[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24321-24322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11256]


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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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Amy Petrik, 240-627-3721; 
[email protected]. Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent 
application 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unpublished patent applications.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 description follows.

Antibodies and Methods for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Epstein-Barr 
Virus Infection

Description of Technology

    According to the World Health Organization, over 90% of the 
worldwide population is infected with Epstein-Barr virus by adulthood. 
In most cases, the disease accompanying initial infection is 
subclinical though some individuals who are infected as adolescents or 
adults do experience infectious mononucleosis. However, once infected, 
individuals carry latent EBV for their remaining lifespan. In such 
individuals, immune suppression can result in reactivation of the EBV 
and consequently, EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease. 
Currently, there is no prophylactic to prevent primary EBV infection 
and additional therapeutics would be useful to treat EBV-associated B-
cell driven lymphoproliferative disease.
    Scientists at the NIAID are developing neutralizing antibodies, 
originally isolated from humans or non-human primates, that could be 
useful in preventing primary infection or reactivation of EBV in 
immunocompromised individuals. These antibodies are 10-100 times more 
potent than the most potent EBV neutralizing antibody identified to 
date (72A1). The antibodies target epitopes on either the gp350 surface 
glycoprotein of EBV or the gH/gL heterodimer. In vitro experiments have 
demonstrated that the antibodies effectively inhibit EBV infection of B 
cells and epithelial cells as well as cell-to-cell fusion of cells 
expressing the viral proteins gH/gL.

Potential Commercial Applications

     Treatment of individuals with compromised immune systems 
to prevent EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases.
     Prevention of primary EBV infection in individuals with 
compromised immune systems to prevent EBV-associated 
lymphoproliferative diseases.

Competitive Advantages

     No EBV therapeutics or prophylactics currently exist.

Development Stage

     In vitro
    Inventors: Masaru Kanekiyo (NIAID), W. Gordon Joyce (WRAIR), Wei Bu 
(NIAID), Jeffrey Cohen (NIAID).
    Publications: N/A.
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference Number E-001-2017 includes 
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/490,023 filed April 25, 2017 
(Pending); PCT Application No. PCT/US2018/29463 filed April 25, 2018.
    HHS Reference Number E-079-2018 includes U.S. Provisional Patent 
Application No. 62/665,977 filed May 2, 2018.
    Related Intellectual Property: HHS Reference Number E-001-2017; E-
079-2018.
    Licensing Contact: Dr. Amy Petrik, 240-627-3721; 
[email protected].
    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

[[Page 24322]]

further develop, evaluate or commercialize Epstein-Barr monoclonal 
antibody technologies. For collaboration opportunities, please contact 
Dr. Amy Petrik, 240-627-3721; [email protected].

    Dated: May 10, 2018.
Suzanne M. Frisbie
Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2018-11256 Filed 5-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P