[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76837-76838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24550]


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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 
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Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive copies of unpublished 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 related to the invention.

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 endothelium-derived 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, and to exercise 
physiology.
    Competitive Advantages:
     New pathway for regulation of vasoconstriction/
vasodilation that is separate from the pathways that current products 
available for treating nitric oxide deficiency target. Combination 
therapy with current vasoconstriction/vasodilation medications of 
different mechanisms may be possible.
     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.

[[Page 76838]]

    Inventors: Drs. Hans Ackerman (NIAID), Steven Brooks (NIAID), 
Phillip Cruz (NIAID), Rolf Swenson (NHLBI).
    Publications: Brooks, SD et al. ``Hemoglobin Interacts with 
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase to Regulate Vasodilation in Human 
Resistance Arteries'' https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.06.21255004 (This 
article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review).
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-060-2022-0-US-01; U.S. 
Provisional Application No. 63/328,615, filed on April 7, 2022; HHS 
Reference No. E-060-2022-0-PCT-02; PCT Application No. PCT/US2023/
065432, filed on April 6, 2023.
    Licensing Contact: To license this technology, please contact Peter 
Tung at 240-669-5483 or [email protected], and reference E-060-2022.
    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, or 
[email protected].

    Dated: November 1, 2023.
Surekha Vathyam,
Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2023-24550 Filed 11-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P