[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 148 (Thursday, July 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44754-44755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17508]


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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.

Methods for Promoting Stem Cell Proliferation and Survival

    Description of Technology: Regenerative medicine has the potential 
to treat numerous human diseases and afflictions including 
neurodegenerative disorders and spinal cord injury that are typically 
insidious and worsen over time. This technology consists of a promising 
treatment method that coaxes stem cells into a state that promotes 
survival and proliferation. Two critical elements of this approach 
involve identifying the target niche and determining the 
pharmacological agents that can be used to promote stem cell 
regeneration.
    Specifically, this technology consists of a method to activate the 
endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) to promote their survival and yield 
using angiopoietin-2 and a cocktail of ligands and growth factors. This 
method has demonstrated that it can significantly improve the yield of 
stem cell cultures in vitro and stimulate behavioral recovery in a 
model of Parkinson's disease in vivo. This method is applicable to a 
variety of stem cell types including embryonic stem cells, adult spinal 
cord cells, and pericyctes from blood vessels.
    Possible Applications:
     Method for culturing stem cells for optimal regeneration.
     Treatment of neurological diseases and disorders such as 
Parkinson's disease, stroke, diabetes-related neuropathies, and spinal 
cord.
     Diagnostic assays to determine proliferation or inhibition 
of stem cells.
    Development Status: Pre-clinical.
    Inventors: Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis and Ronald D.G. McKay 
(NINDS).
    Relevant Publication: A Androutsellis-Theotokis, RR Leker, F 
Soldner, DJ Hoeppner, R Ravin, SW Poser, MA Rueger, SK Bae, R Kittappa, 
RD McKay. Notch signaling regulates stem cell numbers in vitro and in 
vivo. Nature. 2006 Aug 17;442(7104):823-826.
    Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/965,094 filed 16 
Aug 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-182-2007/0-US-01)
    Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Fatima Sayyid, M.H.P.M.; 301-435-4521; 
[email protected]
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of 
Neurological Disorders and Stroke is seeking statements of capability 
or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to 
further develop, evaluate, or commercialize agents with activity on 
proliferation and/or differentiation of stem cells. Please contact 
Laurie Arrants at 301-435-3112 or [email protected] or Martha 
Lubet at 301-435-3120 or [email protected] for more information.

Treatment of Alcoholism by Inhibition of the Neuropeptide Y Receptor

    Description of Technology: Aversive or anticraving medications are 
currently used to supplement behavioral treatment of alcohol 
dependence. However, there is a need for developing more effective 
medications than those available. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 
neurotransmitter known for increasing appetite and possibly having a 
role in alcohol preference and dependence. This is likely to be 
mediated by activation of the post-synaptic NPY-Y1 receptor, but 
developing molecules suitable for human therapeutics that activate that 
receptor represents a major challenge. Researchers at the NIH have now 
shown that administering antagonists of the presynaptic Y2 receptor of 
NPY decreases alcohol consumption and may be a valuable new treatment 
for alcoholism.
    Applications: Treatment of alcohol dependence.
    Market: In the United States, 17.6 million people--about l in every 
12 adults--abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. It is estimated that 
on any given day, more than 700,000 people in the United States receive 
alcoholism treatment. Consequently, billions of dollars are spent in 
the treatment, prevention, and support of persons suffering from 
alcoholism. Moreover, the economic loss attributed to alcohol abuse and 
alcoholism is in the trillions.
    Development Status: Early stage.
    Inventors: Markus Heilig (NIAAA) et al.
    Publications:
    1. R Rimondini et al. Suppression of ethanol self-administration by 
the neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 receptor antagonist BIIE0246: Evidence for 
sensitization in rats with a history of dependence. Neurosci Lett. 2005 
Feb 28;375(2):129-133.
    2. A Thorsell et al. Blockade of central neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 
receptors reduces ethanol self-administration in rats. Neurosci Lett. 
2002 Oct 25;332(1):1-4.
    Patent Status: U.S. Patent Application 10/492,785 filed 17 May 2004 
(HHS Reference No. E-101-2004/0-US-03); Swedish Patent Application 
0103476-8 filed 18 Oct 2001 (HHS Reference No. E-101-2004/0-SE-01)
    Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Norbert Pontzer, JD, PhD; 301-435-5502; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute on 
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Laboratory of Clinical and Translational 
Studies is seeking

[[Page 44755]]

statements of capability or interest from parties interested in 
collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize 
antagonism of presynaptic NPY Y2 receptors for treatment of alcohol 
dependence. Please contact Peter B. Silverman at [email protected] 
for more information.

    Dated: July 22, 2008.
Richard U. Rodriguez,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E8-17508 Filed 7-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P