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Please Note: The technology listed below is not available to the public at this time. This technology is in the early stage of research and requires further development before it is ready for the marketplace. The VA is currently in the process of identifying potential companies who may be interested in licensing and/or further developing the technology through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA). Through cooperative research initiatives such as these, it is our hope and goal that commercial products will be fully developed and made available to benefit veterans and others.
VA TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY BRIEF
A Novel Specific Inhibitor of the Cyclin Kinase Inhibitor p21 and Methods of Using the Inhibitor
OPPORTUNITY:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking a commercial partner to license
and/or further develop this technology through a Cooperative R & D Agreement
(CRADA) to expedite bringing it to market.
BACKGROUND:
Cancer and cardiovascular diseases are the first two leading causes of death
in the US. There is a need for alternative treatments to conventional cancer
chemotherapy and for improved therapies against restenosis and atherosclerosis.
The current treatments for these diseases are associated with high toxicity
and low specificity. Atherosclerosis is characterized by aberrant vascular
smooth muscle cell growth and cancer is associated with unregulated growth of
other cells. Any inhibitor of such growth has the potential for treating the
cancer and atherosclerosis. The subject technology has the potential to target
the vast and lucrative cancer and cardiovascular markets with drugs having high
specificity and low or no, toxicity. The regulatory environment is encouraging
for the rapid approval of new therapies against these diseases.
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW:
This technology is the discovery of a novel action of an inhibitor of the cyclin-dependent
kinases (CDKS). VA research has shown, in vitro, that vascular smooth
muscle cell proliferation induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) requires
the presence of the CDKS inhibitor (p21Waf 1/Cip 1) as an assembly factor. In
contradiction to this role, VA research has shown, in vitro, that by
interfering with the action of this inhibitor, using antisense oligonucleotides,
vascular smooth cell proliferation is reduced. It is possible that antisense
inhibition of p21 Waf 1/Cip 1 may be a useful therapy against diseases where
cell proliferation, especially smooth muscle cell proliferation, is a feature.
The technology has not progressed to in vivo testing.
TECHNICAL MERIT:
The novelty of this technology is that:
- The antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (oligo) is easily transfected into cells (which can occur even in the absence of liposome reagents)
- It has shown greater efficacy with vascular smooth muscle cells, which may be useful as a future therapy of atherosclerosis and angioplasty re-stenosis, and
- The inhibitory oligo may prove useful for treatment of cancer, since this disease involves aberrant proliferation of a variety of cells and is associated with the creation of new blood vessels.
The advantages of this technology over others are (1) ease of administration to cells (and perhaps tissues), (2) specificity to a specific gene, and (3) lack of toxicity.
PATENT STATUS:
An international patent application was filed March 29, 2001 (PCT/US01/10443).
Federal Register: Dec. 31, 2001 (Vol. 66, No. 250) p. 67630
U.S. patent application filed September 26, 2002 (S/N 10/240,140)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Saleem Sheredos
Program Manager
Technology Transfer Program
Veterans Affairs
Office of Research & Development (12TT)
5th Floor
103 South Gay Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
202-380-5080
Fax 410.962.2141
e-mail: saleem.sheredos@va.gov