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Notice(B): Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing Federal Register: June 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 105)
Page 26707-26710
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.
Diagnostic Markers for Melanoma
Description of Technology: This invention relates to diagnostic and
prognostic markers for melanoma. It discloses the identification of
somatic mutations in genes of the microphthalmia-associated
transcription factor (MITF) pathway in patients with melanoma.
Melanoma is an aggressive and often fatal cancer with increasing
incidence worldwide. Previous studies have linked the MITF pathway to
the progression of melanoma. However, little is known about somatic
mutations in genes of the MITF pathway that contribute to the
development and progression of melanoma. To assess the role of the MITF
pathway in melanoma, NIH investigators evaluated primary and metastatic
melanoma samples for the presence of somatic mutations in two genes of
the MITF pathway, MITF and SRY (sex determining region Y)--box 10
(SOX10). They identified 16 previously unidentified somatic mutations
in these genes. These studies suggest that MITF and SOX10 genes be used
as diagnostic markers in human metastatic melanoma.
Applications
Diagnosis and prognosis of patients with melanoma by
detecting any mutations in the MITF or SOX10 gene.
Selection of therapy for melanoma patient; an MITF
inhibitor can be selected for therapy if the patient has any of the
disclosed mutations in MITF.
Market: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S.
There is an acute need for cancer biomarkers that can be detected from
clinically relevant samples and used for early diagnosis, therapeutic
follow-up and prognosis of malignant diseases. Melanoma is the most
serious type of cancer of the skin. The percentage of people who
develop melanoma has more than doubled in the past 30 years. There are
68,720 estimated new cases and 8,650 estimated deaths from melanoma in
the United States in 2009, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Inventors: Yardena R. Samuels et al. (NHGRI).
Publication: Cronin JC WJ, Loftus SK, Prickett TD, Wei X, Ridd,
Vemula S, Burrell AS, Agrawal NS, Lin JC, Banister CE, Buckhaults P,
Rosenberg SA, Bastian BC, Pavan WJ, Samuels Y: Frequent mutations in
the MITF pathway in melanoma. Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research 2009,
(In Press).
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/214,415 filed 22
Apr 2009 (HHS Reference No. E-053-2009/0-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contact: Betty B. Tong, Ph.D; 301-594-6565;
tongb@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Human Genome
Research Institute's Cancer Genetics Branch is seeking statements of
capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative
research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize these newly
identified candidate melanoma diagnostic and prognostic markers. Please
contact NHGRI's Technology Development Coordinator (TDC) Claire T.
Driscoll at cdriscol@mail.nih.gov for more information.
T Cells Attacking Cancer: T Cell Receptors That Recognize the
Tyrosinase Tumor Antigen
Description of Technology: A problem with current chemotherapy-
based cancer treatments is the harsh side-effects associated with many
cancer drugs. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic
strategies combining fewer side-effects and more specific anti-tumor
activity. Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) is a promising new
immunotherapeutic approach to treat cancer and other diseases by
directing an individual's innate and adaptive immune system to
recognize specific disease-associated antigens.
T cell receptors (TCRs) are proteins that recognize antigens in the
context of infected or transformed cells and activate T cells to
mediate an immune response and destroy abnormal cells. TCRs consist of
two domains, one variable domain that recognizes the antigen and one
constant region that helps the TCR anchor to the membrane and transmit
recognition signals by interacting with other proteins.
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have isolated
T cells that recognize the human tyrosinase tumor-associated antigen
(TAA) from the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) of a melanoma
cancer patient. The human tyrosinase antigen is a tumor antigen
expressed in a variety of cancers, including skin cancer (melanoma) and
brain cancer (glioblastoma). Utilizing the tyrosinase specific T cells,
these scientists developed human/mouse hybrid TCRs with enhanced
affinity for the tyrosinase TAA. The TCR sequences were modified by
making specific amino acid substitutions and replacing certain TCR
regions with mouse homologues. These TCRs also showed CD8-independency
and, thus, can be expressed in both CD8 and CD4 T cells. T cells
expressing these engineered TCRs recognize skin and brain tumor cells
in culture. These T cells also exhibit enhanced cytokine induction and
better tumor reactivity compared to unmodified TCRs. Previous versions
of gene-modified T cells developed by NIH researchers demonstrated
objective clinical responses in some cancer patients, which have
validated gene-modified T cell immunotherapy as a promising cancer
treatment strategy. TCRs directed against the tyrosinase TAA could
serve as valuable new immunotherapeutic tools for attacking tumors,
especially in patients whose tumors do not express other common TAAs.
Applications
Immunotherapeutics to treat and/or prevent the recurrence
of a variety of human cancers, including melanomas and glioblastomas,
that express tyrosinase by transferring T cells engineered with
tyrosinase-specific TCRs into cancer patients.
[[Page 26708]]
A drug component of a combination immunotherapy regimen
aimed at targeting the specific tumor-associated antigens expressed by
the cancer cells of individual patients.
Immunotherapeutic to treat and/or prevent tumors that do
not express other common tumor-associated antigens, such as MART-1,
gp100, and NY-ESO-1.
Advantages
The parent tyrosinase-specific TCR was isolated from tumor
infiltrating lymphocytes, so the genetically-modified versions should
have an elevated affinity for tyrosinase.
The tyrosinase-specific T cells recognize skin and brain
cancer cells in culture. These T cells are predicted to have broad
anti-cancer activity once developed to a clinical level.
CD8 independency: The tyrosinase-specific TCRs can be
expressed in both CD8 and CD4 T cells to maximize the cell-mediated
immune response to the tumor.
The tyrosinase-specific T cells should not be rejected by
a patient's immune system since the mouse tyrosinase-recognition
enhancing TCR sequences are incorporated into a human TCR backbone.
Market: Cancer continues to be a medical and financial burden on
U.S. public health. According to U.S. estimates, cancer is the second
leading cause of death with over 565,000 deaths reported in 2008 and
almost 1.5 million new cases were reported (excluding some skin
cancers) in 2008. In 2007, the NIH estimated that the overall cost of
cancer was $219.2 billion dollars and $89 billion went to direct
medical costs. Despite our increasing knowledge of oncology and cancer
treatment methods, the fight against cancer will continue to benefit
from the development of new therapeutics aimed at treating individual
patients.
Inventors: Steven A. Rosenberg et al. (NCI).
Development Status: This technology is in the pre-clinical stage of
development. The inventors plan to develop the technology into clinical
grade reagent for a clinical trial if the pre-clinical data continues
to show promising results.
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/147,846 filed 28
Jan 2009 (HHS Reference No. E-043-2009/0-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contact: Samuel E. Bish, PhD; 301-435-5282;
bishse@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute,
Surgery Branch, Tumor Immunology Section, is seeking statements of
capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative
research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize T Cells
Attacking Cancer: T Cell Receptors that Recognize the Tyrosinase Tumor
Antigen. Please contact John D. Hewes, PhD at 301-435-3121 or
hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Genomics-Based Diagnostic Assay for Cancer
Description of Technology: Molecular profiling with high throughput
assays has gained utility in the management of select cancer patients
and several gene expression-based assays are now marketed for improved
prognostic accuracy for patients with cancer.
This technology describes a genomics based diagnostic assay for the
diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients. Using a mouse model of
breast cancer, the inventors identified a gene expression signature
that can predict the outcome for human breast cancer patients with as
few as six genes. The gene signature includes a total of 79 cancer
survival factor-associated genes and was validated using available
genomic test sets that were based on previously conducted human
clinical trials. More recently, the six-gene-model was validated for
cancers other than breast using multiple, independent, publicly-
available human lung cancer datasets. In addition to predicting the
outcome of cancer patients, this technology could also be used to
stratify patients for further therapy and treat patients by
administering therapeutic agents that alter the activity of one of the
aforementioned cancer survival factor-associated genes.
Applications
Methods for cancer diagnosis and prognosis by evaluating
expression levels of certain cancer survival factor-associated
molecules in patients.
Treatment of cancer by administering therapeutic agents
that alter biological activity of cancer survival factor-associated
molecule.
Advantages: Prognostic outcome of breast and lung cancer patients
can be identified in as few as six genes.
Development Status: Pre-clinical stage of development.
Inventors: Steven K. Libutti and Mei He (NCI).
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/152,597 filed 13
Feb 2009 (HHS Reference No. E-023-2009/0-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contact: Whitney A. Hastings; 301-451-7337;
hastingsw@mail.nih.gov.
New Weapons To Attack Cancer: T Cell Receptors Designed To Recognize
Tumors With Enhanced Affinity
Description of Technology: Given the unpleasant side-effects
associated with many cancer drugs, there is an urgent need to develop
new therapeutic strategies combining fewer side-effects and more
specific anti-tumor activity. Adoptive immunotherapy is a promising new
approach to cancer treatment that engineers an individual's innate and
adaptive immune system to fight against specific diseases, including
cancer.
T cell receptors (TCRs) are proteins that recognize antigens in the
context of infected or transformed cells and activate T cells to
mediate an immune response and destroy abnormal cells. TCRs consist of
two domains, one variable domain that recognizes the antigen and one
constant region that helps the TCR anchor to the membrane and transmit
recognition signals by interacting with other proteins.
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have
developed T cells with an enhanced ability to recognize the tumor
associated antigens (TAAs) NY-ESO-1 and MART-1. These T cells were
engineered to increase their ability to recognize these TAAs by making
small genetic modifications to the TCRs that recognize these TAAs. NY-
ESO-1 is a cancer-testis antigen found in normal testis and various
tumors. MART-1 is a melanoma antigen found on normal melanocytes and
overexpressed in malignant melanomas. Previous versions of gene-
modified T cells developed by these researchers to attack tumors
demonstrated objective clinical responses in some cancer patients,
which validated gene-modified T cell adoptive immunotherapy as a
promising cancer treatment strategy. These latest versions of the NY-
ESO-1 and MART-1 specific TCRs, designated 1G4 NY-ESO-1 and DMF5 MART-
1, were rationally engineered to enhance anti-tumor activity. These
TCRs cause T cells to exhibit enhanced cytokine production and
increased lysis of tumor cells when stimulated with NY-ESO-1 or MART-1.
Infusing these T cells into patients via adoptive immunotherapy could
prove to be powerful new tools for attacking tumors.
Applications
Immunotherapeutics to treat and/or prevent the recurrence
of a variety of
[[Page 26709]]
human cancers that overexpress the NY-ESO-1 or MART-1 TAA, including
melanoma, lung, breast, ovarian, prostate, thyroid, and bladder cancer,
by adoptively transferring gene-modified T cells into patients.
A drug component of a combination immunotherapy regimen
aimed at targeting the specific tumor-associated antigens expressed by
cancer cells within individual patients.
Advantages
NY-ESO-1 and MART-1 are overexpressed on a variety of
cancers. Thus, this gene-modified TCR immunotherapy has wide
applicability to treat a host of cancer types while reducing the side-
effects of treatment.
These latest engineered TCRs have improved affinity for
their corresponding TAA compared to previously developed TCRs with
modified sequences.
Development Status: These technologies are in clinical development.
A clinical protocol (08-C-0121) is being conducted with the enhanced
1G4 NY-ESO-1 TCR.
Market: Cancer continues to be a medical and financial burden on
U.S. public health. According to U.S. estimates, cancer is the second
leading cause of death with over 565,000 deaths reported in 2008 and
almost 1.5 million new cases were reported (excluding some skin
cancers) in 2008. In 2007, the NIH estimated that the overall cost of
cancer was $219.2 billion dollars and $89 billion went to direct
medical costs. Despite our increasing knowledge of oncology and cancer
treatment methods, the fight against cancer will continue to benefit
from the development of new therapeutics aimed at treating individual
patients.
Inventors: Paul F. Robbins et al. (NCI).
Publications
1. PF Robbins et al. Single and dual amino acid substitutions in
TCR CDRs can enhance antigen-specific T cell functions. J Immunol. 2008
May 1;180(9):6116-6131.
2. Y Zhao et al. High-affinity TCRs generated by phage display
provide CD4+ T cells with the ability to recognize and kill tumor cell
lines. J Immunol. 2007 Nov 1;179(9):5845-5854.
Patent Status
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/974,872 filed
25 Sep 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-312-2007/0-US-01).
PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2008/77333 filed 23 Sep
2008 (HHS Reference No. E-312-2007/1-PCT-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contact: Samuel E. Bish, PhD; 301-435-5282;
bishse@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute,
Center for Cancer Research, Surgery Branch, is seeking statements of
capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative
research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize TCRs that
enhance the function of gene-modified T cells. Please contact John D.
Hewes, PhD at 301-435-3121 or hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Steroid Derivatives as Inhibitors of Human Tyrosyl-DNA
Phosphodiesterase (Tdp1)
Description of Technology: Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase (Tdp1) is
an enzyme that repairs topoisomerase I (Top1)-mediated DNA damage
induced by chemotherapeutic agents and ubiquitous DNA lesions that
interfere with transcription. The current technology are steroid
derivatives that human inhibit Tdp1.
Currently, there are various types of Top1 inhibitors used in
chemotherapy, e.g., camptothecin. However, Tdp1 inhibitors are expected
to be effective in combination therapy with Top1 inhibitors for the
treatment of cancers. Combining Tdp1 inhibitors with Top1 inhibitors
would allow Tdp1 to potentiate the antiproliferative activity of Top1
inhibitors. In addition to Tdp1's effect on Top1, Tdp1 inhibitors can
also exhibit antitumor activity independently, as tumors are shown to
have excess free radicals, and Tdp1 repairs DNA damage by oxygen
radicals.
Applications: It is anticipated that Tdp1 inhibitors in association
with Top1 inhibitors can have selective activity toward tumor tissues.
Tdp1 inhibitors may exhibit antitumor activity by themselves because
tumors have excess free radicals.
Development Status: The technology is currently in the pre-clinical
stage of development.
Inventors: Yves Pommier et al. (NCI)
Relevant Publication: A manuscript directly related to the above
technology will be available as soon as it is accepted for publication.
Patent Status: PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/004541 filed 5 Apr
2008, claiming priority to 5 Apr 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-130-2007/2-
PCT-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contact: Betty Tong, Ph.D.; 301-594-6565;
tongb@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The Center for Cancer Research,
National Cancer Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, is
seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in
collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize
inhibitors of Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase (Tdp1). Please contact John
D. Hewes, Ph.D. at 301-435-3121 or hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more
information.
Method for Spectroscopic Quantitation of HER2 in Biological Samples
Description of Technology: An important clinical objective in
certain cancer patients is the quantitation of HER2. The level of HER2
expression in some tumors correlates with disease stage and severity.
For example, HER2 positive breast cancer is a more aggressive disease
with a greater likelihood of recurrence, a poorer prognosis, and a
decreased chance of survival compared with HER2-negative breast cancer.
This invention discloses a mass spectrometry method for
quantitatively measuring HER2 in a variety of biological samples such
as tissue, serum, or plasma. This invention is unlike traditional
assays that use antibodies for detection of a HER2 and is superior to
the current immunohistochemistry methods to stage tumor development.
Consequently, a mass spectrometry-based clinical assay could be used to
allow physicians to more effectively determine patient treatment.
Furthermore, since this technology can also be used to assay formalin-
fixed prostate tissue (FFPE) tissues, it could be a useful biomarker
for pathology labs.
Applications
Diagnostic assay for cancer that measures HER2 levels in
clinical samples, such as tissues and biological fluids.
Prognostic assay to determine the stage of cancer and the
appropriate cancer treatment.
Research tool that could be used to correlate HER2
expression with the expression of other proteins.
Market
This novel in vitro diagnostic test for cancer has use in
oncology and pathology laboratories of hospitals and commercial
clinical laboratories.
In the United States, almost 1.5 million new cancer cases
are expected to be diagnosed in 2009.
Development Status: Pre-clinical stage of development.
[[Page 26710]]
Inventors: Thomas P. Conrads (NCI) et al.
Relevant Publications
1. BL Hood, MM Darfler, TG Guiel, B Furusato, DA Lucas, BR
Ringeisen, IA Sesterhenn, TP Conrads, TD Veenstra, DB Krizman.
Proteomic analysis of formalin-fixed prostate tissue. Mol Cell
Proteomics 2005 Nov;4(11):1741-1753.
2. DA Prieto, BL Hood, MM Darfler, TG Guiel, DA Lucas, TP Conrads,
TD Veenstra, DB Krizman. Liquid tissue\TM\: proteomic profiling of
formalin fixed tissues. Biotechniques 2005 Jun;38:S32-S35.
3. DS Kirkpatrick, SA Gerber, SP Gygi. The absolute quantification
strategy: A general procedure for the quantification of proteins and
post-translational modifications. Methods 2005 Mar;35(3):265-273.
4. AM Hawkridge et al. Quantitative mass spectral evidence for the
absence of circulating brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-32) in severe
human heart failure. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005 Nov 29;102(48):17442-
17447.
5. L Anderson and CL Hunter. Quantitative mass spectrometric MRM
assays for major plasma proteins. Mol Cell Proteomics 2006
Apr;5(4):573-588.
Patent Status: PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/003478 filed 4 Sep
2008 (HHS Reference No. E-204-2006/0-PCT-01).
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Licensing Contact: Whitney Hastings; 301-451-7337;
hastingw@mail.nih.gov.
Tools To Identify Candidates for Effective Cancer Therapy: Antibodies
to Human Asparagine Synthetase
Description of Technology: Scientists at the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) have developed peptide-specific polyclonal antibodies
against human asparagine synthetase (ASNS), the enzyme that forms
asparagine from aspartate using ATP. ASNS serves as a key biomarker for
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and other malignancies because these
cancer cells express little or no ASNS compared to normal cells. As a
result, these leukemia cells must acquire asparagine from the
bloodstream to survive and proliferate to form tumors. Patients with
ALL can be treated with L-asparaginase (L-ASP) to break down asparagine
in the body and starve leukemia cells by preventing them from acquiring
asparagine. The anti-ASNS antibodies could be used to detect ASNS
levels in patient samples to help select patients that could benefit
from L-ASP therapy. Studies at the NIH have shown that L-ASP therapy
may prove to be a useful treatment for other types of cancer besides
leukemia.
Applications
Diagnostic tool to detect levels of asparagine synthetase
(ASNS) in human samples to identify cancer patients that can benefit
from L-asparaginase (L-ASP) treatment.
Screening tool to identify other cancer cell types
treatable by L-ASP therapy, such as ovarian cancer cells, which show
diminished ASNS levels.
Research tool to quantitate levels of ASNS in laboratory
procedures, including various immunoassays, flow cytometry, and tissue
sample analysis.
Advantages: These antibodies have been validated in immunoassays
that showed that ASNS expression in a strong predictor of L-ASP
efficacy in NCI-60 ovarian cancer cell lines.
Inventors: Paul K. Goldsmith et al. (NCI).
Relevant Publications
1. PL Lorenzi et al. Asparagine synthetase as a causal, predictive
biomarker for L-asparaginase activity in ovarian cancer cells. Mol
Cancer Ther. 2006 Nov;5(11):2613-2623.
2. KJ Bussey et al. Integrating data on DNA copy number with gene
expression levels and drug sensitivities in the NCI-60 cell line panel.
Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 Apr;5(4):853-867.
3. PL Lorenzi et al. Asparagine synthetase as a predictive
biomarker for L-asparaginase activity in ovarian cancer cells. Mol
Cancer Ther. 2008 Oct;7(10):3123-3128.
Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E-101-2006/0--Research Tool.
Patent protection is not being pursued for this technology.
Licensing Status: Available for licensing under a Biological
Materials License Agreement.
Licensing Contact: Samuel E. Bish, Ph.D.; 301-435-5282;
bishse@mail.nih.gov.
Mouse Model With Targeted Disruption of the Neurofibromatosis Type-1
(Nf1) Gene
Description of Technology: This invention relates to a mouse model
having a targeted disruption of the neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1)
gene.
The neurofibromatosis (NF1) gene shows significant homology to
mammalian GAP and is an important regulator of the Ras signal
transduction pathway. To study the function of NF1 in normal
development and to develop a mouse model of NF1 disease, the inventors
have used gene targeting in ES cells to generate mice carrying a null
mutation at the mouse Nf1 locus. Although heterozygous mutant mice,
aged up to 10 months, have not exhibited any obvious abnormalities,
homozygous mutant embryos die in utero. Embryonic death is likely
attributable to a severe malformation of the heart. Interestingly,
mutant embryos also display hyperplasia of neural crest-derived
sympathetic ganglia. These results identify new roles for NF1 in
development and indicate that some of the abnormal growth phenomena
observed in NF1 patients can be recapitulated in neurofibromin-
deficient mice. In addition, lethally-irradiated wild type mice
transplanted with fetal liver cells taken from NF1 null embryos develop
a form of juvenile chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) that is very
similar to what is seen in children with NF1 disease.
Applications
Research tool in studying some forms of human neuron
diseases/injuries in addition to juvenile chronic myelomonocytic
leukemia (JMML).
Testing various therapeutic treatments for this disease.
Inventors: Neal G. Copeland et al. (NCI).
Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E-162-2004/0--Research Tool.
Patent protection is not being pursued for this technology.
Licensing Status: Available for licensing under a Biological
Materials License Agreement.
Licensing Contact: Betty Tong, Ph.D.; 301-594-6565;
tongb@mail.nih.gov.
Dated: May 27, 2009.
Richard U. Rodriguez,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E9-12874 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 am]
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