[Federal Register: August 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 147)]
[Notices]
[Page 46169-46170]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02au04-57]
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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, DHHS.
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.
Griffithsin, Glycosylation-Resistant Griffithsin, and Related
Conjugates, Compositions, Nucleic Acids, Vectors, Host Cells, Methods
of Production and Methods of Using
Drs. Barry O'Keefe, Michael Boyd, and Toshiyuki Mori (NCI); U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/576,056 filed 01 Jun 2004 (DHHS
Reference No. E-106-2003/0-US-01); Licensing Contact: Sally Hu; 301/
435-5606; hus@mail.nih.gov.
This invention provides: (1) Isolated and purified antiviral
peptides or antiviral proteins named griffithsin; (2) purified nucleic
acid encoding griffithsin or a fragment thereof; (3) vectors comprising
such a nucleic acid; a host cell comprising such a nucleic acid or
vector; (4) a conjugate comprising all or part (such as an antiviral
part) of the griffithsin; (5) antibodies that bind griffithsin; (6)
methods of producing griffithsin and a conjugate thereof; (7) methods
of inhibiting prophylactically and therapeutically a viral infection
e.g., HIV, influenza; and, (8) vaccine development and screening
assays. Since picomolar concentrations of griffithsin irreversibly
inactivate human clinical isolates of HIV and the griffithsin protein
can also target other retroviruses (e.g. FIV, SIV and HTLV) and non-
retroviruses (influenza, measles, ebola) having envelope constituents
similar to HIV, this invention may represent potential new therapeutic
or prophylactic applications against viruses, including the causative
agent for AIDS.
Activation of Nerve Growth Factor Receptor Trophic Functions
Lino Tessarollo et al. (NCI); U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/
509,158 filed 07 Oct 2003 (DHHS Reference No. E-013-2003/0-US-01);
Licensing Contact: Norbert Pontzer; 301/435-5502,
pontzern@mail.nih.gov.
[[Page 46170]]
Neurotrophins, such as Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), are crucial to
the maintenance and survival of neurons of the peripheral and central
nervous system. Although these actions have potential therapeutic use
in the treatment of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, problems
with peripheral administration of these fairly large molecules limits
their clinical usefulness. Survival signaling of neurotrophins is
mediated mainly through binding to cell surface Trk tyrosine kinase
receptors. The juxtamembrane region of the NGF TrkA receptor binds two
key adapter proteins, Shc and FRS-2/SNT, which become tyrosine
phosphorylated and provide a scaffold for other signaling proteins. The
binding of FRS-2/SNT to TrkA is also affected by a neighboring three
amino acid KFG domain conserved in all Trk receptors. These inventors
found that deletion of the three KFG amino acids affects binding and
activation of the adaptor proteins FRS-2/SNT and Shc. This effect
increases the general ability to activate downstream TrkA activated
signaling pathways in response to NGF. This molecular phenotype leads
biologically to a trophic effect on the cholinergic neurons of the
basal forebrain and of the striatum in vivo. This invention provides a
target for selecting small drugs that mimic the effect of KFG domain
deletion and thus promote trophic effects in degenerative diseases.
Compositions and Methods for Diagnostics and Therapeutics for
Hydrocephalus
Perry J. Blackshear, Darryl C. Zeldin, Joan P. Graves, Deborah J.
Stumpo (NIEHS); U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/374,184
filed 19 Apr 2002 (DHHS Reference No. E-163-2002/0-US-01); U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/388,266 filed 13 Jun 2002 (DHHS
Reference No. E-163-2002/1-US-01); PCT Application No. PCT/US03/12348
filed 18 Apr 2003, which published as WO 03/088919 on 30 Oct 2003 (DHHS
Reference No. E-163-2002/2-PCT-01); Licensing Contact: Pradeep Ghosh;
301/435-5282; ghoshpr@mail.nih.gov.
Congenital hydrocephalus is a public health problem and a
significant population suffers from this birth defect in the United
States. It has been estimated that a significant number of patients
with congenital hydrocephalus also suffer from aqueductal stenosis.
Congenital hydrocephalus has an adverse effect on developing brain and
may persist as neurological defects in children and adults. Some of
these defects may manifest in form of mental retardation, cerebral
palsy, epilepsy and visual disabilities. The cost of treatment for such
disorders may exceed $100 million annually. Efficient diagnostics to
determine the risks of development of hydrocephalus are lacking in the
market.
This invention relates to RFX4--v3 proteins and nucleic acids
encoding the RFX4--v3 proteins. RFX4--v3 proteins are associated with
congenital hydrocephalus. Congenital hydrocephalus is a common birth
defect and many cases of hydrocephalus are caused by chromosome X-
linked genetic mutations. The present invention provides assays for the
detection of RFX4--v3 polymorphisms associated with congenital
hydrocephalus that may lead to the determination of an individual's
risk of developing disease states and conditions. Therefore, the
present invention would be most useful in developing diagnostic tests
for abnormalities that may lead to the development of hydrocephalus and
thus, has a market potential of substantial significance.
Dated: July 23, 2004.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 04-17467 Filed 7-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P