BioWorld Today here continues its occasional listings of government agencies seeking industrial licensees to commercialize their biotechnology-related research and development inventions. Commercialization rights are offered by the National Institutes of Health, Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Announcements of the following 15 licensing opportunities have been submitted for publication in the Federal Register.
To obtain licensing information, and copies of the U.S. patent issuances or applications listed below, contact the OTT licensing specialists indicated.
National Cancer Institute
Globotriaosylceramide Promotes HIV-1 Entry into Cells
Glycospingolipid cofactors are essential for the entry of a broad array of HIV-1 isolates into cells expressing CD4 and the appropriate chemokine receptors. Thus, globotriaosylceramide and other cofactors can be used as HIV diagnostics and therapeutics.
Application: 60/108,903
Filed: 11/17/98
Inventors: Blumenthal, R., et al.
Contact: John Peter Kim, (301) 496-7057, ext. 264
Chicoric Acid Analogs As HIV Integrase Inhibitors
Chicoric acid analogs, related derivatives, and synthetic enantiomers inhibit HIV-1 integrase. These compounds can be used in combination therapy to help overcome the development of drug-resistant HIV mutations.
Application: 60/121,127
Filed: 2/22/99
Inventors: Burke, Jr., T.R., et al.
Contact: John Peter Kim, (301) 496-7057, ext. 264
High-Throughput Molecular Fingerprinting
Biological samples are placed on a capture membrane layer containing molecules that bind or hybridize to biomolecules in the sample. The formed complexes are transferred through the membrane and analyzed. Using these methods, expression levels can be analyzed in a manner that preserves the two-dimensional architecture and histological relationships of these biomolecules.
DHHS Reference: E-079-99/0
Filed: 7/26/99
Inventors: Emmert-Buck, M.
Contact: John Fahner-Vihtelic, (301) 496-7057, ext. 270
Genes Induced By Ionizing Radiation
A large set of genes that are induced by ionizing radiation has been identified. Differing patterns of gene induction are produced depending upon the dose of radiation and time after treatment. Many of these genes are induced by the physiological doses of radiation routinely used for cancer therapy. Thus, this set of genes may be used as markers of exposure to hazardous radiation or as markers to predict the likely response of a particular tumor to radiation therapy.
Application: 60/121,756
Filed: 2/26/99
Inventors: Fornace, Jr., A.J., et al.
Contact: Richard U. Rodriguez, (301) 496-7057, ext. 287
Inhibiting HIV Using Soluble Tat Peptide Analogs
Peptide derivatives of a domain within the transactivator Tat protein of HIV-1 inhibit the activation of the HIV long terminal repeat promoter. These peptide derivatives also inhibit virus replication, thus providing the basis for potential therapeutic antiviral agents for the treatment of HIV infections.
Application: 09/269,991
Filed: 10/2/97
Inventors: Kashanchi, F., et al.
Contact: John Peter Kim, (301) 496-7057, ext. 264
Inhibiting Retroviral LTR Promoters
The HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter is synergistically activated by the phorbol ester 12-myristic 13-acetate and the T-cell-specific mitogenic lectin phytohemagglutinin. A class of non-voltage-gated calcium influx inhibitors prevents this synergistic activation. This class of compounds can be used to delay or suppress the transition of HIV infection from a latent to virulent condition, thereby preventing or ameliorating AIDS and related cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma.
Application: 09/103,519
Filed: 6/23/98
Inventors: Kohn, E.C., et al.
Contact: John Peter Kim, (301) 496-7057, ext. 264
Treating Tumors Using Anti-Angiogenesis
Methods for delivering endostatin and other angiogenesis inhibitors by administering an adenovirus vector carrying a modified endostatin gene have been developed. These methods allow the patient to produce high levels of secreted endostatin systemically and in the local tumor environment, thus overcoming the current difficulties in producing the amounts of recombinant endostatin necessary for its successful use as a therapeutic.
Application: 60/133,243
Filed: 5/7/99
Inventors: Libutti, S.K., et al.
Contact: Richard U. Rodriguez, (301) 496-7057, ext. 287
Protein Fingerprint Comparisons
Protein fingerprints of tissue samples are constructed by using laser capture microdissection to obtain pure cell populations and then analyzing the solubilized cells. A variety of immunological and biochemical methods are subsequently used to characterize the proteins present and to develop a distinctive protein fingerprint.
Application: 60/120,288
Filed: 2/16/99
Inventors: Liotta, L.A., et al.
Contact: John Fahner-Vihtelic, (301) 496-7057, ext. 270
Thiazepine Inhibitors of HIV-1 Integrase
Thiazepines as well as their analogs and derivatives are effective and selective inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase. These compounds also inhibit viral replication. Thus, these compounds can be used to help overcome the development of drug-resistant HIV mutations.
Application: 60/133,726
Filed: 5/12/99
Inventors: Pommier, Y., et al.
Contact: John Peter Kim, (301) 496-7057, ext. 264
Oligonucleotides That Bind Nucleocapsid Proteins
Oligonucleotides have been developed that specifically bind HIV nucleocapsid proteins with high affinity. Since the nucleocapsid protein plays a crucial role in the formation of mature viral particles, these oligonucleotides and related derivatives can be used to inhibit HIV replication.
Application: 09/180,903
Filed: 7/12/99
Inventors: Rein, A., et al.
Contact: John Peter Kim, (301) 496-7057, ext. 264
Diagnosing Disseminated Yeast Infections
The expression of several distinctive genes from Candida albicans yeast are induced in the presence of hemoglobin. Current tests for systemic yeast infection rely on time-consuming fungal culture assays. Thus, the DNA sequences of these genes are useful for the rapid molecular diagnosis of infection.
Application: 09/258,634
Filed: 2/26/99
Inventors: Roberts, D.D., et al.
Contact: George Keller, (301) 496-7057, ext. 246
Molecular Rotation Engine
A molecularly based macroscopic rotating engine has been developed. It consists of two nested cylinders whose inner surfaces are coated with oriented mobility or contractile proteins. The cylinders rotate relative to one another in the presence of ATP. The speed of relative rotation is controlled by ATP concentration or by adding other nested cylinders. Power is controlled by adjusting the length of the cylinders. This motor can be used to power prosthetic implants and medical devices without the drawbacks associated with conventional power sources.
DHHS Reference: E-018-99/0
Filed: 8/3/99
Inventors: Schneider, T.D.
Contact: John Fahner-Vihtelic, (301) 496-7057, ext. 270
Target Within HIV Gag-Pol Transframe Region
Oligonucleotides, their analogs, and peptide nucleic acid derivatives that target DNA or RNA within the HIV gag-pol transframe region have been developed. By binding to and blocking the expression of the gag-pol sequences, these oligonucleotides cause decreased and discoordinated synthesis of viral protease, thus resulting in a significant reduction of virion production from HIV-1-infected cells.
Application: 60/141,072
Filed: 6/25/99
Inventors: Sei, S., et al.
Contact: John Peter Kim, (301) 496-7057, ext. 264
Identifying Modulators Of A Cell Cycle Protein
GADD45 appears to be involved in the stalling of the cell cycle in cancer cells which allows these cells to repair DNA damage caused by cancer therapies. Inhibitors of GADD45 can be co-administered with a DNA damaging therapy to sensitize tumor cells to the therapy and cause their self-destructive passage into apoptosis.
Application: 60/126,069
Filed: 3/25/99
Inventors: Wang, X.W., et al.
Contact: Richard U. Rodriguez, (301) 496-7057, ext. 287
Human HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein Antibodies
Human monoclonal antibodies to the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 have been identified using phage display libraries. These antibodies can be used to prevent and treat HIV infection.
Application: 60/141,701
Filed: 3/30/99
Inventors: Watkins, B.A., et al.
Contact: John Peter Kim, (301) 496-7057, ext. 264.
- Compiled by Chester A. Bisbee