[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 15996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7883]


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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.

Substituted Triazine and Purine Compounds for the Treatment of Chagas 
Disease and African Trypanosomiasis

    Description of Invention: Parasitic protozoa are responsible for a 
wide variety of infections in both humans and animals. Trypanosomiasis 
poses health risks to millions of people across multiple countries in 
Africa and North and South America. Visitors to these regions, such as 
business travelers and tourists, are also at risk for contracting 
parasitic diseases. There are two types of African trypanosomiasis, 
also known as sleeping sickness. One type is caused by the parasite 
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, and the other is caused by the parasite 
Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiensi. If left untreated, African sleeping 
sickness results in death. Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi 
(T. cruzi), affects millions of people in Mexico and South and Central 
America. Untreated, Chagas disease causes decreased life expectancy and 
can also result in death.
    The subject invention provides for novel triazine and purine 
compounds that are useful for the treatment and prevention of mammalian 
protozoal diseases, including African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease 
and other opportunistic infections. The compounds can inhibit the 
cysteine proteases rhodesain found in the parasites that cause African 
trypanosomiasis and cruzain found in T. cruzi. The invention includes 
composition claims for the novel triazine and purine compounds, methods 
for inhibiting cruzain or rhodesain in a subject, and methods for 
treating subjects suffering from African trypanosomiasis or Chagas 
disease.
    Applications: Prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of African 
trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease.
    Advantages: Novel compounds against the cysteine proteases, cruzain 
and rhodesain; Compounds possess low nanomolar inhibitory potential 
against cruzain and rhodesain.
    Development Status: In vitro and in vivo data are available upon 
request and upon execution of an appropriate confidentiality agreement.
    Inventors: Craig J. Thomas et al. (NHGRI).
    Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/199,763 filed 19 
Nov 2008 (HHS Reference No. E-267-2008/0-US-01).
    Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Kevin W. Chang, Ph.D.; 301-435-5018; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIH Chemical Genomics 
Center (NCGC) is seeking statements of capability or interest from 
parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, 
evaluate, or commercialize appropriate lead compounds described in U.S. 
Provisional Application No. 61/199,763. Please contact Dr. Craig J. 
Thomas ([email protected]) or Claire Driscoll 
([email protected]), Director of the NHGRI Technology Transfer 
Office, for more information.

Improved Expression Vectors for Mammalian Use

    Description of Invention: This technology relates to improving 
levels of gene expression using a combination of a constitutive RNA 
transport element (CTE) with a mutant form of another RNA transport 
element (RTE). The combination of these elements results in a 
synergistic effect on stability of mRNA transcripts, which in turn 
leads to increased expression levels. Using HIV-1 gag as reporter mRNA, 
one mutated RTE in combination with a CTE was found to improve 
expression of unstable mRNA by about 500-fold. Similarly this 
combination of elements led to synergistically elevated levels of HIV-1 
Env expression. The function of CTEs and RTEs is conserved in mammalian 
cells, so this technology is a simple and useful way of obtaining high 
levels of expression of otherwise poorly expressed genes and can be 
used in a number of applications such as but not limited to 
improvements of gene therapy vectors, expression vectors for mammalian 
cells.
    Applications: Gene therapy; DNA vaccines; Protein expression.
    Development Status: In vitro data available.
    Inventor: Barbara K. Felber et al. (NCI).
    Patent Status: U.S. Utility Application No. 10/557,129 filed 16 Nov 
2005, from PCT Application No. PCT/US04/15776 filed 19 May 2004, which 
published as WO 2004/113547 on 29 Dec 2004 (HHS Reference No. E-223-
2003/1-US-03).
    Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
    Licensing Contact: Kevin W. Chang, Ph.D.; 301-435-5018; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute 
Vaccine Branch is seeking statements of capability or interest from 
parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, 
evaluate, or commercialize this technology. Please contact John D. 
Hewes, Ph.D. at 301-435-3121 or [email protected] for more 
information.

    Dated: April 1, 2009.
Richard U. Rodriguez,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E9-7883 Filed 4-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P