[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65660-65661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30936]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and is 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 U.S. companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and a copy of the U.S. patent 
application referenced below may be obtained by contacting Robert 
Benson at the Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of 
Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, Maryland 20852-
3804 (telephone 301/496-7056 ext 267; fax 301/402-0220). A signed 
Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive a copy of 
the patent application.

Immunogenic Chimeras Comprising Nucleic Acid Sequences Encoding 
Endoplasmic Reticulum Signal Sequence Peptides and at Least One Other 
Peptide, and Their Uses in Vaccines and Disease Treatments

Nicholas P. Restifo, Steven A. Rosenberg, Jack R. Bennink, Igor 
Bacik, and Jonathan W. Yewdell (NCI)
Serial Number 08/032,902 filed March 17, 1993

    This invention concerns the use of chimeric peptides as vaccines 
for the cellular immune system. One portion of the chimeric peptide, 
the ER signal peptide, serves to transport the chimeric 

[[Page 65661]]
peptide from the cytoplasm to the ER. Once in the ER, the other portion 
of the chimeric peptide associates with class I MHC molecules and 
together they form a complex which is presented on the surface of the 
cell. The complex activates cytotoxic lymphocytes which react with the 
complex, leading to expansion of CTLs which kill cells presenting the 
particular complex. The MHC complexing portion of the chimeric peptide 
is taken from cancer antigens or viral antigens. Thus the invention is 
a broad general method of vaccination that activates the cellular 
immune system. DNA constructs and expression vectors encoding the 
chimeric peptides are also claimed. The method has been shown to work 
as a treatment for cancer in mice. It has been PCT filed, PCT/US94/
02897.

    Dated: December 8, 1995.
Barbara M. McGarey,
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 95-30936 Filed 12-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M