[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 11364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03451]


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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 inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and are available for licensing 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Licensing information and copies of 
the patent applications listed below may be obtained by communicating 
with the indicated licensing contact at the Technology Transfer and 
Intellectual Property Office, National Institute of Allergy and 
Infectious Diseases, 5601 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852; tel. 301-
496-2644. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required 
to receive copies of unpublished patent applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology descriptions follow.
    Inhibition of host heme oxygenase-1 as an adjunctive treatment to 
improve the outcome of conventional antibiotic chemotherapy of 
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection.

Description of Technology

    This invention describes the adjunctive use of heme oxygenase-1 
(HO-1) inhibitors to improve the outcome of conventional antibiotic 
treatment for tuberculosis. The existent standard of care requires 
prolonged administration of drug. Due to the long duration of 
treatment, methods that can more rapidly control tuberculosis in 
patients are clearly needed.
    NIAID researchers have discovered that inhibition of host HO-1 
reduces Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth in vivo and, more 
importantly, when used as an adjunct to conventional chemotherapy, 
results in a marked improvement in pulmonary bacterial control. In 
particular, it was found using a mouse model that HO-1 inhibitors 
enhance bacterial clearance when used in conjunction with conventional 
antibiotic therapy. Further, no obvious toxic side effects were found. 
Since this host-directed strategy does not directly target the pathogen 
itself, it may have an added advantage as a treatment for infections 
with antibiotic-resistant Mtb strains.
    This technology is available for licensing for commercial 
development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404, as 
well as for further development and evaluation under a research 
collaboration.
    Potential Commercial Applications:
     Therapeutic for Mtb.
    Competitive Advantages:
     Innovative, more rapidly effective therapeutics for 
tuberculosis are sorely needed due to the continued importance of TB as 
a global infectious disease and the increasing emergence of multi-drug 
resistant strains.
     This invention is a host-directed therapy.
    Development Stage: Pre-Clinical.
    Inventors:

F. Alan Sher, NIAID, NIH
Diego L. Costa, NIAID, NIH
Bruno B. Andrade, NIAID, NIH

    Publications: Costa, Diego L., et al. ``Pharmacological Inhibition 
of Host Heme Oxygenase-1 Suppresses Mycobacterium tuberculosis 
Infection In Vivo by a Mechanism Dependent on T Lymphocytes.'' mBio 7.5 
(2016): e01675-16.
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-174-2016/0--U.S. Patent 
Application No. 62/357,558, filed 07/01/2016.
    Licensing Contact: James M. Robinson; [email protected]; 301-
761-7542.
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases is seeking statements of capability or 
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further 
evaluate HO-1 inhibitors in treating human tuberculosis. For 
collaboration opportunities, please contact James M. Robinson; 
[email protected]; 301-761-7542.

    Dated: February 16, 2017.
Suzanne Frisbie,
Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2017-03451 Filed 2-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P