Inventions, Government-owned; availability for licensing,
[Federal Register: August 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 150)]
[Notices]
[Page 43645-43647]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au07-58]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected
[[Page 43646]]
inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.
ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: 301/496-7057; fax: 301/402-0220. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive copies of the patent applications.
Methods for Determining Hepatocellular Carcinoma Subtype and Detecting Hepatic Cancer Stem Cells
Description of Technology: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and it is very heterogeneous in terms of its clinical presentation as well as genomic and transcriptomic patterns. HCC can originate from both adult hepatocytes and hepatic progenitor cells. The extent of progenitor cell activation and the direction of differentiation are correlated with the severity of the disease. HCC patient variability indicates that HCC comprises several biologically distinct subtypes. This heterogeneity and the lack of appropriate biomarkers have hampered patient prognosis and treatment stratification.
Available for licensing are microRNA biomarkers that are associated with four HCC subtypes: hepatic stem cell-like, bile duct epithelium- like, hepatocytic progenitor-like, and mature hepatocyte-like. One unique profile is associated with HCC with features of liver stem cells and poor patient prognosis. It has both diagnostic and therapeutic value in the management of HCC patients.
Applications: A diagnostic assay where HCC treatment can be individualized according to patient HCC subtype; An assay for HCC to prognose patient survival; Therapeutic compositions that target subtype specific HCC.
Market: HCC is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide; HCC is the fifth most common cancer in the world; Post-operative five year survival rate of HCC patients is 30-40%.
Development Status: The technology is currently in the pre-clinical stage of development.
Inventors: Xin Wei Wang (NCI) et al.
Publications:
-
Presented at Keystone Symposia on MicroRNA and Cancer in June 2007.
-
R Garzon et al. MicroRNA expression and function in cancer. Trends Mol Med. 2006 Dec;12(12):580-587.
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/942,833 filed 08 Jun 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-215-2007/0-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.
Licensing Contact: Jennifer Wong; 301/435-4633; wongje@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize this technology. Please contact John D. Hewes, Ph.D. at 301-435-3121 or hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Isolation, Cloning, and Characterization of Novel Adeno-Associated Virus Serotypes
Description of Technology: Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are used in gene delivery, but with limited success due to toxicity. The novel AAVs described in this technology may be more effective and useful in gene therapy applications.
This invention relates to new adeno-associated viruses (AAV), vectors and particles derived therefrom and also provides methods for delivering specific nucleic acids to cells using the AAV vectors and particles. The inventors cloned and sequenced the genomes of AAVs found in twelve (12) simian adenovirus isolates and determined that the AAVs were novel. Ten (10) of these isolates had high similarity to AAV1 and AAV6 (>98%). Despite the high homology to AAV6, these novel AAVs demonstrated distinct cell tropisms and reactivity towards a panel of lectins, suggesting that they may use a distinct entry pathway.
Applications: AAVs can be used as delivery systems in gene therapy; AAV's also have gene transfer applications.
Advantages: Vectors based on these new AAV serotypes may have a different host range and different immunological properties, thus allowing for more efficient transduction in certain cell types than previously used AAV.
Benefits: Gene therapy has tremenous potential in treating several life threatening diseases, and this technology has the potential to benefit millions of patients that could benefit from the proper use of gene therapy treatments. Additionally, the gene therapy market is now a multi-million dollar industry can substantially benefit from the use of this technology.
A range of licensing opportunities exist, including material licenses, commercial licenses, nonexclusive and exclusive licenses, as well as fields of use directed towards clinical applications. Please see the Office of Technology Transfer website for more information (http://www.ott.nih.gov).
Inventors: Michael Schmidt (NIDCR), John A. Chiorini (NIDCR), et al.
U.S. Patent Status: Pending PCT Application PCT/US2006/017157, published as WO 2006/119432 (HHS Reference No. E-179-2005/0-PCT-02).
Licensing Contact: David A. Lambertson, Ph.D.; Phone: (301) 435- 4632; Fax: (301) 402-0220; E-mail: lambertsond@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Gene Therapy and Therapeutics Branch, is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize adeno-associated viruses. Please contact David W. Bradley, Ph.D. at bradleyda@nidcr.nih.gov for more information.
Serum Autoantibody for Cancer Diagnostics
Description of Technology: The invention demonstrates that the approach of autoantibody analysis provides a valuable approach for cancer diagnosis. Detecting serum autoantibodies against extracellular form of protein kinase A (ECPKA) can effectively diagnose cancer.
The technology describes compositions and methods for detecting autoantibodies against an ECPKA for the diagnosis of cancer. Because ECPKA is secreted from cancer cells at higher rate than normal cells, the formation of serum autoantibodies to ECPKA in cancer patients is greater. A highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay that measures the presence of anti-ECPKA autoantibody in serum of cancer patients can therefore be used for cancer diagnosis.
Application: ECPKA-autoantibody-based immunoassay method provides an important diagnostic procedure applicable for the detection of various cancers.
Advantages: Highly sensitive and specific immunoassay developed for anti-ECPKA antibody is more sensitive and specific than results from other current assays that detect only antigen activity; high statistical correlation betweeen the presence of serum-autoantibody directed against ECPKA and presence of cancer.
Benefits: Early detection of cancer and this technology can contribute
[[Page 43647]]
significantly to improving the clinical management of cancer and thus the quality of life for people suffering from the disease. Furthermore, the cancer diagnostic market is estimated to grow to almost $10 billion dollars in the next 5 years, providing a significant financial opportunity.
Inventors: Yoon S. Cho-Chung (NCI).
U.S. Patent Status: U.S. Patent Application No. 10/592,040 (HHS Reference No. E-081-2004/2-US-02); Foreign Rights are also available.
Licensing Contact: David A. Lambertson, Ph.D.; Phone: (301) 435- 4632; Fax: (301) 402-0220; E-mail: lambertsond@mail.nih.gov.
A New Series of Thalidomide Analogs That Have Potent Anti-Angiogenic Properties
Description of Technology: This technology describes synthesis of several novel tetrahalogenated thalidomide derivatives that are potentially more anti-angiogenic than thalidomide. More specifically, two series of analogs based on two major common pharmacophores have been synthesized. One series preserves the thalidomide common structure, while the other series contains a different common structure (tetrafluorobenzamides). Several analogs from both series have shown significant anti-angiogenic properties, in vitro.
Applications: The novel thalidomide derivatives have therapeutic potential for a broad spectrum of cancer related diseases alone, or in combination with existing therapies. The compounds can also be useful for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Advantages: Superior anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer activity when compared with thalidomide; In vitro data supports use in multiple cancer types.
Benefits: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and it is estimated that there will be approximately 600,000 deaths caused by cancer in 2007. Improving the quality of life and duration of life of cancer patients will depend a lot on chemotherapies with reduced toxicity and this technology can contribute significantly to that social cause. Furthermore, the technology involving novel anti- angiogenic small molecule cancer therapy technology has a potential market of more than $2 billion.
Inventors: William D. Figg (NCI) et al.
U.S. Patent Status: Pending PCT Application PCT/US2007/008849 (HHS Reference No. E-080-2006/0-PCT-02).
Licensing Contact: David A. Lambertson, Ph.D.; Phone: (301) 435- 4632; Fax: (301) 402-0220; E-mail: lambertsond@mail.nih.gov.
Dated: July 30, 2007. Steven M. Ferguson, Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health. [FR Doc. E7-15168 Filed 8-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
