[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17721-17722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8087]


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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 agencies 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.

Analogs of Thalidomide as Potential Angiogenesis Inhibitors

William Figg et. al. (NCI)
DHHS Reference No. E-282-00/0; filed 27 Feb 2001
Licensing Contact: Matthew Kiser; 301/496-7735 ext. 224; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    The present invention relates to anti-angiogenesis compositions and 
methods of using the same. In particular, thalidomide analogs that 
actively inhibit angiogenesis in humans and animals are claimed. The 
present methods provide for the inhibition of unwanted angiogenesis 
through the administration of a composition comprising an effective 
amount of an ``active'' thalidomide analog.
    Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-
existing vessels, and it is a prominent feature in solid tumor 
formation and metastasis. For example, angiogenesis seems to play an 
important role in tumors such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, CNS 
glioma, and renal cancer, to name a few. Prevention of angiogenesis 
could halt the growth of these types of tumors and help prevent the 
resultant damage due to the presence of these tumors.
    Recent studies have promoted thalidomide as a potential inhibitor 
of angiogenesis. The anti-angiogenic activity initially attributed to 
thalidomide is actually the resulting effects of compounds that are 
only present following metabolic activation, i.e. ``active'' 
thalidomide metabolites. Accordingly, there is a need for the 
isolation, identification and characterization of these thalidomide 
metabolites that exhibit superior anti-angiogenic properties. 
Furthermore, there is a need for purified thalidomide analogs that can 
mimic the effects of these metabolites.
    A number of thalidomide metabolites having superior anti-angiogenic 
properties have now been isolated and identified. In addition, 
thalidomide analogs that mimic the effects of the ``active'' 
thalidomide (metabolites and variations of such thalidomide analogs) 
have been synthesized and evaluated. Such thalidomide analog compounds 
show enhanced potency in the inhibition of angiogenesis without the 
undesirable effects of administration of thalidomide.

Detection and Quantification of Cripto-1 in Human Milk Using ELISA

Caterina Bianco, David S. Salomon (NCI)
DHHS Reference No. E-290-00/0 filed 26 Jan 2001
Licensing Contact: Matthew Kiser; 301/496-7735 ext. 224; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    Cripto-1 (CR1) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-
related families of peptides and is involved in the development and 
progression of various human carcinomas. In particular, CR1 
overexpression has been detected in 50-90% of carcinomas of the colon, 
pancreas, stomach, gallbladder, breast, lung, endometrium and cervix. 
Current methodologies of cancer detection, e.g. immunohistochemistry, 
can be time consuming, inconvenient and oftentimes, inaccurate, and 
therefore, a need exists for more efficient, reliable and less time 
consuming methods of detection. The invention relates to such a method 
of detection. The inventors

[[Page 17722]]

disclose methods for the detection and quantification of CR1 in human 
milk, using an ELISA-based protocol. Thus, this test could be used to 
more effectively detect and perhaps stage cancers. Additionally, should 
particular tumor cells, e.g. breast tumor cells, express a sufficiently 
high level of CR1, it may be possible to use the disclosed assay to 
detect and measure CR1 in human serum and/or plasma. Claims to these 
routes of detection are also present in the patent application. As 
such, a novel, efficient and useful in vitro diagnostic and prognostic 
test is now available to suitable commercial partners.

    Dated: March 23, 2001.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 01-8087 Filed 4-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P