Furin Inhibitors and Alpha-Defensin for Preventing Papilloma Virus Infection
Description of Invention:
Available for licensing and commercial development are intellectual properties that claim compositions and methods for preventing papilloma virus (PV) infection in humans using furin inhibitors or alpha-defensins. PV viruses include a minor capsid protein L2 which requires a functional intracellular furin (a cell-encoded proprotein convertase present in endosomes) for escape from the endosomal spaces into the cytoplasm and viral infection. Accordingly, a disruption of viral infection by the inhibition of furin with molecules such as decanoyl-RVKR-CMK is potentially useful as a broad spectrum anti-HPV prophylactic.
Alpha-defensins, which are naturally secreted by the cervix, are reported to have potent and non-type specific anti-HPV properties. They can be administered as a topic microbicide to prevent infection by many HPV genotypes, including types not covered by the vaccines currently in Phase III clinical trials.
Inventors:
Patricia Day (NCI) Rebecca Richards (NCI) John Schiller (NCI) Douglas Lowy (NCI) Christopher Buck (NCI)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-104-2005/1 --
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/692,846 filed 21 Jun 2005 Licensing Status:
In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further development through collaborative research opportunities with the inventors.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michael Shmilovich J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5019
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
