[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 74 (Monday, April 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22933-22934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08150]


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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 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: Yogikala Prabhu, Ph.D., 301-761-7789; 
[email protected]. Licensing information may be obtained by 
communicating with the Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property 
Office, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), 
5601 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852; tel. 301-496-2644. A signed 
Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive copies of 
unpublished information related to the invention.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows:

Novel Methods of MHC-I--LILRB Checkpoint Inhibition

    Description of Technology: The technology encompasses antibodies 
and methods that may overcome the shortcomings of commercial checkpoint 
inhibitors (CPIs). Scientists at NIAID have identified MHC-I specific 
antibodies that selectively inhibit interactions with inhibitory 
leukocyte immunoglobin-like receptors (LILRs) but not T-cell receptors. 
Administration of the antibodies increased proliferation and activation 
of both innate and adaptive immune system cells, and lead to anti-tumor 
and anti-viral activity in an array of relevant mouse models of 
disease.
    Immune CPIs that target PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4 and other well-known 
molecules can provide significant clinical benefit as part of a mono or 
combination immunotherapy regimen. However, many patients do not 
respond to treatment, leading to an ongoing search for novel checkpoint 
targets. One attractive family of targets are the inhibitory Leukocyte 
Immunoglobin-like receptors (LILRB1-5). LILRB1, LILRB2, and LILRB5 can 
inhibit immune cell function by binding to many MHC-I subtypes. 
However, LILRB1/2/5 expression is variable and the three members cannot 
be targeted by any single blocking anti-LILB antibody, possibly 
limiting the efficacy of targeting LILRBs. NIAID scientists have 
circumvented these issues by identifying antibodies that can inhibit 
LILRB function by binding to MHC-I without interfering with T-cell 
receptor engagement.
    To date, the MHC-I specific antibodies have been shown to induce 
activation and proliferation of human T cells and NK cells in 
xenogeneic models using NSG mice.
    This technology is available for licensing for commercial 
development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37

[[Page 22934]]

CFR part 404, as well as for further development and evaluation under a 
research collaboration.

    Potential Commercial Applications:

 Anti-tumor checkpoint inhibitor
 Anti-viral checkpoint inhibitor

    Competitive Advantages:

 Activation of innate (NK) and adaptive (CD8\+\ and CD4\+\) 
immune cell types
 Causes proliferation and activation of immune effector cells 
regardless of target expression in tumors

    Development Stage:

 Pre-clinical

    Inventors: Ethan M. Shevach, M.D. (NIAID), Abir Panda, Ph.D. 
(NIAID), David H. Margulies, M.D., Ph.D. (NIAID), and Kannan Natarajan, 
Ph.D. (NIAID).
    Publications: Panda, Abir, et al. ``Cutting Edge: Inhibition of the 
interaction of NK inhibitory receptors with MHC class I augments anti-
viral and anti-tumor immunity.'' J Immunol. 2020.04.01.437942
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-160-2021-0; US 
provisional application No. 63/262,120 filed on October 5, 2021.
    Licensing Contact: To license this technology, please contact 
Yogikala Prabhu, Ph.D., 301-761-7789; [email protected], and 
reference E-160-2021-0.
    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 
develop, evaluate or commercialize this technology. For collaboration 
opportunities, please contact Yogikala Prabhu, Ph.D., 301-761-7789; 
[email protected].

    Dated: April 12, 2022.
Surekha Vathyam,
Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2022-08150 Filed 4-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P