[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 86 (Friday, May 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25320-25322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8500]


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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.

Method for Predicting and Detecting Tumor Metastasis

    Description of Technology: Detecting cancer prior to metastasis 
greatly increases the efficacy of treatment and the chances of patient 
survival. Although numerous biomarkers have been reported to identify 
aggressive tumor types and predict prognosis, each biomarker is 
specific for a particular type of cancer, and no universal marker that 
can predict metastasis in a number of cancers have been identified. In 
addition, due to a lack of reliability, several markers are typically 
required to determine the prognosis and course of therapy.
    Available for licensing are carboxypeptidase E (CPE) inhibitor 
compositions and methods to progonose and treat cancer as well as 
methods to determine the stage of cancer. The inventors discovered that 
CPE expression levels increase according to the presence of cancer and 
metastasis wherein CPE is upregulated in tumors and CPE levels are 
further increased in metastatic cancer. This data has been demonstrated 
both in vitro and in vivo experiments and in liver, breast, prostate, 
colon, and head and neck cancers. Metastatic liver cells treated with 
CPE siRNA reversed the cells from being metastatic and arrested cells 
from further metastasis. Thus, CPE as a biomarker for predicting 
metastasis and its inhibitors have an enormous potential to increase 
patient survival.
    Applications:
    1. Method to prognose multiple types of cancer and determine 
likelihood of metastasis.
    2. Compositions that inhibit CPE such as siRNA.
    3. Method to prevent and treat cancer with CPE inhibitors.
    Market:
    1. 600,000 cancer related deaths in 2006;
    2. Global cancer market is worth more than eight percent of total 
global pharmaceutical sales;
    3. Cancer industry is predicted to expand to $85.3 billion by 2010.
    Development Status: The technology is currently in the pre-clinical 
stage of development.
    Inventors: Y. Peng Loh (NICHD) et al.
    Publication: Manuscript in preparation.
    Patent Status:
    1. U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/885,809 filed 19 Jan 2007 
(HHS Reference No. E-096-2007/0-US-01)
    2. U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/887,061 filed 29 Jan 2007 
(HHS Reference No. E-096-2007/1-US-01)

[[Page 25321]]

    3. U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/895,912 filed 20 Mar 2007 
(HHS Reference No. E-096-2007/2-US-01)
    Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive 
licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Jennifer Wong; 301/435-4633; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute for 
Child Health and Human Development, Section on Cellular Neurobiology, 
is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested 
in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or 
commercialize CPE as a biomarker for predicting metastasis. Please 
contact John D. Hewes, Ph.D. at 301-435-3121 or [email protected] for 
more information.

Novel Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Various Hematologic 
Malignancies: Monoclonal Antibodies to Members of Fc receptor-like 
(FCRL) Proteins

    Description of Technology: Fc receptor-like (FCRL) is a gene family 
homologous to Fc receptors (alternative names, FcRH, IRTA, IFGP, SPAP). 
FCRL1-6 genes are located on human chromosome 1, where translocations 
and other abnormalities are frequently observed in certain B-cell 
lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Previous studies suggests that the FCRL 
proteins are differently expressed on various malignant cells from B-
linage cells as well as normal B cells in different stage of the 
differentiation in adaptive immunity. Although the natural ligands are 
not known, FCRL proteins likely play roles in regulation of immunity. 
The members of the immunoglobulin superfamily receptor translocation 
associated (IRTA) genes 1-6 encode proteins homologous to Fc receptors. 
Previous studies suggest that each IRTA may play a different role in B-
cell differentiation and immune responses. FCRL1-6 proteins possess 3-9 
extracellular immunoglobulin (Ig) domains, each of which exhibits a 
substantial homology to the same subtypes of Ig domains (up to 86% 
identity). Consequently there are some epitopes shared by FCRL1-6 
extracellular domains evidenced by the presence of many cross-reactive 
monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with FCRL1-6. The invention relates to the 
development of novel MAbs specific to each members of the FCRL 
proteins, which show no cross-reactivity with other FCRL members. These 
antibodies could be used for studies on detailed expression studies of 
FCRLs in different cancer cells and on potential therapeutic use for 
FCRL-expressing hematological malignancies.
    Applications and Modality:
    1. Novel monoclonal antibodies to FCRL family members can help 
diagnose and treat B cell malignancies and RA.
    2. The antibodies can be used as research tools to detect cellular 
expression of FCRLs.
    Advantage: Monoclonal antibody clones are available that are 
specific to one member of the FCRL family with no cross-reactivity to 
other members.
    Development Status: The technology is in pre-clinical stage of 
development.
    Inventors: Ira Pastan (NCI) et al.
    Publications:
    1. A manuscript directly related to this technology will be 
available as soon as it is accepted for publication.
    2. T Ise, H Maeda, K Santora, L Xiang, RJ Kreitman, I Pastan, S 
Nagata. Immunoglobulin superfamily receptor translocation associated 2 
protein on lymphoma cell lines and hairy cell leukemia cells detected 
by novel monoclonal antibodies. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Jan 1;11(1):87-
96.
    3. T Ise, RJ Kreitman, I Pastan, S Nagata. Sandwich ELISAs for 
soluble immunoglobulin superfamily receptor translocation-associated 2 
(IRTA2)/FcRH5 (CD307) proteins in human sera. Clin Chem Lab Med. 
2006;44(5):594-602.
    4. T Ise, S Nagata, RJ Kreitman, WH Wilson, AS Wayne, M Stetler-
Stevenson, MR Bishop, DA Scheinberg, L Rassenti, TJ Kipps, RA Kyle, DF 
Jelinek, I Pastan. Elevation of soluble CD307 (IRTA2/FcRH5) protein in 
the blood and expression on malignant cells of patients with multiple 
myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and mantle cell lymphoma. 
Leukemia. 2007 Jan;21(1):169-174. Epub 2006 Oct 19.
    Patent Status:
    1. U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/891,434, filed 23 Feb 2007, 
entitled ``Antibodies That Specifically Bind IRTA and Methods of Use'' 
(HHS Reference No. E-016-2006/0-US-01)
    2. PCT Application No. PCT/US2005/034444 filed 22 Sep 2005, 
entitled ``IRTA2 Antibodies and Methods of Use,'' which published as WO 
2006/039238 on 25 Jan 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-287-2004/1-PCT-01)
    3. U.S. Patent Application filed 28 Mar 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-
287-2004/1-US-02)
    Licensing Status: Available for exclusive and non-exclusive 
licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Jesse S. Kindra, J.D.; 301-435-5559; 
[email protected].

High Speed Parallel Molecular Nucleic Acid Sequencing

    Description of Technology: Available for licensing and commercial 
development is a new system, methods and compositions for DNA 
sequencing, also known as Two Dye Sequencing (TDS). This invention is 
based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), a technology 
increasingly in use for several molecular analysis purposes. In 
particular, the method consists of:
    (1) Attachment of engineered DNA polymerases labeled with a donor 
fluorophore to the surface (chamber) of a microscope field of view;
    (2) Addition to the chamber of DNA with an annealed oligonucleotide 
primer, which is bound by the polymerase;
    (3) Further addition of four nucleotide triphosphates, each labeled 
on the base with a different fluorescent acceptor dye;
    (4) Excitation of the donor fluorophore with light of a wavelength 
specific for the donor but not for any of the acceptors, resulting in 
the transfer of the energy associated with the excited state of the 
donor to the acceptor fluorophore for a given nucleotide, which is then 
radiated via FRET;
    (5) Identification of the nucleotides most recently added to the 
primer by recording the fluorescent spectrum of the individual dye 
molecules at specific locations in the microscope field, and
    (6) Converting the sequential spectrum into a DNA sequence for each 
DNA molecule in the microscope field of view.
    Application: Sequencing of single nucleic acid molecules on a 
substrate.
    Development Status: Early stage of development.
    Inventors: Thomas Schneider and Denise Rubens (NCI).
    Patent Status: U.S. Patent No. 6,982,146 issued 03 Jan 2006 (HHS 
Reference No. E-033-1999/0-US-03); U.S. Patent Application No. 11/
204,367 filed 12 Aug 2005 (HHS Reference No. E-033-1999/0-US-04)
    Licensing Status: Available for co-exclusive licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Cristina Thalhammer-Reyero, PhD, M.B.A.; 301/
435-4507; [email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NCI Nanobiology Program is 
seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in 
collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize 
nanoscale or molecular nucleic acid sequencing. Please contact John D. 
Hewes, PhD at 301-435-3121 or [email protected] for more information.

[[Page 25322]]

Peptide Inhibitors of Fibronectin and Related Collagen-Binding Proteins

    Description of Technology: Fibronectin has been implicated in a 
variety of cell contact processes, including cell attachment and 
migration. Fibronectin interacts with collagen through its gelatin-
binding domain and this interaction is fundamental to the organization 
of extracellular matrices and the behavior of these cells on 
substrates. Fibronectin is essential for the attachment and migration 
of many cells, including various tumor and cancer cells.
    The issued patents disclose peptide compositions having binding 
affinity for fibronectin, as well as methods for binding fibronectin 
with a fibronectin-binding peptide and methods for inhibiting 
fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion. The peptides disclosed are derived 
from the extracellular matrix protein thrombospondin, which is a 
modular adhesive glycoprotein that binds to the gelatin binding domain 
of fibronectin. These peptides are strong inhibitors of fibronectin-
mediated cell adhesion. As such, they may be applicable to a variety of 
indications including cancer, wound healing, and connective tissue 
diseases.
    Applications:
    1. Potential therapeutic use for applications such as cancer, wound 
healing, and connective tissue disease.
    2. Research tools for study of cell adhesion and migration 
processes.
    Inventors: David D. Roberts et al. (NCI)
    Related Publications:
    1. JM Sipes, N Guo, E N[egrave]gre, T Vogel, HC Krutzsch, DD 
Roberts. Inhibition of fibronectin binding and fibronectin-mediated 
cell adhesion to collagen by a peptide from the second type I repeat of 
thrombospondin. J Cell Biol. 1993 Apr;121(2):469-477.
    2. S Schultz-Cherry, H Chen, DF Mosher, TM Misenheimer, HC 
Krutzsch, DD Roberts, JE Murphy-Ullrich. Regulation of TGFbeta activity 
by peptides from the type I repeats of thrombospondin-1. J Biol Chem. 
1995 Mar 31;270(13):7304-7310.
    3. C Daniel, J Wiede, Y Takabatake, M Mizui, Y Isaka, E Imai, H 
Rupprecht, E Schulze-Lohoff, HC Krutzsch, SMF Ribeiro, DD Roberts, JE 
Murphy-Ullrich, C Hugo. Thrombospondin-1 is a major activator of 
TGFbeta in fibrotic renal disease in the rat in vivo. Kidney Int. 2004 
Feb;65(2):459-468.
    Patent Status:
    1. U.S. Patent No. 5,491,130 issued 13 Feb 1996 (HHS Reference No. 
E-219-1992/0-US-01).
    2. U.S. Patent No. 5,849,701 issued 15 Dec 1998 (HHS Reference No. 
E-219-1992/0-US-10).
    3. Foreign counterparts issued in Australia, Great Britain, France, 
Germany, and Japan.
    Related Technologies:
    1. Heparin- and Sulfatide-Binding Peptides From the Type I Repeats 
of Human Thrombospondin.
    a. U.S. Patent No. 5,357,041 issued 18 Oct 1994 (HHS Reference No. 
E-198-1991/0-US-01);
    b. U.S. Patent No. 5,770,563 issued 23 Jun 1998 (HHS Reference No. 
E-198-1991/2-US-01);
    c. U.S. Patent No. 6,051,549 issued 18 Apr 2000 (HHS Reference No. 
E-198-1991/2-US-03); and
    d. foreign counterparts.
    2. Compositions for Stimulating TGF Activity.
    a. U.S. Patent No. 6,384,189 issued 07 May 2003 (HHS Reference No. 
E-019-1994/1-US-02)
    Licensing Availability: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive 
licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Tara Kirby, PhD; 301/435-4426; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute, 
Laboratory of Pathology, is seeking statements of capability or 
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further 
develop, evaluate, or commercialize these peptides. Please contact John 
D. Hewes, Ph.D. at (301) 435-3121 or [email protected] for more 
information.

    Dated: April 27, 2007.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E7-8500 Filed 5-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P