[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 43 (Monday, March 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11215-11216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2098]


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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 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.

Deoxyhypusine Hydroxylase

Myung Hee Park et al. (NIDCR)

    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/748,879 filed 09 Dec 2005 (HHS 
Reference No. E-051-2006/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: John Stansberry; 301/435-5236; 
[email protected].

    Translation initiation factor eIF5A is a highly conserved 
eukaryotic protein. One of its lysine residues is enzymatically 
modified, using spermidine, to form an unusual amino acid, hypusine, a 
posttranslational modification unique to eIF-5A. This eukaryotic 
initiation factor (eIF5A) and its hypusine modification are essential 
for mammalian cell proliferation. Inventors at the National Institutes 
of Health have recently cloned and characterized the enzyme 
deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH) that catalyzes the final step in the 
modification of eIF5A. The inventors have characterized and cloned both 
the yeast and human recombinant versions of this enzyme.
    Studies have shown that metal chelating compounds like deferiprone 
and ciclopirox olamine that inhibit DOHH activity in cells also inhibit 
HIV-1 replication in cell culture. These findings suggest potential 
utility of DOHH as a novel target for anti-cancer and anti-retroviral 
therapy. These advances could also conceivably lead to the development 
of small molecule inhibitors that bind to specific sites in the enzyme.
    In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further 
development through collaborative research opportunities with the 
inventors.

Methods of Treating Cancer Using Pyridine Carboxaldehyde Pyridine 
Thiosemicarbazone Radiosensitizing Agents

Philip J. Tofilon et al. (NCI)

    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/718,172 filed 16 Sep 2005 (HHS 
Ref. No. E-319-2005/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: George G. Pipia; 301/435-5560; [email protected].

    Ribonucleotide reductase is the rate-limiting enzyme of de novo DNA 
synthesis. The enzyme is composed of two homodimer subunits, hRRM1 and 
hRRM2. Hydroxyurea, a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor, is commonly 
used in conjunction with radiotherapy but it its efficacy as shown in 
many chemoradiation trials is limited. Triapine (2-carboxyaldehyde 
pyridine thiosemicarbazone), a novel ribonucleotide reductase 
inhibitor, exhibits sensitivity to the subunit hRRM2 and inhibits 
ribonucleotide reductase more effectively when compared to hydroxyurea, 
thus imparting a radiosensitizing effect.
    This present invention provides methods of preventing DNA synthesis 
and DNA repair after exposing cells to ionizing radiation. The present 
invention further provides methods of treating cancer and other tumors 
by coadministration of a radiosensitizing amount of Triapine and 
ionizing radiation.

Methods and Compositions for Treating FUS1 Related Disorders

Michael I. Lerman et al. (NCI)
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/697,596 filed 07 Jul 2005 (HHS 
Reference No. E-137-2005/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Thomas Clouse; 301/435-4076; [email protected].

    The FUS1 gene residing in the 3p21.3 chromosome region may function 
as a tumor suppressor gene. Results show that FUS1 null mutants show 
consistent changes in NK cells and secreted antibodies, suggesting that 
FUS1 plays an important role in the development and activation of the 
mammalian immune system. The invention relates to methods, systems and 
transgenic animals useful for screening, diagnosing and treating FUS1 
related disorders. Interestingly, targeted disruption of FUS1 gene in 
mice resulted in a viable and fertile phenotype.
    Possible uses of this invention include using the FUS1 protein to 
modulate and boost the immune system in diseases like cancer and AIDS. 
Also, the cDNA and the corresponding protein are small and the 
applications could include gene therapy with

[[Page 11216]]

appropriate vectors and protein transduction technology.

    Dated: February 28, 2006.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 06-2098 Filed 3-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P