[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 220 (Thursday, November 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53509-53510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24773]


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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 in the U.S.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Licensing information and copies of 
the patent applications listed below may be obtained by emailing the 
indicated licensing contact at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood, 
Office of Technology Transfer and Development Office of Technology 
Transfer, 31 Center Drive Room 4A29, MSC2479, Bethesda, MD 20892-2479; 
telephone: 301-402-5579. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement may 
be required to receive copies of the patent applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 
209 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve 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. A description of the 
technology follows.

Chimeric Antibodies Against Hepatitis B e-Antigen

    Description of Technology: The invention relates to recombinant 
chimeric rabbit/human monoclonal antibody fragments (Fabs) against 
hepatitis B Virus e-antigen (HBeAg). Viral hepatitis is the seventh 
leading cause of death worldwide. Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) 
forms an icosahedral structure containing the viral genome. Both the 
HBcAg and the HBeAg of interest here are expressed by two different 
start codons of the viral C gene. Unlike the related HBcAg which 
activates type 1 T helper (Th1) cells leading to immune attack, the 
HBeAg activates Th2 cells which promote immune tolerance. The long-term 
persistence of HBeAg is associated with the development of 
hepatocellular carcinoma. Conversely, HBeAg seroconversion (from HBeAg 
carrier to anti-HBeAg carrier) is a marker for successful therapy of 
chronically infected patients. The presently phage display engineered 
antibody has potential for anti-hepatitis B virus therapeutic 
interventions.
    Potential Commercial Applications:
     Hepatitis B therapy.
     Hepatocellular carcinoma prophylaxis.
    Development Stage:
     In vitro data available.
    Inventors: Paul Winfield, Norman Watts, Alasdair Steven (all of 
NIAMS).
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-192-2017/0-US-01.
     U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/534,603 filed July 
19, 2017.
    Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich, Esq, CLP; 301-435-5019; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of 
Environmental Health Sciences seeks statements of capability or nterest 
from parties interested in collaborative research to

[[Page 53510]]

further develop and evaluate, please contact Cecilia Pazman, Ph.D., 
Technology Development Specialist, Office of Technology Transfer, 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Phone: (301) 594-4273; 
[email protected] .

    Dated: November 6, 2017.
Michael Shmilovich,
Senior Licensing and Patenting Manager, National Heart, Lung, and Blood 
Institute, Office of Technology Transfer and Development.
[FR Doc. 2017-24773 Filed 11-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P