[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2287-2288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-626]


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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.

Novel Benztropine Analogs for Treatment of Cocaine Abuse and Other 
Mental Disorders

    Description of Technology: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that 
exerts important effects on locomotor activity, motivation and reward, 
and cognition. The dopamine transporter (DAT) is expressed on the 
plasma membrane of dopamine synthesizing neurons, and is responsible 
for clearing dopamine released into the extra-cellular space, thereby 
regulating neurotransmission. The dopamine transporter plays a 
significant role in neurotoxicity and human diseases, such as 
Parkinson's disease, drug abuse (especially cocaine addiction), 
Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 
(ADD/ADHD), and a number of other CNS disorders. Therefore, the 
dopamine transporter is a strong target for research and the discovery 
of potential therapeutics for the treatment of these indications.
    This invention discloses novel benztropine analogs and methods of 
using these analogs for treatment of mental and conduct disorders such 
as cocaine abuse, narcolepsy, ADHD, obesity and nicotine abuse. The 
disclosed analogs are highly selective and potent inhibitors of DAT, 
but without an apparent cocaine-like behavioral profile. In addition to 
their use as a treatment for cocaine abuse, these compounds have also 
shown efficacy in animal models of ADHD and nicotine abuse, and have 
also been shown to reduce food intake in animals. They may also be 
useful medications for other indications where dopamine-related 
behavior is compromised, such as alcohol addiction, tobacco addiction, 
and Parkinson's disease.
    Applications: Drug leads for treatment of cocaine abuse, ADHD, 
nicotine abuse, obesity, and other dopamine-related disorders; Imaging 
probes for dopamine transporter binding sites.
    Development Status: Pre-clinical data are available.
    Inventors: Amy H. Newman, Mu-fa Zou, and Jonathan L. Katz (NIDA).
    Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/710,956 filed 24 
Aug 2005 (HHS Reference No. E-234-2005/0-US-01); PCT Application No. 
PCT/US2006/33103 filed 24 Aug 2006 (HHS Reference No. E-234-2005/1-PCT-
01 and HHS Reference No. E-129-2006/0).
    Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or nonexclusive 
licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Tara Kirby, Ph.D.; 301/435-4426; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The Medicinal Chemistry and 
Psychobiology Sections, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural 
Research Program, National Institutes of Health, is seeking statements 
of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative 
research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize medications to 
treat cocaine abuse and addiction. Please contact John D. Hewes, Ph.D. 
at 301/435-3121 or [email protected] for more information.

Protein Arginine N-methyltransferase 2 (PRMT-2), a Modulator of 
NF[Kappa]B, E2F1, and STAT3 Activity

    Description of Technology: Protein-arginine methyltransferases 
(PRMTs) contain methyltransferase domains that modify chromatin and 
regulate cellular transcription through the post-translational 
methylation of arginine residues on the guanidine group of target 
proteins. Members of this family have roles in RNA processing, 
transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, and DNA repair. Until 
recently, the functional significance of one member of this family, 
PRMT-2, was unknown.
    Researchers at NHLBI, led by Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, have elucidated 
the role of PRMT-2. They have found that PRMT-2 modulates the activity 
of NF[Kappa]B, E2F1, and STAT3. PRMT-2 inhibits NF[Kappa]B dependent 
transcription, and therefore PRMT-2 has a role in modulating 
inflammation and the immune response. Also, PRMT-2 proteins can repress 
E2F1 transcriptional activity and cause cell cycle arrest, and thus may 
be used to treat or prevent cancer. PRMT-2 also methylates STAT3, and 
inhibition or loss of PRMT-2 function causes mammals to lose weight, 
eat less and become more sensitive to insulin.
    The invention describes methods of modulating PRMT-2 activity or 
expression in cells. These methods can be used to inhibit the function 
of NF?B, E2F1 and STAT3 for treatment of a number of disorders, 
including inflammation, cancer, and diabetes.
    Applications: Target for treatment and study of a number of 
disorders, including:
    Diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome diseases; Inflammation and 
immune response-related disorders; Cancer.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Nabel (NHLBI), Hiroaki Iwasaki (NHLBI), 
Takanobu Yoshimoto (NHLBI), and Gary Nabel (NIAID).
    Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/466,751 filed 30 
April 2003 (HHS Reference No. E-190-2003/0-US-01); PCT Application No. 
PCT2004/013375 filed 30 April 2004, which published as WO 2004/098634 
on 18 Nov 2004 (HHS Reference No. E-190-2003/0-PCT-02); U.S. 
Application No. 11/263,657 filed 31 Oct 2005, which published as WO 
2006/0239990 on 26

[[Page 2288]]

Oct 2006 (HHS Reference No. E-190-2003/0-US-04).
    Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or nonexclusive 
licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Tara Kirby, Ph.D.; 301/435-4426; 
[email protected].

Methods for Assaying Hair Follicle Growth and Development

    Description of Technology: Methods of culturing functionally-intact 
hair follicles in a collagen matrix are useful for screening baldness 
treatments and the quantification and study of the effects of agents on 
hair follicle growth. This technology describes techniques for 
measuring cell proliferation or for measuring secretion of 
collagenolytic factors, incorporating a three-dimensional hair follicle 
culture system. Collagenolytic activity is essential for downgrowth of 
hair follicles during anagen. One described method measures the effects 
of a growth factor or pharmaceutical compound on cell proliferation, 
utilizing the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA of cultured 
hair follicles. Also described is a method to measure the effect of 
growth factors on the release of collagenolytic factors, utilizing 
tritiated collagen or a fluorescent marker.
    Applications: Assays for screening drugs or growth factors that may 
stimulate hair growth; Assays measuring the DNA synthesis and 
collagenase-secreting activity of hair follicles.
    Market: An estimated 40 million men and 20 million women suffer 
from hair loss; The market size for hair restoration procedures in the 
United States is approximately $800 million.
    Inventor: Stuart H. Yuspa (NCI).
    Publications:
    1. G Rogers, N Martinet, P Steinert, P Wynn, D Roop, A Kilkenny, D 
Morgan, SH Yuspa. Cultivation of murine hair follicles as organoids in 
a collagen matrix. J Invest Dermatol. 1987 Oct;89(4):369-379.
    2. W Weinberg, P Brown, WG Stetler-Stevenson, SH Yuspa, Growth 
factors specifically alter hair follicle cell proliferation and 
collagenolytic activity alone or in combination. Differentiation. 1990 
Dec;45(3):168-178.
    Patent Status: U.S. Patent No. 5,616,471 issued 01 Apr 1997 (HHS 
Reference No. E-213-1987/1-US-01).
    Licensing Status: Available for nonexclusive licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Tara Kirby, Ph.D.; 301/435-4426; 
[email protected].

    Dated: January 9, 2007.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
 [FR Doc. E7-626 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P