[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33769-33771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14261]
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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, Public Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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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.
X-Clometer: Optimizing Portable Radiography
Description of Technology: The technology offered for licensing and
commercial development relates to a method and apparatus that can
significantly improve the diagnostic performance of portable chest
(CXR) and abdominal x-rays. This device quantifies angulation of a
patient to provide for a better comparison of day-to-day improvement.
The portable CXR is one of the most commonly requested diagnostic
medical tests around the world. They are performed nearly daily on some
of the sickest patients in hospitals. Paradoxically, it is well
documented that portable radiography of the chest is inconsistent and
often inadequate.
An upright projection best evaluates effusions, rules out free air,
or detects air-fluid levels. Optimally, the images are obtained at
similar angles each day, even if not erect, to allow accurate
comparisons and assessment of change. It is well documented that
portable radiography of the chest is inconsistent and often inadequate.
To achieve optimal quality of the exam the technologist attempts the
most upright projection; balanced with patient condition and ability to
achieve this often impossible task.
Applications: Portable chest and abdominal x-rays performed at
patient's hospital bedside.
Advantages
Currently, there is no quantitative marker to indicate
degree of the upright position. Prior markers with small ball bearings
sinking to a small circle only indicate if the patient is supine or
not. This technology introduces a simple dynamic marker that can
quantify the angle at a glance for the radiologist to best compare
patient condition over time. This device objectively quantifies
cassette angle with a ball bearing in a cylindrical tube with markers
to indicate upright position in degrees.
The technology improves performance of CXR, allowing
reliable comparisons of patient condition over time. Thus, better
therapies can be planned and unnecessary CT (Computerized Tomography)
can be prevented.
The technology improves care for Intensive Care Unit
patients, as developing effusion and the need for immediate drainage
(as one of many examples) can be more effectively assessed with the
present apparatus. A widespread use of the device will save lives
through improved diagnosis and comparison of effusions.
Development Status
A performance of a visual prototype was demonstrated. The
visual prototype was imaged at 5 selected angles with a chest phantom.
Initial in-vitro results demonstrate that angles can be quantified to
within 30 degrees.
Improved prototypes with more accuracy are currently being
manufactured for patient use. In-vivo studies will soon be underway to
validate clinical utility.
Inventors: Les R. Folio (CC) and Lucas S. Folio.
Relevant Publications
1. Wandtke JC. Bedside chest radiography. Radiology. 1994; 190:1-
10. [PMID: 8043058]
2. Pneumatikos I, Bouros D. Pleural effusions in critically ill
patients. Respiration. 2008; 76(3):241-248. [PMID: 18824883]
3. Mattison LE, et al. Pleural effusions in the medical ICU:
prevalence, causes, and clinical implications. Chest. 1997
Apr;111(4):1018-1023. [PMID: 9106583]
4. Fartoukh M, et al. Clinically documented pleural effusions in
medical ICU patients: how useful is routine thoracentesis? Chest. 2002
Jan;121(1):178-184. [PMID: 11796448]
5. Bekemeyer WB, et al. Efficacy of chest radiography in a
respiratory intensive care unit. A prospective study. Chest. 1985 Nov;
88(5): 691-696. [PMID: 4053711]
6. Tocino I. Chest imaging in intensive care unit. Eur J Radiol
1996 Aug;23(1):46-57. [PMID: 8872073]
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/452,364 filed
March 14, 2011 (HHS Reference No. E-063-2011/0-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contacts
Uri Reichman, PhD, MBA; 301-435-4616; [email protected].
Michael Shmilovich, Esq.; 301-435-5019;
[email protected].
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIH Clinical Center,
Radiology and
[[Page 33770]]
Imaging Sciences, is seeking statements of capability or interest from
parties interested in collaborative research to further develop,
evaluate, or commercialize X-Clometer. Please contact Ken Rose, PhD at
301-435-3132 or [email protected] for more information.
HIF1[alpha]-Targeted Therapy for Diabetes and Obesity
Description of Technology: This technology describes the use of
hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1[alpha]) inhibitors for the
reduction of body weight and treatment of diabetes.
In obesity, the rapid expansion of adipose tissue outpaces the
oxygen supply, resulting in hypoxia. HIF1[alpha], a transcription
factor that plays an essential role in cellular and systemic responses
to low oxygen levels, is activated in these tissues, and causes
inflammation that has been linked to insulin resistance and other
metabolic dysfunction.
To examine the role of hypoxia in obesity and insulin resistance,
investigators at the National Cancer Institute disrupted the
HIF1[alpha] gene (or its dimerization partner, the HIF1[beta]) in the
adipose tissue of transgenic mice, and found that these mice were
protected from obesity and insulin resistance when fed a high-fat
(western) diet. In further experiments, administration of an
HIF1[alpha] inhibitor to wild-type mice achieved similar reductions in
fat mass and insulin resistance, as well as other indicators of
metabolic disease. Thus, HIF1[alpha] inhibitors represent promising new
leads for obesity and diabetes therapeutics.
Applications: HIF1[alpha]-targeted therapies for type 2 diabetes
and obesity.
Development Status: Proof of concept has been demonstrated in mouse
models.
Inventors: Frank J. Gonzalez and Changtao Jiang (NCI).
Relevant Publications: In preparation.
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/423,936, filed
December 16, 2010 (HHS Reference No. E-018-2011/0-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contact: Tara L. Kirby, PhD; 301-435-4426;
[email protected]
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The Center for Cancer Research,
Laboratory of Metabolism (LM), is seeking statements of capability or
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further
develop, evaluate, or commercialize HIF1[alpha] inhibitors that can be
used for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The LM will be
willing to collaborate with parties to evaluate potential inhibitors
using the HIF1[alpha] adipose-specific knockout mice. Please contact
John Hewes, PhD at 301-435-3121 or [email protected] for more
information.
Synergistic Combination Agent (Ceramide and Vinca Alkaloids) for Cancer
Therapy
Description of Technology: Work by the Nanotechnology
Characterization Laboratory (NCL), a joint initiative of NCI, NIST, and
the FDA, has led to the discovery of a novel combination chemotherapy.
This combination is shown to have synergistic effects on cytotoxicity
to cancer cells in vitro, and to cause a substantial decrease in tumor
growth in preclinical tumor models in vivo. Combination therapy using
these agents may enhance the response rate of different cancers to
these drugs and may significantly reduce side effects by permitting a
lower therapeutic dose to be administered.
The instant invention relates to a novel combination of ceramide
and vinca alkaloids, which synergistically decrease cancer cell growth
without increasing the toxicity profile compared to the individual
drugs. The drug combination has been rigorously evaluated in both in
vitro and in vivo models of cancer, and a dose range-finding toxicology
study has been conducted in rodents.
This combination induces cell death via a novel mechanism
(induction of autophagy with simultaneous blockade of autophagy flux).
This mechanism appears to impart selectivity of the therapy to cancer
cells.
Available for licensing are methods to use the combination therapy
for cancer treatment.
Applications: Cancer treatment, especially for cancers sensitive to
treatment with vinca alkaloids such as breast cancer, testicular
cancer, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-small cell
lung cancer.
Advantages: Vinca alkaloids alone at therapeutic doses produce the
standard side effects of cancer chemotherapy. The vinca alkaloid-
ceramide combination can be administered at lower doses with comparable
efficacy and may allow for more frequent dosing (metronomic dosing).
The novel mechanism of action of this combination appears to be
selective to cancer cells.
Development Status: The drug combination has been evaluated in both
human hepatocarcinoma models (in vitro cell culture assays) and human
colon cancer models (in vivo mouse xenografts). Additional in vivo
studies with other cancer types and early stage preclinical toxicology
studies are being planned.
Inventors: Stephan T. Stern, Scott E. McNeil, Pavan Adiseshaiah
(NCL/NCI)
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/451,925
filed March 11, 2011 (HHS Reference No. E-007-2011/0-US-01)
Licensing Status: Available for licensing or partnering for further
development.
Licensing Contact: Betty B. Tong, PhD; 301-594-6565;
[email protected]
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The SAIC Frederick,
Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, is seeking statements of
capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative
research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize a ceramide and
vinca alkaloid combination therapy for treatment of cancer. Please
contact John Hewes, PhD at 301-435-3121 or [email protected] for more
information.
Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors for the Treatment of Huntington's
Disease
Description of Technology: This technology is a collection of small
molecules screened for their ability to prevent or reduce the cytotoxic
effects of the protein, Huntingtin. Huntington's disease is a
neurodegenerative disorder due to a dominantly acting expansion of a
CAG trinucleotide repeat in exon 1 of the Huntington (HTT) gene
resulting in production of the altered (mutant) protein Huntingtin,
which has a long chain of polyglutamine (poly Q) attached to the exon 1
encoded protein sequence. Clinical and statistical analyses have shown
that an increased number of poly Q repetition correlates with the
probability of developing the disease, with 36 to 40 being the accepted
cut off number for developing the disorder with high probability. It is
known that poly Q repetitions impact the physical properties of
Huntingtin and cause it to produce aggregates that precipitate and form
inclusion bodies, which are toxic to the neuronal cells. The compounds
of this invention have been screened multiply in a neuronal cell model
of Huntington's disease containing an HTT with an expanded repeat in
exon 1 of 103 Qs for their ability to inhibit cytotoxicity and protein
aggregation.
Applications: Treatment of Huntington's disease.
Development Status: Early development.
[[Page 33771]]
Inventors: Juan Marugan, Joshua McCoy, Samarjit Patnaik, Steven
Titus, Wei Zheng, Noel T. Southall, Wenwei Huang (NHGRI).
Relevant Publications: None.
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/388,482 filed
September 30, 2010 (HHS Reference No. E-258-2010/0-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contact: Steve Standley, PhD; 301-435-4074;
[email protected].
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Center for
Translational Therapeutics is seeking statements of capability or
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further
develop, evaluate, or commercialize this technology further. Please
contact Ms. Lili Portilla at [email protected] for more information.
Dated: June 3, 2011.
Richard U. Rodriguez,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2011-14261 Filed 6-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P