[Federal Register: February 13, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 30, Page 5565-5566]


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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The inventions listed below are owned by agencies 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 U.S. 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 specialist 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.

Antipsychotic Composition and Method for Treatment

Pickar, D., Litman, R.E., Potter, W.Z. (NIMH)
Filed 7 Jun 95
Serial No. 08/479,039 (CIP of 07/987,728)
Licensing Contact: Stephen Finley, 301/496-7735 ext 215

This invention comprises a novel treatment method for patients
suffering from serious psychotic mental illness that offers to
significantly improve the treatment of such illnesses. Conventional
antipsychotic drugs are effective in improving symptoms of
schizophrenia, but a significant number of patients have proven
resistant to such treatments. Recently, the drug clozapine has been
found effective in treating such drug-resistant patients; however,
clozapine has severe toxic side effects. This newly developed treatment
method, which combines the use of an 2-adrenergic
receptor antagonist with a standard antipsychotic drug, is effective in
treating psychosis without serious side effects. It is especially
effective in patients who previously had been resistant to treatment
with standard antipsychotic drugs alone. (portfolio: Central Nervous
System--Therapeutics, psychotherapeutics, antipsychotics)

Amino Acid Sequencing Peptides and Methods for Their Use

Parmelee, D.C., Sechi, S. (NCI)
Filed 6 Feb 95
Serial No. 08/384,212 (DIV of 07/920,130)
Licensing Contact: J. Peter Kim, 301/496-7056 ext 264

The present invention provides a novel internal standard for amino
acid sequencing which consist of a peptide containing at least two
different unnatural amino acid residues, such as ornithine, norvaline,
norleucine and -aminobutyric acid. The PTH-derivatives of
these have retention times distinct from those of natural amino acids.
This peptide can be sequenced simultaneously with an unknown peptide or
protein without interfering with the analysis. Simultaneous sequencing
of this standard provides information which allows for the
determination of repetitive yields, lags, N-terminal blockage and
discrimination between blank cycles caused by missed injection and
blank cycles caused by faulty delivery of chemicals during the
sequencing reactions. (portfolio: Gene-

[[Page 5566]]
Based Therapies--Research Tools and Reagents)

4' -and 4',4''-Substituted-3(Diphenylmethoxy)Tropane Analogs
as Cocaine Therapeutics

Newman, A.H., Allen, A.C., Kline, R.H., Izenwasser, S., Katz, J.L.
(NIDA)
Filed 21 Jun 95
Serial No. 60/000,378
Licensing Contact: Leopold J. Luberecki, Jr., 301/496-7735 ext 223

The invention provides a series of 4'- and 4',4''-substituted
benztropine analogs that demonstrate high affinity binding
(K1<30nM) to the dopamine transporter and bind selectively (>100-
fold) over the other monoamine transporters. These compounds block
dopamine reuptake in vitro and yet do not demonstrate a cocaine-like
behavioral profile in animal models of psychomotor stimulant abuse.
Structure-Activity Relationships suggest that these compounds interact
at a binding domain that differs from that of cocaine at the dopamine
transporter. These compounds represent an unprecedented class of
dopamine uptake inhibitors that may have potential as cocaine-abuse
therapeutics, since they have neurochemical similarities to cocaine and
yet do not appear to have abuse liability. Further, radiolabeled
analogs will be suitable for imaging the dopamine transporter in
mammalian brain using SPECT and PET and thus would be useful in the
diagnoses and monitoring of neurodegenerative disorders involving the
dopaminergic system (e.g., Parkinson's disease). In addition, the
invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an analog of
the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier excipient.
(portfolio: Central Nervous System--Therapeutics, psychotherapeutics,
drug dependence; Central Nervous System--Therapeutics, neurological,
antiparkinsonian)

Alzheimer's Disease Index (ADI)

Alkon, D.L. (NINDS)
Filed 26 Sep 95
DHHS Reference No. E-092-93/2
Licensing Contact: Stephen Finley, 301/496-7735 ext 215

Under currently available technology, Alzheimer's disease can only
be presumptively diagnosed by pathological examination of brain tissue
during autopsy in conjunction with a clinical history of dementia. The
present invention provides a highly reliable laboratory method of
identifying Alzheimer's disease in a patient. The method consists of:
measuring the presence or absence of a specific potassium channel,
measuring the effect of potassium channel blockers specific for the 113
pS potassium channel on intracellular calcium levels, measuring the
increase of intracellular calcium in response to an activator of
intracellular calcium release in the cells of a patient, and measuring
the amount of the G-protein, cp20. An index calculated on the basis of
any two of these four tests identifies Alzheimer's disease with very
high sensitivity and specificity (n=100, initial sample) in comparisons
between Alzheimer's disease patients and other non-Alzheimer's
dementias as well as age-matched controls. (portfolio: Central Nervous
System--Diagnostics, in vitro, other).

Dated: February 6, 1996.
Barbara M. McGarey,
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 96-3184 Filed 2-12-96; 8:45 am]