BioWorld Today here continues its occasional listing 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 (NIH), Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Announcements of the following CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) partnership and 16 licensing opportunities have been submitted recently to the Federal Register.
To obtain CRADA or licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent issuances or applications listed below, contact the OTT licensing specialist indicated.
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Selective Elimination Of T Cells Recognizing Preselected Targets
Killer T cells can be modified to express a signal transduction molecule on their surfaces that will recognize preselected major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens. Once this interaction occurs, the T cell is inhibited or killed. By using autoimmune antigens or those from tissues to be used as grafts in this treatment regimen, autoimmune disease can be treated or graft rejection can be inhibited.
Application: 60/002,964
Filed: 8/30/95
Inventors: Rosenberg, A.
Contact: Jaconda Wagner, (301) 496-7735, ext. 284
Interferon-Inducible Protein 10 As Angiogenesis Inhibitor
In addition to its chemoattractant effect and inhibition of colony formation by bone marrow stem cells, human interferon-inducible protein 10 is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. Treatment with this protein may be useful in the therapy of diseases, such as cancer, that involve new blood vessel growth.
Application: 08/455,079
Filed: 5/31/95
Inventors: Tosato, G., et al.
Contact: Jaconda Wagner, (301) 496-7735, ext. 284
Monokine Promotion Of Tumor Necrosis
A monokine induced by gamma interferon that is related to interferon-inducible protein 10 exhibits antitumor and antiangiogenic properties. This monokine and other members of its family are usable as antitumor agents, either directly or as inhibitors of angiogenesis.
Application: 08/850,914
Filed: 5/2/97
Inventors: Tosato, G., et al.
Contact: Jaconda Wagner, (301) 496-7735, ext. 284
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
C-Jun Deletion Mutants Used In Cancer Therapy
The c-jun oncogene encodes a phosphoprotein that is a component, along with c-Fos oncoproteins, of the transcriptional activator AP-1 that affects cell growth and differentiation. Deletion mutants of the c-jun gene or its protein product may inhibit the elevated AP-1 controlled activation of cell growth genes that frequently characterizes tumor progression, thus making them potentially useful cancer therapeutics.
Application: 08/213,433
Filed: 3/10/94
Inventors: Colburn, N.H., et al.
Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7735, ext. 265
Chimeric Immunogens From Pseudomonas Exotoxin A
A recombinant, non-toxic version of Pseudomonas exotoxin is produced in which the Ib domain is replaced with a non-native immunogenic epitope. A version of this chimeric immunogen containing the V3 loop of the HIV-1 envelope protein has been used as a vaccine in a rabbit animal model to raise neutralizing antibodies against clinical isolates of HIV.
Application: 60/052,375
Filed: 7/11/97
Inventors: Fitzgerald, D.J.
Contact: Robert Benson, (301) 496-7056, ext. 267
Mucosal Immunity With Chimeric Pseudomonas Exotoxin A Immunogens
Parenteral and mucosal administration of the HIV envelope protein V3 loop/Pseudomonas exotoxin A immunogen to rabbits raises both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against HIV. This treatment raises both immunoglobulin (Ig) A and G antibodies with mucosal administration, resulting in higher IgA antibody production.
Application: 60/056,924
Filed: 7/11/97
Inventors: Fitzgerald, D.J., et al.
Contact: Robert Benson, (301) 496-7056, ext. 267
Enhanced HIV-1 Suppression By Cytidine Analogues
Antiviral activity of cytidine dideoxynucleoside analogues can be improved by using combinations of various analogues along with CTP synthase inhibitors. This potentiation overcomes HIV resistance to cytidine-based anti-HIV drugs.
Application: 60/033,918
Filed: 1/21/97
Inventors: Gao, W.-Y., et al.
Contact: J. Peter Kim, (301) 496-7056, ext. 264
Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors Of Reverse Transcriptase
Substituted benzimidazole compounds, non-nucleoside inhibitors of reverse transcriptase, are potentially effective in treating HIV. Unlike current antiviral therapeutics, these non-toxic compounds also inhibit mutated reverse transcriptases that have become resistant to currently used anti-HIV therapeutics.
Application: 60/038,509
Filed: 2/25/97
Inventors: Michejda, C., et al.
Contact: J. Peter Kim, (301) 496-7056, ext. 264
Restriction Display PCR Of Differentially Expressed mRNAs
Cellular gene expression is analyzed by reverse transcription of mRNA molecules into cDNAs, selective PCR amplification of these cDNAs, and two-dimensional display of cDNA restriction fragments. By selecting various subsets, cDNAs corresponding to the entire mRNA or its fragments can be displayed. This method can characterize cells based on their mRNA expression pattern or assist in identifying specific mRNAs that encode potential drug targets.
Application: 60/011,379
Filed: 2/9/96
Inventors: Weinstein, J.N., et al.
Contact: J. Peter Kim, (301) 496-7056, ext. 264
NATIONAL HEART, LUNG AND BLOOD INSTITUTE
In Vivo Determination Of Transcription Factor Binding Sites
A fusion protein having a transcription factor protein linked to a non-sequence specific nuclease is expressed in vivo and the binding of the protein to genomic DNA is detected by the resultant nuclease cleavage near the binding site. Using this method, the genomic binding site for transcription factors that are involved in many disease processes can be identified.
Application: 08/825,664
Filed: 4/3/97
Inventors: Chung, J.
Contact: Joseph Contrera, (301) 496-7056, ext. 244
NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Parkinson's Disease Gene Mutation
A mutation in the Parkinson's disease gene encoding a mutated protein has been linked to a hereditary form of the disease that results in early onset. Diagnostic assays employing this mutant gene can help predict susceptibility to this form of the disease.
Application: 60/050,684
Filed: 6/25/97
Inventors: Polymeropoulos, M.H., et al.
Contact: Stephen Finley, (301) 496-7056, ext. 215
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Attenuated Mycobacteria Strains
Attenuation of mycobacterial strains is achieved by down-regulation of the expression of the á-crystallin heat shock protein gene, an essential virulence gene. Since the resulting attenuated strains are viable and retain the full complement of antigens, these strains can be used in making vaccines against tuberculosis.
Application: 60/025,199
Filed: 7/10/97
Inventors: Barry, C.E., et al.
Contact: Carol Salata, (301) 496-7735, ext. 232
Differentiation Among Those Infected By And Vaccinated For Hepatitis A
Inactivated hepatitis A vaccines cause the production of antibodies against structural viral proteins while actual infection results in a patient having antibodies to both structural and nonstructural viral proteins. Current assays for determining exposure to this virus only measure structural protein antibodies, thus they are incapable of differentiating between exposed and vaccinated individuals. An ELISA assay for detecting antibodies to 3C proteinase, a nonstructural protein, can possibly differentiate these two populations.
Application: 60/013,333
Filed: 3/13/96
Inventors: Purcell, R.H., et al.
Contact: George Keller, (301) 496-7735, ext. 246
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DISEASE
Shigella Vaccine
A conjugate vaccine against dysentery has been developed that contains a chemically synthesized polysaccharide resembling the O-specific portion of Shigella dysenteria type I lipopolysaccharide. This vaccine should have lessened side effects and greater immunogenicity compared with currently used vaccines.
Application: 60/052,869
Filed: 7/17/97
Inventors: Pozsgay, V., et al.
Contacts: Robert Benson, (301) 496-7056, ext. 267
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL RESEARCH
Human Bone Formation In Vivo
A protocol using human marrow stromal fibroblasts results in the formation of self-maintained human bone which supports hematopoiesis. This model system can be used to screen compounds affecting bone formation and can be implanted into humans to augment bone implants or repair bone defects.
Application: 08/798,715
Filed: 2/12/97
Inventors: Robey, P.G., et al.
Contacts: Jaconda Wagner, (301) 496-7735, ext. 284
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES
Synthesis Of Hepatitis C-Like Particles In Vitro
Analysis of the structural features of hepatitis C virus has been hampered by the inability to propagate the virus efficiently in cultured cells and the lack of a convenient animal model system. However, hepatitis C-like particles have now been produced in an insect cell culture system and purified from these cells. These particles, purified in large quantities, may be useful in vaccine development and the production of diagnostics.
Application: 08/030,238
Filed: 11/8/96
Inventors: Liang, T.J., et al.
Contacts: Carol Salata, (301) 496-7735, ext. 232
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
Ischemic Damage Protection
Previously developed treatments to protect against ischemic damage are greatly limited in their effectiveness. For example, aspirin only has a small protective effect on tissues and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which is routinely used to dissolve blood clots thus allowing greater blood flow, does not prevent ischemic injury. However, a 12-lipoxygenase metabolite, 12(S)-HpETE, allows up to 82 percent recovery of tissues subjected to ischemic injury and shows no undesirable side effects.
The NIEHS seeks partners to further evaluate and develop the commercial potential of these materials and methods for the prevention of ischemic injury during angioplasty and the preservation of organs for transplantation as well as in other clinical settings. CRADA proposals should be received on or before 90 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register for priority consideration. However, CRADA proposals submitted thereafter will be considered until a suitable collaborator is selected.
Application: 60/053,843
Filed: 7/25/97
Inventors: Murphy, E., et al.
CRADA Contact: Dr. Jonathan Gottleib, (301) 402-5579
Licensing Contact: Carol Lavrich, (301) 496-7735 ext. 287
— Compiled by Chester A. Bisbee