BioWorld Today here continues its occasional listings of governmentagencies seeking industrial licensees to commercialize their biotech-related research and development inventions. Commercializationrights are offered by the National Institutes of Health, Office ofTechnology Transfer (OTT). Announcements of the followingopportunities will be published imminently in the Federal Register.
To obtain licensing information, and copies of the pending U.S.patent applications listed below, contact OTT licensing specialistsindicated.
National Cancer Institute
Avian Retroviral Vectors Facilitate Gene Transfer
Avian sarcoma leukosis viruses have envelope gene derived frommammalian retrovirus, which permits high-titer viral stocks to beprepared in avian cells. Resulting vector is replication-defective inmammalian _ including human _ cells, permitting efficient genetherapy.
Application: 08/445, 462
Filed: 5/22/95
Inventors: Barsov, E., et al.
Contact: Larry Tiffany, (301) 496-7056, ext. 206
DNA Construct Selectively Ousts Undesired Cell Types
Sequence expresses modified bacterial cytosine deaminase (CD) genein mammalian cells. CD can convert 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5-fluorouracil, a cytotoxic antimetabolite. Cells transformed with theDNA construct can be selectively killed by treatment with 5-FC.Potential uses include gene therapy, immunotherapy, bone-marrowtransplants.
U. S. Patent No. 5,358,866
Issued: 11/25/94
Inventors: Blaese, R. M., et al.
Contact: Larry Tiffany, (301) 496-7056, ext. 206
Leucine Zipper Regulates Protein Transcription
Dominant negative transcription factors, modified to increasestability of dimerization reaction between leucine zipper regions ofbasic-region zipper proteins, can inhibit DNA binding andtransactivation, thus preventing production of detrimental genes andproteins.
Application: 60/001/654
Filed: 7/31/95
Inventor: Vinson, C. R.
Contact: Allan Kiang, (301) 496-7735, ext. 270
Early Detection Of HIV Infection, Antigens
Diagnostic measures activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cellsafter incubation with synthetic HIV epitopes. Detects exposure tovirus before seroconversion, sooner than current antibody tests, PCRamplification of viral DNA. Especially useful to screen donor bloodsupply.
Application: 08/488/435
Filed: 6/7/95
Inventors: Shearer, G. M., et al.
Contact: George Keller, (301) 496-7735, ext. 246
New Herpes Virus Isolated
Human Herpes Virus Type 6 (HHV-6) _ formerly, Human BLymphotropic Virus (HBLV) _ causes common childhood disease,roseola, linked to multiple sclerosis and diseases in immunodeficientpersons, including HIV-infected. Claims cover HHV-6 virus, its genesequences and expression products, infected cell cultures, detectionmethods.
Application: 08/392,674 (Granted in Europe)
Filed: 2/22/95
Inventors: R. C. Gallo, et al.
Contact: George Keller, (301) 496-7735, ext. 246
Antisense Oligos Block Kaposi Lesions
Unique antisense oligonucleotides bind basic fibroblast growth factorwith high affinity, inhibit progression of Kaposi's sarcoma cells inAIDS patients. Includes method of administering treatment,monitoring progress.
Application: 08/463/978
Filed: 6/5/95
Inventors: R. C. Gallo, et al.
Contact: Cindy K. Fuchs, (301) 496-7735, ext. 232
Liver Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, Screening
Hepatocellular carcinoma has high incidence in Asia, particularlyamong hepatitis carriers. Amplified gene expression product ofhepatoma is an oncogene (i.e., transforming sequence), of which theantibody, or the cDNA itself, can be used for diagnostic, therapeuticand screening tests.
Application: 08/471,540
Filed: 6/6/95
Inventor: S. S. Yang.
Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7735, ext. 265
Enhanced Immun e Response To Infection, Cancer
Newly isolated human leukocyte-derived peptides exhibit potentmonocyte chemotaxis, for enhancing immune response to variety ofinfections, malignancies.
Application: 08/449,552
Filed: 5/24/95
Inventors: Yoshimura, T., et al.
Contact: Jaconda Wagner, (301) 496-7735, ext. 284
Reversing Methotrexate Resistance
Multi-purpose cancer chemotherapeutic agent, methotrexate (MTX),confronts frequent emergence of tumor-cell resistance. Increasedexpression of reduced folate carrier protein via gene therapy canrestore cellular sensitivity to MTX.
Application: 08/484,840
Filed: 6/7/95
Inventors: Moscow, J., et al.
Contact: Allan Kiang, (301) 496-7735, ext. 270
Early Detection Of Breast Cancer
Protein binds specifically to promoter region of highly oncogenic. c-ERBB2 (HER-2/neu) gene. Antibody to it assays for protein'spresence in biological sample, thus detects cancer earlier than currentmethods. Protein can also test efficacy of candidate inhibitory drugs.
Application: 08/229/515
Filed: 4/19/9 4
Inventors: Raziuddin and Sarkar, F.
Contact: Susan Rucker, (301) 496-7735, ext. 245
National Institute On Aging
Two-Edged Gene To Suppress Tumors, Boost Cell Growth
Prohibitin, a negative regulatory gene, when mutated, leads to celldeath (apoptosis), so may act as tumor suppressor. Its inactivationmay correct insufficient cellular proliferation, as in osteoporosis,poor wound healing.
Application: 08/466,762
Filed: 6/5/95
Inventors: Nuell, M. J., et al.
Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7056, ext. 265
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Protein Against Emphysema, Cirrhosis, Liver Cancer
Gene expressing first known protein capable of inhibiting serineproteases, to treat conditions such as emphysema, cirrhosis, livercancer.
U. S. Patent # 5,187,268
Issued: 2/16/93
Inventors: Moss, B., et al.
Contact: Carol Lavrich, (301) 496-7735, ext. 287
High-Potency Anti-HIV-1 Antibody
Soluble viral envelope protein, gp140 is a recombinant version ofgp160, but conserves the parent protein's quaternary structure. Thus,antibodies raised against it "may be more broadly reactive againstvarious forms of AIDS than other antibodies generated to date."
Application: 08/165,314
Filed: 10/12/93
Inventors: Moss, B., et al.
Contact: Cindy K. Fuchs, (301) 496-7735, ext. 232
National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute
Improved Retroviral Vectors For Gene Therapy
Complement system's C1 subcomponents and antibody fragmentsprotects retroviral vector particles produced in non-primatepackaging lines from attack by primate complement cascade in vivo.
Application: 08/098,944
Filed: 7/28/93
Inventor: Mason, J. M., et al.
Contact: Carol Lavrich, (301) 496-7735, ext. 287
Protein Expression In Human Gut
Unlike alternative delivery systems, e.g., retroviral vectors, methoddirectly transfers gene of interest to targeted cells in gastrointestinaltract _ whether dividing or not. Permits systemic long-termadministration of therapeutic protein to a patient, avoiding periodicinjections, suppositories.
Application: 07/776,057
Filed: 10/16/91
Inventor: Crystal, Ron
Contact: Larry Tiffany, (301) 496-7056, ext. 206
CombiChem Signs First Deal With Japan Drug Maker
CombiChem Inc., a start-up combinatorial chemistry company,signed its first major corporate collaboration worth more than $10million with Japan-based Teijin Ltd.
La Jolla, Calif.-based CombiChem will apply its technology to createlibraries of potential therapeutic compounds based on a leadmolecule provided by Teijin. The Osaka-based pharmaceutical firmis seeking compounds that act as antagonists to a particular G-proteincoupled receptor subtype.
G-protein receptors are responsible for transferring into cells externalsignals that regulate cellular activity and are potential drug targets formany diseases.
Peter Myers, CombiChem's chief scientific officer and chiefoperating officer, said specifics of the drug discovery program werenot disclosed.
CombiChem will receive up-front funds and milestone paymentstotaling more than $10 million, but details were not revealed. Thecompany also would receive royalties on compounds that aremarketed. The agreement did not involve an equity investment byTeijin.
CombiChem was founded in 1994 with technology licensed fromSydney Brenner, a member of the Scripps Research Institute in LaJolla and an honorary professor of genetic medicine at the Universityof Cambridge in England. (See BioWorld Today, Jan. 20, 1995, p.2.) _ Charles Craig
-- David N. Leff Science Editor
(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.