[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 129 (Thursday, July 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38228-38230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15178]


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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.

[[Page 38229]]

Tendon Stem Cells

    Description of Technology: Tendon injuries due to trauma and 
overuse are common clinical problems that result in significant pain 
and loss of mobility. Tendon injuries are slow to heal and the healed 
tendon rarely matches the original in mechanical strength and 
structural integrity. Due to a limited understanding of basic tendon 
biology, development of new treatment options for injured tendons has 
posed significant challenges.
    This invention relates to a cell based therapy. Specifically, it 
relates to the isolation and enrichment of stem cells from adult 
tendons, known as tendon stem progenitor cells, that can form tendon 
structures and are capable of integrating into bones to form enthesis-
like structures. Two extra-cellular matrix proteoglycans, biglycan and 
fibromodulin, further assist in the maintenance and multiplication of 
these tendon stem cells.
    Applications:
    Treatment of damaged tendons that are slow to repair after injury.
    May remedy other pathological conditions that are caused by ectopic 
calcification such as ectopic calcification that occurs around 
artificial heart valves or that develops in the rare inherited disease, 
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP).
    Development Status: Early stage.
    Inventors: Marian Young et al. (NIDCR).
    Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/934,606 filed 14 
Jun 2007 (HHS Reference No: E-233-2007/0-US-01).
    Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Fatima Sayyid, M.H.P.M.; 301-435-4521; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIDCR, Molecular Biology of 
Bones and Teeth Section is seeking statements of capability or interest 
from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, 
evaluate, or commercialize the use of tendon stem cells. Please contact 
Marian Young at 301-496-8860 or [email protected].

A2 Adenosine Receptor Agonists

    Description of Technology: Four adenosine receptor subtypes exist, 
namely A1, A2A, A2B and A3, each with different functions, tissue 
distributions and ligand coupling abilities. While activation of A2B AR 
can induce angiogenesis, reduce vascular permeabilization, increase 
production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, increase chloride 
secretion in epithelial cells or increase release of inflammatory 
mediators from human and canine mast cells, there still remains a need 
for A2B receptor agonists for clinical use.
    Recognizing that an unmet medical need exists, the inventors 
synthesized an assortment of adenosine derivatives with the goal of 
preparing highly potent and selective A2B receptor agonists. They 
identified a compound as a full agonist at the A2A and A2B adenosine 
receptors, capable of reducing infarct size in rabbit hearts induced by 
30 minutes of ischemia. As activation of A2A and A2B receptors induces 
a cardioprotective effect and this compound activates both A2A and A2B 
receptors, this compound may be beneficial for protecting against 
myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
    Available for licensing and commercial development are compositions 
and methods of use of A2 adenosine receptor (AR) agonists for treating 
conditions modulated by A2A and A2B ARs including myocardial ischemia, 
reperfusion injury, cystic fibrosis, erectile dysfunction, 
inflammation, restenosis and septic shock.
    Applications:
    Potential treatment for heart attacks.
    Potential treatment of septic shock, cystic fibrosis and erectile 
dysfunction.
    Potential treatment for medical conditions that would benefit from 
changes in vascular tone.
    Market: Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the 
United States, and the most frequent cause of hospital admission for 
patients over 65 years of age.
    Development Status: Early-stage of development.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Jacobson et al. (NIDDK).
    Patent Status:
    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/947,066 filed 29 Jun 2007 (HHS 
Reference No. E-218-2007/0-US-01).
    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/950,250 filed 17 Jul 2007 (HHS 
Reference No. E-218-2007/1-US-01).
    Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Charlene A. Sydnor, PhD.; 301-435-4689; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIDDK Laboratory of 
Bioorganic Chemistry is seeking statements of capability or interest 
from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, 
evaluate, or commercialize A2A and A2B adenosine 
receptor agonists. Please contact Rochelle S. Blaustein at 301-451-3636 
or [email protected] for more information.

Therapeutic Application of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Inhibitors

    Description of Technology: The enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase 
(FAAH) is responsible for the degradation of the lipid anandamide. This 
is a cannabinoid naturally secreted from both the brain and body. 
Cannabinoid receptors mediate blood pressure, pain sensation, hunger 
and anxiety among other actions. Drugs inhibiting FAAH increase 
cannabinoid receptor activity in a manner distinct from cannabinoid 
agonists to treat hypertension, relieve pain or have other therapeutic 
effect with lessened side effects.
    Applications:
    Treat hypertension and accompanying cardiac hypertrophy.
    Treatment of anxiety.
    Treatment of glaucoma.
    As a pain reliever or sleep aid.
    Market:
    It is estimated that nearly a third of U.S. adults have high blood 
pressure. Despite the lack of symptoms, treatment is imperative. People 
with untreated high blood pressure have an increased chance of 
developing stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure.
    The forecast of the world hypertension market is that it will grow 
to nearly $30 billion per year by 2010.
    Development Status: Pre-clinical data available.
    Inventors: George Kunos (NIAAA) et al.
    Publication: B[aacute]tkai S, Pacher P, Osei-Hyiaman D, Radaeva S, 
Liu J, Harvey-White J, Offert[aacute]ler L, Mackie K, Rudd MA, Bukoski 
RD, Kunos G. Endocannabinoids acting at cannabinoid-1 receptors 
regulate cardiovascular function in hypertension. Circulation. 2004 Oct 
5;110(14):1996-2002.
    Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/998,661 filed 12 
Dec 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-211-2006/0-US-01).
    Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive 
licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Norbert Pontzer, J.D., PhD.; 301-435-5502; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIAAA Laboratory of 
Physiologic Studies is seeking statements of capability or interest 
from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, 
evaluate, or commercialize fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors. 
Please contact Peter B. Silverman ([email protected]) for more 
information.


[[Page 38230]]


    Dated: June 27, 2008.
Richard U. Rodriguez,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E8-15178 Filed 7-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P