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, Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Announcements of the following proposals to grant exclusive licenses have been submitted to 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.

Note these prospective licenses may be granted within 60 days after publication of these notices in the Federal Register, unless written evidence and argument is received establishing that this grant would not be consistent with the appropriate statutory and regulatory requirements. License applications filed in response to these notices will be treated as objections to the grant of the exclusive licenses.

Blood Vessel Growth-Promoting Peptides For Cardiovascular Disease

Vascular growth-promoting peptides administered via catheter into the coronary artery can treat damaged hearts. Using this technique, periodic and repetitive treatment can cause localized vascularization in the heart, thus replacing blocked cardiac arteries without affecting vascularization in the remainder of the body. These peptides can treat cardiovascular disease including myocardial ischemia and atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. The National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute is contemplating a grant of an exclusive domestic license for this technology to Collateral Therapeutics Inc., of San Diego.

U.S. Patent: 5,244,460

Issued: 9/14/93

Inventors: Epstein, S., et al.

Contact: J. Peter Kim, (301) 496-7056, ext. 264

Pigment Epithelium-Derived Growth Factor
For Ocular Disease

Pigment epithelium-derived growth factor (PEGF) from the retina induces neuronal cell differentiation and survival of mature neurons. Gene therapy using the DNA coding sequence for PEGF can treat inflammatory, vascular, degenerative, and neoplastic diseases of the retina and central nervous system. The National Eye Institute is contemplating a grant of an exclusive worldwide license to use this technology in ocular gene therapy to GenVec Inc., of Rockville, Md.

U.S. Patent application: 08/520,373

Filed: 8/29/95

Inventors: Chader, G.J., et al.

Contact: Jaconda Wagner, (301) 496-7735, ext. 284

Homologous Recombination Mediated By RecA
And RecA Peptides

Site-specific homologous recombination between an introduced DNA sequence and the corresponding genomic DNA sequence can be induced by the Escherichia coli RecA protein. In addition, a peptide fragment of RecA can be used to target genomic DNA or to inhibit transcription of a given gene. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is contemplating a grant of an exclusive worldwide license to use this technology to Pangene Corp., of Menlo Park, Calif.

U.S. Patent: 5,460,941

Issued: 10/24/95

Inventors: Camerini-Otero, D., et al.

Contact: Raphe Kantor, (301) 496-7735, ext. 247

— Compiled by Chester A. Bisbee