Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing, 6506-6508 [E6-1653]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 8, 2006 / Notices
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and the clarity of information to be
collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
For Further Information Contact: To
request more information on the
proposed project or to obtain a copy of
the data collection plans and
instruments, contact: Steve Alves, Web
site Programs Specialist, Office of
Intramural Training and Education, OD,
NIH, Building 2, Room 2W17, 2 Center
Drive MSC 0240, Bethesda, MD 20892–
0240, or call non-toll-free number (301)
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including your address to:
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received within 60 days of the date of
this publication.
Dated: January 23, 2006.
Christine Major,
Acting Director, Office of Human Resources,
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 06–1140 Filed 2–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–M
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Government-Owned Inventions;
Availability for Licensing
National Institutes of Health,
Public Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The inventions listed below
are owned by an agency of the U.S.
Government and are available for
licensing in the U.S. in accordance with
35 U.S.C. 207 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.
ADDRESSES: Licensing information and
copies of the U.S. patent applications
listed below may be obtained by writing
to the indicated licensing contact at the
Office of Technology Transfer, National
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:26 Feb 07, 2006
Jkt 208001
Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville,
Maryland 20852–3804; telephone: (301)
496–7057; fax: (301) 402–0220. A signed
Confidential Disclosure Agreement will
be required to receive copies of the
patent applications.
Oligodeoxyribonucleotides Comprising
O66-Benzylguanine and Their Use
Robert C. Moschel et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 6,060,458 issued 09 May
2000 (HHS Reference No. E–104–
1998/0–US–01).
Licensing Contact: George G. Pipia,
PhD.; 301/435–5560;
pipiag@mail.nih.gov.
Chemotherapy is a common treatment
for a variety of cancers.
Chemotherapeutic alkylating agents
represent a key category of commonly
used antineoplastic drugs. These drugs
are active against chronic leukemias,
non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin
disease, multiple myeloma, lung, breast,
ovarian cancer, and certain other
cancers. The DNA repair protein, O6alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase
(AGT), is a primary source of tumor cell
resistance to the alkylating drugs that
alkylate the O6 position of guanine in
DNA. AGT therefore becomes the prime
target for modulation. Currently, AGT
inactivators are used as adjuvants to
enhance chemotherapy by the alkylating
drugs.
O6-Benzylguanine is the prototype
AGT inactivator in phase I, II and III
clinical trials as an adjuvant to improve
chemotherapy. Although O6benzylguanine is a promising AGT
inactivator, it is not an ideal drug. O6Benzylguanine is only sparingly soluble
in water, and it is not effective in
inactivating some mutant
alkyltransferase proteins that could
possibly be produced after repeated
chemotherapy cycles. The present
invention describes
oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing
O6-benzylguanine residues as another
class of AGT inactivators, and discusses
the advantages of their use in
comparison to O6-benzylguanine as the
free base. Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
containing O6-benzylguanine residues
are extremely water soluble and can
efficiently inactivate AGT at much
lower concentrations than O6benzylguanine. In addition, they are
effective in inactivating several mutant
alkyltransferase proteins that are highly
resistant to inactivation by O6benzylguanine. Furthermore,
positioning O6-benzylguanine near the
3′-or 5′-terminus of these
oligodeoxyribonucleotides improves
their resistance to degradation by
cellular nuclease proteins. Therefore,
oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing
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multiple O6-benzylguanine residues
may be more effective chemotherapy
adjuvants than O6-benzylguanine.
The CCHC Zinc Fingers of the
Retroviral Nucleocapsid Protein
Comprises a New Target Useful in
Identification and Evaluation of AntiHIV Therapeutics
Louis E. Henderson et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 6,001,555 issued 14 Dec
1999 (HHS Reference No. E–174–
1993/1–US–01).
Licensing Contact: Sally H. Hu, PhD.,
M.B.A.; 301/435–5606;
hus@mail.nih.gov.
According to a recently released
report from the WHO, an estimated 40.3
million people worldwide are currently
living with HIV infection, and more
than three million people died of AIDSrelated illnesses in 2005. In response to
increased prevalence of HIV/AIDS, the
search for effective antiretroviral
therapy is intensive. The present
invention describes compounds that
may be useful for developing new types
of antiretroviral therapeutics for HIV
infection.
HIV–1 contains domains known as
‘‘CCHC zinc fingers’’ in the retroviral
nucleocapsid (NC) protein.
Nucleocapsid CCHC zinc fingers are
highly conserved throughout nearly all
retroviruses. They are sequences of 14
amino acids with four invariant
residues, Cys(X)2Cys(X)4His(X)4Cys,
which chelate zinc and perform
essential functions in viral infectivity.
HIV–1 NC has two CCHC zinc fingers,
both of which are necessary for
infectivity. Many compounds that
disrupt the CCHC zinc fingers also
inactivate HIV–1 by preventing the
initiation of reverse transcription and by
blocking production of infectious virus
from previously infected cells.
Compounds with this activity may be
useful for developing new types of
antiretroviral drugs. In addition,
compounds with this activity can be
useful for production of chemically
inactivated retroviral particles that lack
infectivity but retain structurally and
functionally intact envelope
glycoproteins. Such inactivated
particles may be useful both as in vitro
reagents in a variety of applications and
as immunogens for whole inactivated
virus vaccines.
The present invention concerns
antiretroviral compounds that disrupt
the CCHC zinc fingers and assays for
identifying such compounds. The
invariant nature of retroviral zinc
fingers also extends the usefulness of
these compounds to other retroviruses.
Thus these assays are also useful for
screening compounds effective against
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 8, 2006 / Notices
rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1
adult T cell leukemia, tropical spastic
paraparesis caused by HTLV–I and
HTLV–II, feline leukemia virus, feline
immunodeficiency virus, equine
infectious virus, and lentivirus
infections in other animals, and
potentially useful for the production of
whole inactivated particle vaccines
against the pathogens.
Use of Inhibitors of 3-Hydroxy-3Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase
as a Modality in Cancer Therapy
Charles Myers et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 6,040,334 issued 21 Mar
2000 (HHS Reference No. E–146–
1992/0–US–23).
Licensing Contact: George G. Pipia,
PhD.; 301/435–5560;
pipiag@mail.nih.gov.
HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, also
known as statins, are a type of drugs
taken by millions of Americans to lower
blood cholesterol levels. In the United
States, statins available by prescription
include atorvastatin (LipitorTM),
lovastatin (MevacorTM), and simvastatin
(ZocorTM). Recently, there has been a
surge in interest in the potential use of
statins in the treatment or prevention of
cancer. By exploring the effects of
statins on the process of cancer at the
molecular level, scientists have found
that they work against critical cellular
functions that may help control tumor
initiation, tumor growth, and metastasis.
With years of strong evidence that these
agents are relatively safe, statins present
themselves as good candidates for
cancer therapeutics with added
advantages.
This invention describes a method for
treating mammalian adenocarcinomas
and sarcomas with an effective amount
of an inhibitor of HMG Co-A reductase
or homologues of the inhibitor.
Adenocarcinoma is known to afflict the
prostate, stomach, lung, breast and
colon, as well as other sites. Lovastatin
and simvastatin, as well as their
homologues, are examples of
compounds useful in the present
invention. Also included are
compounds classified as HMG Co-A
reductase inhibitors, as well as their
homologues or analogues. Though the
inhibitors of HMG Co-A reductase are
generally known to reduce serum
cholesterol in humans, the present
invention focuses rather on the
compounds’ ability to treat selected
cancers, such as adenocarcinomas of the
prostate, stomach, lung, breast and
colon and certain sarcomas such as
Ewing’s sarcoma.
Also provided by the invention is a
method of reducing prostate specific
antigen (PSA) levels in a patient having
prostatic adenocarcinoma by
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15:26 Feb 07, 2006
Jkt 208001
administration of an effective amount of
a compound which is an inhibitor of
HMG Co-A reductase or a homologue of
such inhibitor, as well as a method of
reducing PSA in conjunction with
another treatment modality.
Potent Peptide for Stimulation of
Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Specific for the
HIV–1 Envelope
Jay A. Berzofsky et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 5,976,541 issued 02 Nov
1999 (HHS Reference No. E–072–
1992/0-US–01).
Licensing Contact: Robert M. Joynes,
J.D.; 301/594–6565;
joynesr@mail.nih.gov.
According to a new annual report
from the WHO, an estimated 40.3
million people worldwide are currently
living with HIV infection, and more
than three million people died of AIDSrelated illnesses in 2005. Despite
intensive efforts to improve
antiretroviral treatment, a safe and
effective HIV preventive vaccine is the
best long-term hope to bring the HIV/
AIDS epidemic under control. Though
there are many clinical trial studies
being conducted for HIV/AIDS vaccine,
there is no such vaccine approved for
use yet.
This invention described peptide
constructs that may be of clinical
importance in HIV/AIDS vaccine
development. A vaccine for the
prevention and/or treatment of HIV
infection would ideally elicit a response
in a broad range of the population. It
would also have the capability of
inducing high titered neutralizing
antibodies, cytotoxic T lymphocytes,
and helper T cells specific for HIV–1
gp160 envelope protein. A vaccine
based on the synthetic or recombinant
peptides has been developed which
elicits these responses while avoiding
the potential safety risks of live or killed
viruses. Unlike previously developed
vaccines, this invention avoids those
regions of gp 160 which may contribute
to acceleration of infection or the
development of immune deficiency.
Peptides having high activity in the
eliciting of a cytotoxic T lymphocyte
response to the HIV–1 envelope
glycoprotein gp160 are described. The
activation of 12–15 residue peptides by
proteolytic degradation to shorter
peptides is shown as are general
techniques for characterizing such
activation processes. The peptide
described is recognized by both human
and murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes,
and is immunodominant in H–2d mice
such as BALB/c, B10.D2, DBA/2, etc.
This makes it ideal for determining
responses in animal models
preclinically before use in human trials.
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6507
It is also ideal for detecting cytotoxic T
lymphocyte responses to HIV envelope
in these strains of mice.
Multideterminant Peptides That Elicit
Helper T-Lymphocyte Cytotoxic TLymphocyte and Neutralizing Antibody
Responses Against HIV–1
Jay A. Berzofsky et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 6,294,322 issued 25 Sep
2001 (HHS Reference No. E–152–
1991/1–US–01).
Licensing Contact: Robert M. Joynes,
J.D.; 301/594–6565;
joynesr@mail.nih.gov.
According to a new annual report
from the WHO, an estimated 40.3
million people worldwide are currently
living with HIV infection, and more
than three million people died of AIDSrelated illnesses in 2005. Despite
intensive efforts to improve
antiretroviral treatment, a safe and
effective HIV preventive vaccine is the
best long-term hope to bring the HIV/
AIDS epidemic under control. Though
there are many clinical trial studies
being conducted for HIV/AIDS vaccine,
there is no such vaccine approved for
use yet.
This invention described peptide
constructs that may be of clinical
importance in HIV/AIDS vaccine
development. A vaccine for the
prevention and/or treatment of HIV
infection would ideally elicit a response
in a broad range of the population. It
would also have the capability of
inducing high titered neutralizing
antibodies, cytotoxic T lymphocytes,
and helper T cells specific for HIV–1 gp
160 envelope protein. A vaccine based
on synthetic or recombinant peptides
has been developed which elicits these
responses while avoiding the potential
safety risks of live or killed viruses.
Unlike previously developed vaccines
this invention avoids those regions of gp
160 which may contribute to
acceleration of infection or the
development of immune deficiency.
This invention provides peptides up to
44 amino acid residues long that
stimulate helper T-cell response to HIV
in a range of human subjects. Six
multideterminant regions have been
identified in which overlapping
peptides are recognized by mice of
either three or all four MHC types. Four
of the six regions have sequences
relatively conserved among HIV–I
isolates. These multideterminant cluster
peptides are recognized by T cells from
humans of multiple HLA types, and
have been found in a phase I clinical
trial to elicit neutralizing antibodies,
cytotoxic T cells, and helper T cells in
at least some of the human subjects.
These peptides are currently being
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6508
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 8, 2006 / Notices
tested in primates. Once delivery
systems and a stronger mucosal
response are induced, NCI plans to use
these peptides in human clinical trials.
Dated: January 30, 2006.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development
and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer,
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E6–1653 Filed 2–7–06; 8:45 am]
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute; Notice of
Closed Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice
is hereby given of the following
meeting.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The contract proposals and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the contract
proposals, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Cancer
Institute Special Emphasis Panel, Cancer
Genetics Network.
Date: March 7, 2006.
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate contract
proposals.
Place: Gaithersburg Marriott
Washingtonian Center, 9751 Washingtonian
Boulevard, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.
Contact Person: Marvin L. Salin, PhD.,
Scientific Review Administrator, Special
Review and Logistics Branch, Division of
Extramural Activities, 6116 Executive
Boulevard, Room 7073, MSC8329, Bethesda,
MD 20892–8329, 301–496–0694,
msalin@mail.nih.gov.
rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Cancer Institute; Notice of
Closed Meeting
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.392, Cancer Construction;
93.393, Cancer Cause and Prevention
Research; 93.394, Cancer Detection and
Diagnosis Research; 93.395, Cancer
Treatment Research; 93.396, Cancer Biology
Research; 93.397, Cancer Centers Support;
93.398, Cancer Research Manpower; 93.399,
Cancer Control, National Institutes of Health,
HHS)
15:26 Feb 07, 2006
BILLING CODE 4140–01–M
National Institutes of Health
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
VerDate Aug<31>2005
Dated: January 31, 2006.
Anna Snouffer,
Acting Director, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 06–1132 Filed 2–7–06; 8:45 am]
Jkt 208001
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice
is hereby given of the following
meeting.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute; Notice of
Closed Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice
is hereby given of the meeting of the
President’s Cancer Panel.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in section
552b(c)(9)(B), Title 5 U.S.C., as
amended, because the premature
disclosure of information and the
discussions would likely to significantly
frustrate implementation of
recommendations.
Name of Committee: National Cancer
Institute Special Emphasis Panel, Ruth L.
Kirschstein NRSA Fellowships in Cancer
Nanotechnology Research (RFA–A–CA–06–
010).
Date: March 17, 2006.
Time: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Morrison House Hotel, 116 S. Alfred
Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Contact Person: Robert Bird, PhD.,
Scientific Review Administrator, Resources
and Training Review Branch, National
Cancer Institute, National Institutes of
Health, 6116 Executive Blvd., Room 8113,
MSC 8328, Bethesda, MD 20892–8328, 301–
496–7978, birdr@mail.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.392, Cancer Construction;
93.393, Cancer Cause and Prevention
Research; 93.394, Cancer Detection and
Diagnosis Research; 93.395, Cancer
Treatment Research; 93.396, Cancer Biology
Research; 93.397, Cancer Centers Support;
93.398, Cancer Research Manpower; 93.399,
Cancer Control, National Institutes of Health,
HHS)
Name of Committee: President’s Cancer
Panel.
Date: February 10, 2006.
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Agenda: The Panel will discuss the Annual
Report 2005/2006, Assessing Progress, and
Advancing Change. The premature disclosure
of these discussions would result in the
release of proprietary information.
Place: National Cancer Institute, National
Institutes of Health, Office of the Director,
6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 212, Bethesda,
MD 20892, (Teleconference).
Contact Person: Abby Sandler, PhD.,
Executive Secretary, National Cancer
Institute, National Institutes of Health,
Building 6116, Room 212, 6116 Executive
Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301/451–
9399.
This notice is being published less than 15
days prior to the meeting date due to
scheduling conflicts.
Any interested person may file written
comments with the committee by forwarding
the comments to the Contact Person listed on
this notice. The comments should include
the name, address, telephone number and,
when applicable, the business or professional
affiliation of the interested person.
Information is also available on the
Institute’s/Center’s home page:
deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp.htm,
where an agenda and any additional
information for the meeting will be posted
when available.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.392, Cancer Construction;
93,393, Cancer Cause and Prevention
Research; 93.394, Cancer Detection and
Diagnosis Research; 93.395, Cancer
Treatment Research; 93.396, Cancer Biology
Research; 93.397, Cancer Centers Support;
93.398, Cancer Research Manpower; 93.399,
Cancer Control, National Institutes of Health,
HHS)
Dated: January 31, 2006.
Anna Snouffer,
Acting Director, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 06–1133 Filed 2–7–06; 8:45 am]
Dated: January 31, 2006.
Anna Snouffer,
Acting Director, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 06–1135 Filed 2–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–M
BILLING CODE 4140–01–M
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6506-6508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1653]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S.
Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance
with 35 U.S.C. 207 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.
ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville,
Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: (301) 496-7057; fax: (301) 402-0220. A
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive
copies of the patent applications.
Oligodeoxyribonucleotides Comprising O\6\6-Benzylguanine and Their Use
Robert C. Moschel et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 6,060,458 issued 09 May 2000 (HHS Reference No. E-104-
1998/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: George G. Pipia, PhD.; 301/435-5560;
pipiag@mail.nih.gov.
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for a variety of cancers.
Chemotherapeutic alkylating agents represent a key category of commonly
used antineoplastic drugs. These drugs are active against chronic
leukemias, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, multiple myeloma,
lung, breast, ovarian cancer, and certain other cancers. The DNA repair
protein, O\6\-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT), is a primary
source of tumor cell resistance to the alkylating drugs that alkylate
the O\6\ position of guanine in DNA. AGT therefore becomes the prime
target for modulation. Currently, AGT inactivators are used as
adjuvants to enhance chemotherapy by the alkylating drugs.
O\6\-Benzylguanine is the prototype AGT inactivator in phase I, II
and III clinical trials as an adjuvant to improve chemotherapy.
Although O\6\-benzylguanine is a promising AGT inactivator, it is not
an ideal drug. O\6\-Benzylguanine is only sparingly soluble in water,
and it is not effective in inactivating some mutant alkyltransferase
proteins that could possibly be produced after repeated chemotherapy
cycles. The present invention describes oligodeoxyribonucleotides
containing O\6\-benzylguanine residues as another class of AGT
inactivators, and discusses the advantages of their use in comparison
to O\6\-benzylguanine as the free base. Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
containing O\6\-benzylguanine residues are extremely water soluble and
can efficiently inactivate AGT at much lower concentrations than O\6\-
benzylguanine. In addition, they are effective in inactivating several
mutant alkyltransferase proteins that are highly resistant to
inactivation by O\6\-benzylguanine. Furthermore, positioning O\6\-
benzylguanine near the 3'-or 5'-terminus of these
oligodeoxyribonucleotides improves their resistance to degradation by
cellular nuclease proteins. Therefore, oligodeoxyribonucleotides
containing multiple O\6\-benzylguanine residues may be more effective
chemotherapy adjuvants than O\6\-benzylguanine.
The CCHC Zinc Fingers of the Retroviral Nucleocapsid Protein Comprises
a New Target Useful in Identification and Evaluation of Anti-HIV
Therapeutics
Louis E. Henderson et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 6,001,555 issued 14 Dec 1999 (HHS Reference No. E-174-
1993/1-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Sally H. Hu, PhD., M.B.A.; 301/435-5606;
hus@mail.nih.gov.
According to a recently released report from the WHO, an estimated
40.3 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV infection,
and more than three million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in
2005. In response to increased prevalence of HIV/AIDS, the search for
effective antiretroviral therapy is intensive. The present invention
describes compounds that may be useful for developing new types of
antiretroviral therapeutics for HIV infection.
HIV-1 contains domains known as ``CCHC zinc fingers'' in the
retroviral nucleocapsid (NC) protein. Nucleocapsid CCHC zinc fingers
are highly conserved throughout nearly all retroviruses. They are
sequences of 14 amino acids with four invariant residues,
Cys(X)2Cys(X)4His(X)4Cys, which
chelate zinc and perform essential functions in viral infectivity. HIV-
1 NC has two CCHC zinc fingers, both of which are necessary for
infectivity. Many compounds that disrupt the CCHC zinc fingers also
inactivate HIV-1 by preventing the initiation of reverse transcription
and by blocking production of infectious virus from previously infected
cells. Compounds with this activity may be useful for developing new
types of antiretroviral drugs. In addition, compounds with this
activity can be useful for production of chemically inactivated
retroviral particles that lack infectivity but retain structurally and
functionally intact envelope glycoproteins. Such inactivated particles
may be useful both as in vitro reagents in a variety of applications
and as immunogens for whole inactivated virus vaccines.
The present invention concerns antiretroviral compounds that
disrupt the CCHC zinc fingers and assays for identifying such
compounds. The invariant nature of retroviral zinc fingers also extends
the usefulness of these compounds to other retroviruses. Thus these
assays are also useful for screening compounds effective against
[[Page 6507]]
adult T cell leukemia, tropical spastic paraparesis caused by HTLV-I
and HTLV-II, feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus,
equine infectious virus, and lentivirus infections in other animals,
and potentially useful for the production of whole inactivated particle
vaccines against the pathogens.
Use of Inhibitors of 3-Hydroxy-3- Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase
as a Modality in Cancer Therapy
Charles Myers et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 6,040,334 issued 21 Mar 2000 (HHS Reference No. E-146-
1992/0-US-23).
Licensing Contact: George G. Pipia, PhD.; 301/435-5560;
pipiag@mail.nih.gov.
HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, also known as statins, are a type of
drugs taken by millions of Americans to lower blood cholesterol levels.
In the United States, statins available by prescription include
atorvastatin (LipitorTM), lovastatin (MevacorTM),
and simvastatin (ZocorTM). Recently, there has been a surge
in interest in the potential use of statins in the treatment or
prevention of cancer. By exploring the effects of statins on the
process of cancer at the molecular level, scientists have found that
they work against critical cellular functions that may help control
tumor initiation, tumor growth, and metastasis. With years of strong
evidence that these agents are relatively safe, statins present
themselves as good candidates for cancer therapeutics with added
advantages.
This invention describes a method for treating mammalian
adenocarcinomas and sarcomas with an effective amount of an inhibitor
of HMG Co-A reductase or homologues of the inhibitor. Adenocarcinoma is
known to afflict the prostate, stomach, lung, breast and colon, as well
as other sites. Lovastatin and simvastatin, as well as their
homologues, are examples of compounds useful in the present invention.
Also included are compounds classified as HMG Co-A reductase
inhibitors, as well as their homologues or analogues. Though the
inhibitors of HMG Co-A reductase are generally known to reduce serum
cholesterol in humans, the present invention focuses rather on the
compounds' ability to treat selected cancers, such as adenocarcinomas
of the prostate, stomach, lung, breast and colon and certain sarcomas
such as Ewing's sarcoma.
Also provided by the invention is a method of reducing prostate
specific antigen (PSA) levels in a patient having prostatic
adenocarcinoma by administration of an effective amount of a compound
which is an inhibitor of HMG Co-A reductase or a homologue of such
inhibitor, as well as a method of reducing PSA in conjunction with
another treatment modality.
Potent Peptide for Stimulation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Specific for
the HIV-1 Envelope
Jay A. Berzofsky et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 5,976,541 issued 02 Nov 1999 (HHS Reference No. E-072-
1992/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Robert M. Joynes, J.D.; 301/594-6565;
joynesr@mail.nih.gov.
According to a new annual report from the WHO, an estimated 40.3
million people worldwide are currently living with HIV infection, and
more than three million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005.
Despite intensive efforts to improve antiretroviral treatment, a safe
and effective HIV preventive vaccine is the best long-term hope to
bring the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control. Though there are many
clinical trial studies being conducted for HIV/AIDS vaccine, there is
no such vaccine approved for use yet.
This invention described peptide constructs that may be of clinical
importance in HIV/AIDS vaccine development. A vaccine for the
prevention and/or treatment of HIV infection would ideally elicit a
response in a broad range of the population. It would also have the
capability of inducing high titered neutralizing antibodies, cytotoxic
T lymphocytes, and helper T cells specific for HIV-1 gp160 envelope
protein. A vaccine based on the synthetic or recombinant peptides has
been developed which elicits these responses while avoiding the
potential safety risks of live or killed viruses. Unlike previously
developed vaccines, this invention avoids those regions of gp 160 which
may contribute to acceleration of infection or the development of
immune deficiency. Peptides having high activity in the eliciting of a
cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein
gp160 are described. The activation of 12-15 residue peptides by
proteolytic degradation to shorter peptides is shown as are general
techniques for characterizing such activation processes. The peptide
described is recognized by both human and murine cytotoxic T
lymphocytes, and is immunodominant in H-2d mice such as BALB/c, B10.D2,
DBA/2, etc. This makes it ideal for determining responses in animal
models preclinically before use in human trials. It is also ideal for
detecting cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to HIV envelope in these
strains of mice.
Multideterminant Peptides That Elicit Helper T-Lymphocyte Cytotoxic T-
Lymphocyte and Neutralizing Antibody Responses Against HIV-1
Jay A. Berzofsky et al. (NCI)
U.S. Patent No. 6,294,322 issued 25 Sep 2001 (HHS Reference No. E-152-
1991/1-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Robert M. Joynes, J.D.; 301/594-6565;
joynesr@mail.nih.gov.
According to a new annual report from the WHO, an estimated 40.3
million people worldwide are currently living with HIV infection, and
more than three million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005.
Despite intensive efforts to improve antiretroviral treatment, a safe
and effective HIV preventive vaccine is the best long-term hope to
bring the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control. Though there are many
clinical trial studies being conducted for HIV/AIDS vaccine, there is
no such vaccine approved for use yet.
This invention described peptide constructs that may be of clinical
importance in HIV/AIDS vaccine development. A vaccine for the
prevention and/or treatment of HIV infection would ideally elicit a
response in a broad range of the population. It would also have the
capability of inducing high titered neutralizing antibodies, cytotoxic
T lymphocytes, and helper T cells specific for HIV-1 gp 160 envelope
protein. A vaccine based on synthetic or recombinant peptides has been
developed which elicits these responses while avoiding the potential
safety risks of live or killed viruses. Unlike previously developed
vaccines this invention avoids those regions of gp 160 which may
contribute to acceleration of infection or the development of immune
deficiency. This invention provides peptides up to 44 amino acid
residues long that stimulate helper T-cell response to HIV in a range
of human subjects. Six multideterminant regions have been identified in
which overlapping peptides are recognized by mice of either three or
all four MHC types. Four of the six regions have sequences relatively
conserved among HIV-I isolates. These multideterminant cluster peptides
are recognized by T cells from humans of multiple HLA types, and have
been found in a phase I clinical trial to elicit neutralizing
antibodies, cytotoxic T cells, and helper T cells in at least some of
the human subjects. These peptides are currently being
[[Page 6508]]
tested in primates. Once delivery systems and a stronger mucosal
response are induced, NCI plans to use these peptides in human clinical
trials.
Dated: January 30, 2006.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E6-1653 Filed 2-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
