[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 67201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27900]



[[Page 67201]]

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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, HHS.

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.

Novel Molecular Conjugates for Signal Amplification

    Subhash Dhawan (CBER/FDA), DHHS Reference No. E-136-02/0 filed 10 
Jun 2002, Licensing Contact: Susan Ano; 301/435-5515; [email protected].

    This invention relates to novel molecular conjugates that are 
applicable to the field of immunoassays and, in general, any probe 
assay requiring detection of an analyte. These molecular constructs are 
capable of enhancing test sensitivity and shortening assay time through 
the use of analyte-specific binding reagents associated with a multiple 
label scaffold. The invention can utilize a diversity of analyte-
binding molecules, providing adjustable selectivity for a range of 
analytes. Conversely, combination of labels with different chemical 
properties with a single binding partner facilitates a multiplex 
approach to analyte detection on a large scale. The invention includes 
kits and methods for production and use of the molecular conjugates.

Methods of Inducing Deacetylase Inhibitors To Promote Cell 
Differentiation and Regeneration

    Vittorrio Sartorelli (NIAMS) and Pier L. Puri, DHHS Reference No. 
E-353-01/0 filed 18 Oct 2001, Licensing Contact: Fatima Sayyid; 301/
435-4521; [email protected].

    The present invention discloses a method of enhancing progenitor 
cell differentiation, including enhancing myogenesis, neurogenesis and 
hematopoiesis, by contacting a progenitor cell with an effective amount 
of a deacetylase inhibitor (DI). The progenitor cell can be part of 
cell culture, such as a cell culture used for in vitro or in vivo 
analysis of progenitor cell differentiation, or can be part of an 
organism, such as a human or other mammal. Contacting the progenitor 
cell with a DI can lead to enhancement of expression of terminal cell-
type specific genes in the progenitor cell, such as enhancing 
expression of muscle-specific genes in myoblasts, and can lead to 
skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Administering a DI to a subject also can 
provide some prophylactic or therapeutic effect for inhibiting, 
preventing, or treating associated with a degeneration or loss of 
tissue. The DI can be administered to a subject as part of a 
pharmaceutical composition.

Fc[egr]RI-Bearing Human Mast Cell Lines

    Arnold Kirshenbaum, Cem Akin, Dean D. Metcalfe (NIAID), DHHS 
Reference No. E-279-01/0 filed 04 Feb 2002, Licensing Contact: Marlene 
Shinn; 301/435-4426; [email protected].

    Allergic diseases, which include asthma, are a significant health 
problem in the United States, with 15-25% of the population displaying 
some form of allergies. The mast cell is the major effector cell of 
allergic inflammation and has also been shown to be involved in delayed 
hypersensitivity reactions, fibrosis, autoimmune disorders, neoplasia, 
and immunity against parasitic infections. Most mast cell studies are 
currently performed using mast cells derived from cultured CD34+ 
progenitor cells, which is time consuming, costly, and produces a poor 
yield of cells.
    The NIH announces a number of newly derived mast cell lines that 
more closely resemble normal in vivo and in vitro human mast cells, 
which express functional Fc[egr]RI receptors and respond to Stem Cell 
Factor (SCF) with proliferation. It is well known that the most 
important means by which mast cells induce inflammation is by mediator 
release via Fc[egr]RI receptor cross-linking. These cell lines also 
release mediators by cross-linking of Fc[gamma]RI (CD64) receptors, and 
have been shown to express Fc[gamma]RII (CD32). It is anticipated that 
these cell lines will be useful in a variety of research projects 
including the development of drugs that block the release of potent 
mediators that cause allergic inflammation and the development of drugs 
to inhibit mast cell hyperplasia and dysmyelopoiesis in mastocytosis.

Thermolabile Hydroxyl Protecting Groups and Methods of Use

    Serge L. Beaucage et al. (FDA), DHHS Reference No. E-242-00/0 filed 
03 Dec 2001, Licensing Contact: Marlene Shinn; 301/435-4426; 
[email protected].

    Synthetic oligonucleotides can be used in a wide variety of 
settings, which aside from basic research tools include gene therapy 
applications, antisense and immunostimulatory therapeutic indications, 
and the rapidly evolving diagnostic and DNA sequencing microarray 
technology. The NIH announces a new technology aimed at improving 
oligonucleotide synthesis on glass microarrays. The technology is based 
on the use of thermolabile groups for 5'-/3'-hydroxyl protection of 
oligonucleotides and departs from the current methods employed in the 
preparation of oligonucleotide microarrays in that it does not utilize 
photochemical irradiation or abrasive chemicals for the removal of such 
protecting groups. Instead, thermal cleavage of 5'-/3'-hydroxyl 
protecting groups is effected at temperatures near 90[deg]C under mild 
neutral conditions to prevent glass surfaces from being harmed by harsh 
chemical reagents. In addition, thermolabile protecting groups could be 
useful in manufacturing synthetic oligonucleotides on solid supports or 
in solution. Thermolabile protecting groups may also be used to 
protect/deprotect drug functional groups under conditions that will not 
affect other functional entity(ies) on the molecule.

    Dated: October 24, 2002.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 02-27900 Filed 11-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P