[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 3156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1258]


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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 an agency 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.

Inhibitors of Formation of Protease Resistant Prion Protein

    Bruce Chesebro, Byron Caughey, Joelle Chabry, Susette Priola 
(NIAID). U.S. Patent 6,211,149 issued on 03 Apr 2001 (DHHS Reference 
No. E-189-1998/0-US-02); U.S. Patent 6,355,610 issued on 12 Mar 2002 
(DHHS Reference No. E-189-1998/0-US-03); U.S. Patent Application No. 
10/096,080 filed 11 Mar 2002 (DHHS Reference No. E-189-1998/0-US-04).
    Licensing Contact: Michael Ambrose; 301/594-6565; 
[email protected].
    Protease-resistant prion proteins are actively associated with 
various transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). These include 
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and Bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy (``mad cow disease'') in cattle.
    The present invention discloses proprietary peptides and potential 
pharmaceutical compositions using such peptides that inhibit the 
formation of protease-resistant prion protein aggregates. These 
aggregates develop into amyloid deposits in the brain of affected 
patients, leading to the development of the spongiform encephalopathy. 
The peptides, when used in vitro inhibit such aggregation. Furthermore, 
when used in pharmaceutical compositions and medically relevant 
dosages, may be used for therapies for TSEs.

Inhibitors of Amyloid Formation

    Winslow S. Caughey, Byron Caughey, Lynne D. Raymond, Motohiro 
Horiuchi (NIAID). U.S. Patent 6,632,808 issued on 14 Oct 2003 (DHHS 
Reference No. E-205-1998/0-US-03).
    Licensing Contact: Michael Ambrose; 301/594-6565; 
[email protected].
    This invention discloses methods, compounds and compositions for 
therapeutic treatment of amyloidogenic diseases, like Alzheimer's 
disease, type 2 diabetes and, particularly, transmissible spongiform 
encephalopathies (prion diseases) such as CJD, Kuru in humans and BSE 
(``Mad Cow Disease'') in cattle.
    The invention is based on the findings that cyclic tetrapyrroles 
and derivatives inhibit the formation of protease-resistant prion 
protein (PrP-res) the pathologic, amyloidogenic protein aggregates of 
the prion diseases. These methods and compounds have the potential for 
the development of pharmaceutical therapies for the treatment and 
prevention of progression of such TSEs.

Inhibition of Diseases Associated With Amyloid Formation

    Byron Caughey, Richard E. Race (NIAID).
    U.S. Patent 5,276,059 issued on 04 Jan 1994 (DHHS Reference No. E-
107-1992/0-US-01).
    Licensing Contact: Michael Ambrose; 301/594-6565; 
[email protected].
    Amyloid deposition in brain samples is diagnostic for several 
serious and fatal diseases. These include Alzheimer's disease as well 
as several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (prion diseases) 
such as CJD and BSE (``Mad Cow Disease''). Together, these diseases 
having amyloid depositions are termed amyloidogenic diseases.
    This invention covers and discloses the method and compositions of 
using Congo Red in the treatment of such amyloidogenic diseases. Congo 
Red is shown to inhibit the accumulation of PrP-res, the amyloidogenic 
and pathologic protein or the transmissible spongiform 
encephalopathies. The potential therapeutics covered by this invention 
includes Congo Red and its derivatives.

    Dated: January 14, 2004.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 04-1258 Filed 1-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P