[Federal Register: January 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 11)]
[Notices]
[Page 2287-2288]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ja07-80]
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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.
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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 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.
Novel Benztropine Analogs for Treatment of Cocaine Abuse and Other
Mental Disorders
Description of Technology: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that
exerts important effects on locomotor activity, motivation and reward,
and cognition. The dopamine transporter (DAT) is expressed on the
plasma membrane of dopamine synthesizing neurons, and is responsible
for clearing dopamine released into the extra-cellular space, thereby
regulating neurotransmission. The dopamine transporter plays a
significant role in neurotoxicity and human diseases, such as
Parkinson's disease, drug abuse (especially cocaine addiction),
Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADD/ADHD), and a number of other CNS disorders. Therefore, the
dopamine transporter is a strong target for research and the discovery
of potential therapeutics for the treatment of these indications.
This invention discloses novel benztropine analogs and methods of
using these analogs for treatment of mental and conduct disorders such
as cocaine abuse, narcolepsy, ADHD, obesity and nicotine abuse. The
disclosed analogs are highly selective and potent inhibitors of DAT,
but without an apparent cocaine-like behavioral profile. In addition to
their use as a treatment for cocaine abuse, these compounds have also
shown efficacy in animal models of ADHD and nicotine abuse, and have
also been shown to reduce food intake in animals. They may also be
useful medications for other indications where dopamine-related
behavior is compromised, such as alcohol addiction, tobacco addiction,
and Parkinson's disease.
Applications: Drug leads for treatment of cocaine abuse, ADHD,
nicotine abuse, obesity, and other dopamine-related disorders; Imaging
probes for dopamine transporter binding sites.
Development Status: Pre-clinical data are available.
Inventors: Amy H. Newman, Mu-fa Zou, and Jonathan L. Katz (NIDA).
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/710,956 filed 24
Aug 2005 (HHS Reference No. E-234-2005/0-US-01); PCT Application No.
PCT/US2006/33103 filed 24 Aug 2006 (HHS Reference No. E-234-2005/1-PCT-
01 and HHS Reference No. E-129-2006/0).
Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or nonexclusive
licensing.
Licensing Contact: Tara Kirby, Ph.D.; 301/435-4426;
tarak@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The Medicinal Chemistry and
Psychobiology Sections, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural
Research Program, National Institutes of Health, is seeking statements
of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative
research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize medications to
treat cocaine abuse and addiction. Please contact John D. Hewes, Ph.D.
at 301/435-3121 or hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Protein Arginine N-methyltransferase 2 (PRMT-2), a Modulator of
NF[Kappa]B, E2F1, and STAT3 Activity
Description of Technology: Protein-arginine methyltransferases
(PRMTs) contain methyltransferase domains that modify chromatin and
regulate cellular transcription through the post-translational
methylation of arginine residues on the guanidine group of target
proteins. Members of this family have roles in RNA processing,
transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, and DNA repair. Until
recently, the functional significance of one member of this family,
PRMT-2, was unknown.
Researchers at NHLBI, led by Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, have elucidated
the role of PRMT-2. They have found that PRMT-2 modulates the activity
of NF[Kappa]B, E2F1, and STAT3. PRMT-2 inhibits NF[Kappa]B dependent
transcription, and therefore PRMT-2 has a role in modulating
inflammation and the immune response. Also, PRMT-2 proteins can repress
E2F1 transcriptional activity and cause cell cycle arrest, and thus may
be used to treat or prevent cancer. PRMT-2 also methylates STAT3, and
inhibition or loss of PRMT-2 function causes mammals to lose weight,
eat less and become more sensitive to insulin.
The invention describes methods of modulating PRMT-2 activity or
expression in cells. These methods can be used to inhibit the function
of NF?B, E2F1 and STAT3 for treatment of a number of disorders,
including inflammation, cancer, and diabetes.
Applications: Target for treatment and study of a number of
disorders, including:
Diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome diseases; Inflammation and
immune response-related disorders; Cancer.
Inventors: Elizabeth Nabel (NHLBI), Hiroaki Iwasaki (NHLBI),
Takanobu Yoshimoto (NHLBI), and Gary Nabel (NIAID).
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/466,751 filed 30
April 2003 (HHS Reference No. E-190-2003/0-US-01); PCT Application No.
PCT2004/013375 filed 30 April 2004, which published as WO 2004/098634
on 18 Nov 2004 (HHS Reference No. E-190-2003/0-PCT-02); U.S.
Application No. 11/263,657 filed 31 Oct 2005, which published as WO
2006/0239990 on 26
[[Page 2288]]
Oct 2006 (HHS Reference No. E-190-2003/0-US-04).
Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or nonexclusive
licensing.
Licensing Contact: Tara Kirby, Ph.D.; 301/435-4426;
tarak@mail.nih.gov.
Methods for Assaying Hair Follicle Growth and Development
Description of Technology: Methods of culturing functionally-intact
hair follicles in a collagen matrix are useful for screening baldness
treatments and the quantification and study of the effects of agents on
hair follicle growth. This technology describes techniques for
measuring cell proliferation or for measuring secretion of
collagenolytic factors, incorporating a three-dimensional hair follicle
culture system. Collagenolytic activity is essential for downgrowth of
hair follicles during anagen. One described method measures the effects
of a growth factor or pharmaceutical compound on cell proliferation,
utilizing the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA of cultured
hair follicles. Also described is a method to measure the effect of
growth factors on the release of collagenolytic factors, utilizing
tritiated collagen or a fluorescent marker.
Applications: Assays for screening drugs or growth factors that may
stimulate hair growth; Assays measuring the DNA synthesis and
collagenase-secreting activity of hair follicles.
Market: An estimated 40 million men and 20 million women suffer
from hair loss; The market size for hair restoration procedures in the
United States is approximately $800 million.
Inventor: Stuart H. Yuspa (NCI).
Publications:
1. G Rogers, N Martinet, P Steinert, P Wynn, D Roop, A Kilkenny, D
Morgan, SH Yuspa. Cultivation of murine hair follicles as organoids in
a collagen matrix. J Invest Dermatol. 1987 Oct;89(4):369-379.
2. W Weinberg, P Brown, WG Stetler-Stevenson, SH Yuspa, Growth
factors specifically alter hair follicle cell proliferation and
collagenolytic activity alone or in combination. Differentiation. 1990
Dec;45(3):168-178.
Patent Status: U.S. Patent No. 5,616,471 issued 01 Apr 1997 (HHS
Reference No. E-213-1987/1-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for nonexclusive licensing.
Licensing Contact: Tara Kirby, Ph.D.; 301/435-4426;
tarak@mail.nih.gov.
Dated: January 9, 2007.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E7-626 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P