[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 116 (Thursday, June 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36338-36339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12922]


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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: Peter Tung at 240-669-5483, or 
[email protected]. Licensing information and copies of the patent 
applications 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

[[Page 36339]]

Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive copies of unpublished 
patent applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows:

Beta Globin Mimetic Peptides and Their Use

Description of Technology

    Feedback vasodilation by endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is 
under the regulation of globins. Inventors discovered that not only the 
alpha globin but also the beta globin subunits of hemoglobin are 
expressed in the human artery wall, with beta globin interacting 
directly with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This discovery 
of tetrameric hemoglobin binding to eNOS has led inventors to develop 
novel mimetic peptides that disrupt the binding of beta globin to eNOS, 
diminishing the ability of hemoglobin to restrict NO release and 
thereby enhancing NO-mediated feedback vasodilation. These agents can 
be used to increase NO signaling from endothelial cells and thus 
inhibit, prevent, or reverse vasoconstriction.
    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

     Novel peptides to treat vascular diseases characterized by 
vasoconstriction, excess alpha adrenergic signaling, or insufficient 
nitric oxide signaling. Applications could range from cerebral 
vasospasm to pulmonary hypertension to chronic kidney disease to 
transfusion medicine to erectile dysfunction to exercise physiology.

Competitive Advantages

     New pathway for regulation of vasoconstriction/
vasodilation.
     Enhancement of NO release at the junction between the 
endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell may provide greater potency and 
fewer off-target effects than other forms of NO delivery.
    Development Stage: Peptides have been tested in human and canine 
arteries ex vivo.
    Inventors: Drs. Hans Ackerman, Steven Brooks, Phillip Cruz, all of 
NIAID.
    Publications: ``Hemoglobin Interacts with Endothelial Nitric Oxide 
Synthase to Regulate Vasodilation in Human Resistance Arteries'', 
https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.06.21255004.
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-060-2022-0-US-01--U.S. 
Provisional Application No. 63/328,615, filed April 7, 2022.
    Licensing Contact: To license this technology, please contact Peter 
Tung at 240-669-5483, or [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 further 
develop, evaluate, or commercialize the invention. For collaboration 
opportunities, please contact Peter Tung at 240-669-5483; 
[email protected].

    Dated: June 9, 2022.
Surekha Vathyam,
Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2022-12922 Filed 6-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P