[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77875-77876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21742]


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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: Haiqing Li at 240-627-3708, or 
[email protected]. Licensing information 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unpublished information related to the invention.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows:

Monoclonal Antibodies That Bind to the Underside of Influenza Viral 
Neuraminidase

Description of Technology

    Current influenza vaccines mainly induce antibodies against the 
surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) that block viral attachment to 
its host receptors and viral membrane fusion to the host cell. The 
immunodominant head region of HA undergoes antigenic drift and 
antibodies directed to the head confer little cross-protections between 
strains or subtypes.
    Researchers at the Vaccine Research Center of the National 
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have identified human 
monoclonal antibodies that each bind distinct epitopes on the less 
abundant yet critical viral surface glycoprotein neuraminidase (NA). 
These antibodies, isolated from convalescent individuals with confirmed 
influenza A H3N2 infection, inhibit viral propagation of a wide range 
of human H3N2, swine-origin variant H3N2, and H2N2 viruses and confer 
pre-exposure and post-exposure protection from lethal H3N2 infection in 
mice. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that two of these antibodies 
bind non-overlapping epitopes covering the underside of the NA head, 
thus defining a potential vaccine target.
    This technology is available for licensing for commercial 
development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404.

Potential Commercial Applications

 Prevention or treatment of influenza infection
 Testing influenza antigens

Competitive Advantages

 Improved breadth of protection relative to influenza HA-
targeting antibodies
    Development Stage: Preclinical.
    Inventors: Masaru Kanekiyo (NIAID), Sarah Andrews (NIAID), Julia 
Lederhofer (NIAID), Yaroslav Tsybovsky (Leidos Biomedical Research).

[[Page 77876]]

    Publications: Protective human monoclonal antibodies target 
conserved sites of vulnerability on the underside of influenza virus 
neuraminidase. Lederhofer, Julia et al. Immunity, Volume 57, Issue 3, 
574-586.e7.
    Intellectual Property: PCT/US2023/071194 filed 28 July 2023 (NIH 
Ref. No. E-177-2022).
    Licensing Contact: To license this technology, please contact 
Haiqing Li at 240-627-3708, or [email protected], and reference E-177-
2022.

    Dated: September 18, 2024.
Christopher M. Kornak,
Acting Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property 
Office, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
[FR Doc. 2024-21742 Filed 9-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P