[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 67 (Monday, April 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17268-17269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07058]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 U.S. patent applications listed below may be obtained by 
communicating with the indicated licensing contact James M. Robinson at 
the Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, National 
Institute of Allergy and

[[Page 17269]]

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to receive copies of unpublished patent applications.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 follows.

Compositions and Methods for Detecting Loa Loa

    Description of Technology: Loa loa is a filarial nematode estimated 
to infect 3-13 million people in Central and Western Africa. In parts 
of Africa, mass administration of ivermectin is common for 
onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis control. However, some 
individuals infected with Loa loa microfilariae in high densities are 
known to experience post-ivermectin severe adverse events, such as 
encephalopathy, coma, or even death. Therefore, diagnostic tools that 
can accurately identify and differentiate Loa loa microfilariae from 
other filarial infections are needed. Microscopic evaluation of blood 
samples is the only current diagnostic method used to detect Loa loa 
microfilaremia in endemic areas, and is impractical for widespread 
screening. Molecular based assays are useful and are quantitative, but 
require the use of sophisticated instrumentation.
    The inventors analyzed samples from Loa loa infected patients and 
uninfected controls, and have identified Loa loa microfilaria-specific 
antigens. The pending application claims a variety of means of 
detecting these antigens.
    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:
     Diagnostics
Competitive Advantages:
     Highly specific to Loa loa microfilariae
     Highly sensitive
     Both diagnostic and quantitative
     Works with blood, urine, or saliva sample
Development Stage:
     Pre-Clinical

    Inventors: Thomas B. Nutman, NIAID, NIH; Sasisekhar Bennuru, NIAID, 
NIH; and Papa Makhtar Drame, NIAID, NIH.
    Publications: Drame, Papa, et al. 2016. Identification and 
Validation of Loa loa Microfilaria-Specific Biomarkers: A Rational 
Design Approach Using Proteomics and Novel Immunoassays. mBio, vol. 7 
no. 1 e02132-15.
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-140-2015/0--US 
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/153,654 filed April 28, 2015; PCT 
Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/029673 filed April 28, 2016.
    Licensing Contact: James M. Robinson, 301-761-7542; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The Technology Transfer and 
Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO) is seeking parties interested in 
collaborative research to further develop, evaluate or commercialize a 
diagnostic means for detecting Loa loa microfilaria-specific antigens. 
For collaboration opportunities, please contact James M. Robinson, 301-
761-7542; [email protected].

    Dated: March 28, 2017.
Suzanne Frisbie,
Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2017-07058 Filed 4-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P