ext 247
[[Page 4071]]
A recombinant DNA clone that encodes high-affinity cell surface
receptors for laminin, a glycoprotein component of basement membranes,
offers an important tool for studying a variety of normal and abnormal
cell processes including tumor metastases. These laminin receptors have
been shown to inhibit metastases. These recombinant receptors can be
used in diagnostic methods, to assess the content of laminin receptor
mRNA, and to determine the pattern of laminin receptor genes in
different tissue and tumor cell populations. (portfolio: Cancer--
Research Materials; Cancer--Diagnostics, Mab based)
Dated: January 17, 1997.
Barbara M. McGarey,
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 97-2062 Filed 1-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M
