[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 43393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19591]


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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: Chris Kornak, 240-627-3705, 
[email protected]. Licensing information and copies of the U.S. 
patent applications listed below may be obtained by communicating with 
the indicated licensing contact at the Technology Transfer and 
Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO), 5601 Fishers Lane, Suite 6D, MSC 
9804, Rockville, MD 20892, tel: 301-496-2644, fax: 240-627-3117. A 
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive 
copies of unpublished patent applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows.

Recombinant HIV-1 Envelope Proteins and Their Use

    Description of Technology: Millions of people are infected with 
HIV-1 worldwide. In the U.S., there are about 30,000 new cases of HIV 
infection reported annually. Currently, there are effective, anti-
retroviral therapeutics available to treat or prevent HIV infection. 
However, available anti-retroviral therapeutics require life-long 
administration.
    During infection, proteases of the host cell cleave gp160 into 
gp120 and gp41. Gp41 is an integral membrane protein, while gp120 
protrudes from the mature virus. Together gp120 and gp41 aggregate as 
trimers that make up the HIV-1 envelope (``Env'') spike, which is a 
target for neutralizing antibodies.
    NIAID researchers have constructed a recombinant HIV-1 trimer 
immunogen. In particular, the recombinant gp120 protein in the trimer 
is stabilized in a closed conformation, preventing it from binding to 
CD4. The advantage of the closed conformation is that it can stabilize 
the epitopes that bind to broadly neutralizing antibodies, minimize the 
binding of gp120 with weakly or non-neutralizing antibodies, and 
prevent conformational changes induced by CD4 as well as immunogen 
sequestration by CD4 in vivo. Research has also indicated that 
recombinant Env ectodomain trimers can induce higher neutralizing 
antibody titers than wild type Env trimers in animal models.
    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:
     HIV-1 immunogen
     New methods for isolating broadly neutralizing antibodies
Competitive Advantages:
     A new strategy in inducing immune response against HIV-1
Development Stage:
     Pre-Clinical; Proof-of-concept studies in nonhuman primate 
models
Inventors:
    Paolo Lusso, NIAID, NIH
    Peng Zhang, NIAID, NIH

    Publications: Pending.
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-102-2016/0--PCT 
Application No. PCT/US2017/021573 filed on 03/09/2017.
    Licensing Contact: Chris Kornak, 240-627-3705, 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The Technology Transfer and 
Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO) is seeking parties interested in 
collaborative research to further develop the technology. In 
particular, NIAID is interested in partnerships utilizing vector 
vaccine platforms for expressing these immunogens.
    However, NIAID is willing to discuss other applications of this 
technology. For collaboration opportunities, please contact Chris 
Kornak, 240-627-3705, [email protected].

    Dated: September 7, 2017.
Suzanne Frisbie,
Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2017-19591 Filed 9-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P