[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52699-52700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18862]


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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, HHS.

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and is available for licensing and/or co-development in the 
U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404 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 and/or co-development.

ADDRESSES: Invention Development and Marketing Unit, Technology 
Transfer Center, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, 
Mail Stop 9702, Rockville, MD, 20850-9702.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information on licensing and co-
development research collaborations, and copies of the U.S. patent 
applications listed below may be obtained by contacting: Attn. 
Invention Development and Marketing Unit, Technology Transfer Center, 
National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Mail Stop 9702, 
Rockville, MD, 20850-9702, Tel. 240-276-5515 or email 
[email protected]. A signed Confidential Disclosure 
Agreement may be required to receive copies of the patent applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows.
    Title of invention: Methods of Treating or Preventing Demyelination 
Using Thrombin Inhibitors and Methods of Detecting Demyelination Using 
Neurofascin 155.
    Description of Technology: Neurofascin 155 is a cell adhesion 
molecule that attaches myelin to axolemma. Contactin-associated protein 
(Caspr) is a major component of the perinodes. Perinodal astrocytes 
regulate nodal structure and myelin thickness by regulating thrombin-
dependent cleavage of axo-glial junction attaching the outermost 
paranodal loops of myelin to the axon membrane. Agents which inhibit 
the cleavage of Neurofascin 155 or the cleavage of Caspr1 stabilize the 
node and may impede the immunological attack of myelin where the 
paranodes are attached to the axon.
    The technology is directed to methods of treating diseases 
characterized by demyelination (such as Multiple sclerosis), white 
matter injury, or conditions associated with myelin remodeling by 
administering an agent that inhibits cleavage of Neurofascin 155 or 
Caspr1. The agent could be a thrombin inhibitor, an agent that inhibits 
thrombin expression, an anti-thrombin antibody that specifically 
inhibits thrombin mediated cleavage of Neurofascin 155, a mutated 
version or fragment of Neurofascin 155 or Caspr1, antibodies to 
Neurofascin 155 or Caspr1.
    The technology also includes methods of detecting remodeling of 
myelin by detecting changes in levels of Neurofascin 125 and 
Neurofascin 30 in a biological sample, such as central spinal fluid or 
blood.
    Potential Commercial Applications: Treatment of demyelinating 
diseases, such as Multiple sclerosis.
    Treatment of diseases characterized by white matter injury or 
myelin remodeling.
    Monitoring the amount of or rate of remodeling of myelin to 
determine the efficacy of agents used demyelinating diseases.
    Value Proposition: Agents which inhibit cleavage of Neurofascin 155 
or Caspr1 or inhibit thrombin activity are a novel approach to treating 
demyelinating diseases or diseases characterized by white matter 
injury.
    The methods of detecting modification in the amount or rate of 
remodeling of myelin can be used to determine the efficacy of 
treatments of neurological disorders and are less expensive than other 
methods currently used.
    Development Stage: Pre-clinical (in vivo validation).
    Inventor(s): R. Douglas Fields https://science.nichd.nih.gov/confluence/display/snsdp/Home.
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-151-2015/0-PCT-02.
    PCT application, PCT/US2016/027776, filed April 15, 2016 entitled 
``Methods of Treating or Preventing Demyelination Using Thrombin 
Inhibitors and Methods of Detecting Demyelination Using Neurofascin 
155''.
    Publications: 1. In preparation.
    Collaboration Opportunity: Researchers at the Eunice Kennedy 
Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 
(``NICHD''), seek CRADA partner or collaboration for development of 
agents to treat multiple sclerosis or other conditions associated with 
myelin remodeling by administering an agent that inhibits cleavage of 
Neurofascin 155 or Caspr1. The agent could be a

[[Page 52700]]

thrombin inhibitor, an agent that inhibits thrombin expression, an 
anti-thrombin antibody that specifically inhibits thrombin mediated 
cleavage of Neurofascin 155, a mutated version or fragment of 
Neurofascin 155 or Caspr1, or antibodies to Neurofascin 155 or Caspr1.
    Contact Information: Requests for copies of the patent application 
or inquiries about licensing, research collaborations, and co-
development opportunities should be sent to John D. Hewes, Ph.D., 
email: [email protected].

    Dated: August 2, 2016.
John D. Hewes,
Technology Transfer Specialist, Technology Transfer Center, National 
Cancer Institute.
[FR Doc. 2016-18862 Filed 8-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P