By Chester A. Bisbee

Special To BioWorld Today

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 four licensing opportunities were submitted last month 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.

National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute

Parvovirus Detection

Parvovirus B19 infects humans. The receptor that mediates its entry into cells has been identified. This receptor can be used in methods to diagnose, prevent and treat human parvovirus infections.

U.S. Patent: 5,449,608

Issued: 9/12/95

Inventors: Young, N., et al.

Contact: Gloria Richmond, (301) 496-7057, ext. 268

National Human Genome Research Institute

Cervical Cancer Detection

Pap smears have contributed to the reduced mortality rate of cervical cancer, but this diagnostic test reveals little about disease progression and has resisted attempts at automation. Diagnosis of advanced-stage cervical carcinoma and monitoring the progression of dysplastic cervical cells can be achieved by detecting chromosomal aberrations in these cells. Nucleic acids that specifically hybridize to chromosome 3q are used in this diagnostic assay.

Application: 08/781,424

Filed: 1/10/97

Inventors: Ried, T., et al.

Contact: Mary Savagner, (301) 496-7057, ext. 205

National Institute Of Allergy & Infectious Disease

Attenuated Hepatitis A Virus Vaccines

Chimeric hepatitis A viruses containing mutations in the 2A gene are substantially less pathogenic than other strains. The 2A gene mutation is not naturally occurring and was engineered into an infectious cDNA clone. This inactivated viral strain has been sold as a vaccine in Europe.

Application: 08/547,482

Filed: 10/24/95

Inventors: Emerson, S.U., et al.

Contact: Gloria Richmond, (301) 496-7057, ext. 268

Dengue Virus Vaccine

Chimeric dengue viruses can be used as vaccines against dengue and other flavivirus diseases, including tick-borne encephalitis. Previous dengue vaccines have been unsuccessful because inactivated viruses are insufficiently immunogenic and live viruses are not consistently attenuated. The use of chimeric dengue viruses has produced vaccines for all four serotypes.

Application: 08/250,802

Issued: 5/27/94

Inventors: Lai, C.-J., et al.

Contact: Gloria Richmond, (301) 496-7057, ext. 268 *