[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 168 (Thursday, August 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55415-55416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22076]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: ``P2X7 
Receptor Antagonists''

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is notice, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 
CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i), that the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 
Department of Health and Human Services, is contemplating the grant of 
an exclusive license worldwide to practice the invention embodied in: 
U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/334,130, filed November 30, 2001, 
entitled, ``P2X7 Receptor Antagonists'' to Adenosine 
Therapeutics, having a place of business in the state of Virginia. The 
field of use may be limited to human therapy. The United States of 
America is the assignee of the patent rights in this invention.

DATES: Only written comments and/or application for a license, which 
are received by the NIH Office of Technology Transfer on or before 
October 28, 2002 will be considered.

ADDRESSES: Requests for a copy of the patent applications, inquiries, 
comments and other materials relating to the contemplated license 
should be directed to: Marlene Shinn, Technology Licensing Specialist, 
Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, 6011 
Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852-3804; Telephone: 
(301) 496-7056, ext. 285; Facsimile: (301) 402-0220; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The P2X7 receptor is expressed 
primarily in blood cells such as monocytes, macrophages, and 
lymphocytes. In addition, the receptor is found in the brain and in the 
salivary gland. In macrophages, activation of the P2X7 
receptor triggers the processing and release of Interleukin 1[beta] 
(IL-1[beta]). In the immune system, activation of the P2X7 
receptor leads to apoptosis. This invention relates to antagonists of 
the P2X7 receptor, which have high affinity for the receptor 
and can block ATP-induced toxic processes in blood cells. These 
antagonists are also useful in preventing apoptosis and

[[Page 55416]]

in preventing the release of TNF-[alpha] and other inflammatory 
cytokines such as IL-1[beta].
    The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will 
comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. 
The prospective exclusive license may be granted unless, within 90 days 
from the date of this published Notice, NIH receives written evidence 
and argument that establishes that the grant of the license would not 
be consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.
    Properly filed competing applications for a license filed in 
response to this notice will be treated as objections to the 
contemplated license. Comments and objections submitted in response to 
this notice will not be made available for public inspection, and, to 
the extent permitted by law, will not be released under the Freedom of 
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.

    Dated: August 22, 2002.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 02-22076 Filed 8-28-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P