[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63111-63112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28054]


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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 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 companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent 
application 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 application.

Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin, an Antimicrobial Protein With 
Ribonuclease Activity, Is an Immunostimulant

De Yang et al. (NCI).
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/466,797 and 60/466,796, 
filed 29 Apr 2003 (DHHS Reference Nos. E-175-2003/0-US-01 and E-191-
2003/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Brenda Hefti; 301/435-4632; [email protected].

    Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) has in vitro anti-viral 
activity that is dependent on its ribonuclease activity. This invention 
discloses that EDN is a selective chemoattractant and activator of 
dendritic cells, resulting in dendritic

[[Page 63112]]

cell migration, maturation, and a production of a wide variety of 
cytokines. Based on these potent chemotactic and activating effects on 
dendritic cells, EDN might be useful as a clinical immunoadjuvant for 
the promotion of immune responses to specific antigens of tumors or 
pathogenic organisms.

Protein Kinase C Inhibitor, Related Composition, and Method of Use

Shaomeng Wang, Peter Blumberg (NCI), Nancy Lewin (NCI).
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/451,214 filed 28 Feb 2003 
(DHHS Reference No. E-073-2003/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Brenda Hefti; 301/435-4632; [email protected].

    Protein kinase C is a critical component in cellular signaling, 
involved in cellular growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. It has 
been identified as a promising therapeutic target for cancer, diabetic 
retinopathy, and Alzheimer's disease, among other indications.
    This invention relates to lead compounds that can inhibit protein 
kinase C isoforms through disruption of their C1 domains. The inventors 
also found that these compounds possess isoform selectivity, an 
important feature for therapeutic specificity. Finally, although the 
disclosed compounds are previously known molecules, novel structures 
are described in the invention that have further improved specificity.

Applications for the HMGN1 Pathway

Michael Bustin (NCI).
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/455,728 filed 17 Mar 2003 
(DHHS Reference No. E-208-2002/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Brenda Hefti; 301/435-4632; [email protected].

    HMGN1 is a protein that binds to nucleosomes, changes chromatin 
structure and affects transcription, and the expression of this protein 
changes during differentiation. Mice lacking this protein have 
increased growth capacity of several skin components, including 
epidermis, epidermal appendages, and dermis. Conceivably, this change 
could be related to an alteration of stem cell differentiation or to 
cell cycling events. The current invention relates to interference with 
this pathway, which might lead to increased stem cell differentiation 
and increased hair cycling and growth in humans as well. This invention 
might be useful to increase hair growth, enhance wound healing for 
epidermal and dermal wounds, and enhance stem cell populations for 
tissue regeneration, gene targeting, or gene therapeutic indications.

Novel Stable Anti-CD22 Antibodies

Susanna Rybak, Juergen Krauss, Michaela Arndt (NCI).
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/387,306 filed 06 Jun 2002 (DHHS 
Reference No. E-055-2002/0-US-01); PCT Patent Application PCT/US03/
18201 filed 06 Jun 2003 (DHHS Reference No. E-055-2002/0-PCT-02).
Licensing Contact: Brenda Hefti; 301/435-4632; [email protected].

    The current invention relates to engineered LL2 single chain 
antibodies possessing improved and/or unexpected properties. The first 
embodiment includes engineered single chain antibodies that have 
enhanced stability. Specific VH and VL residues were identified which 
might contribute to the instability, and these were substituted to 
create scFv variants with improved stability and biological half-life. 
In the second embodiment, an LL2 single chain Fv antibody was 
engineered with no linker between the VH and VL sequences. The antibody 
exhibited the surprising property of acting as a monomer (rather than a 
trimer or tetramer) and retained specific binding to CD22. This 
invention might be useful as a general method to produce therapeutic 
antibodies or immunoconjugates more easily, and for such antibodies or 
immunoconjugates to be more stable in vivo.

    Dated: October 30, 2003.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 03-28054 Filed 11-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P