The deals collection - February 2019

NIAID researchers have discovered that blocking CD300f function in dendritic cells markedly enhances their ability to phagocytose and process apoptotic tumor cells, leading to substantial inhibition of tumor growth. Inhibiting CD300f function on dendritic cells could be a promising anti-cancer therapy, especially in the settings where blocking of T cell checkpoint receptors has been ineffective.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Dec 10, 2018

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Prefusion HPIV F Immunogens and Their Use: Licensing Opportunity

Researchers at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases created immunogenic PIV fusion (F) glycoproteins for types 1,2,3 and 4 (hPIV1, hPIV2, hPIV3 and hPIV4) that have been modified to stabilize the prefusion conformation. These stabilized prefusion F immunogens, especially hPIV3, induced high titer neutralizing responses in mice and rhesus macaques, and should thus serve as promising candidates for the prevention of PIV infection in humans.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Dec 10, 2018

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Methods of Diagnosing and Treating CHAPLE, A Newly Identified Orphan Disease: Collaborative Research and Licensing Opportunity

This technology is directed towards a potential treatment for a new disease, CHAPLE (Complement Hyperactivation, Angiopathic thrombosis, and Protein-Losing Enteropathy), identified by NIAID researchers. CHAPLE is associated with GI symptoms and vascular thrombosis and is caused by loss-of-function variants in the gene encoding the complement regulatory protein CD55. Recent off-label use of a complement inhibiting drug, eculizumab (CD55 inhibitor) was shown to provide a dramatic benefit in patients with CHAPLE disease with an immediate correction of gastrointestinal protein loss. Thus, identification of CD55 deficiency in CHAPLE patients, and the possibility to use complement inhibitory drugs provide opportunities for treatment.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Dec 10, 2018

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A New Class of Immunomodulatory Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis: Collaborative Research and Licensing Opportunity

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease caused by activated autoimmune T lymphocytes in patients resulting in inflammatory demyelination in the central nervous system. A specific therapy aimed at eliminating these autoimmune T cells through restimulation-induced cell death (RICD) could cure the disease and overcome the fatal side effects of current therapies. NIAID inventors have identified a multi-valent tolerogen (MMPt), which can specifically elicit RICD of the activated, disease causing autoimmune T cells without compromising the general T cell-dependent immunity in the host. Animal studies have demonstrated that MMPt exerts robust therapeutic effects on both monophasic as well as relapsing-remitting type of the disease, indicating its medical applicability for treating MS patients with active disease.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Dec 10, 2018

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Recombinant RSV B1 expressing eGFP as a reporter gene: Collaborative Research and Licensing Opportunity

The present invention provides a reverse genetics system encoding strain B1 of RSV subgroup B containing a codon-optimized G ORF and encoding eGFP. This provides a tool for RSV subgroup B serology assays, for tracking RSV infection, and a starting point for making attenuated subgroup B strains for vaccine purposes.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Dec 10, 2018

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Attenuated Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 1 Expressing Ebola Virus Glycoprotein GP as an Intranasal Ebola Vaccine; Licensing and Collaborative Research Opportunity

The NIH/NIAID has developed recombinant human parainfluenza virus type 1 (rHPIV1) bearing a stabilized attenuating mutation in the P/C gene to express the membrane-anchored form of Ebola virus glycoprotein GP as an intranasal (IN) Ebola virus vaccine.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Dec 10, 2018

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Glycan-masked engineered outer domains of HIV-1 GP120 and Their Use: Licensing Opportunity

Researchers at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases introduced multiple N-linked glycosylation sites to mask non- conserved CD4-binding site regions of eOD-GT8 60mer to focus the antibody immune response to the CD4bs. Due to their improved antigenic and immunogenic profiles, glycan-masked eOD-GT8 60mer mutants may serve as improved priming immunogens to elicit VRC01-class broadly neutralizing antibodies in humans.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Dec 07, 2018

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Stabilized Group 2 Influenza Hemagglutinin Stem Region Trimers and Uses: Licensing Opportunity

Researchers at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have designed influenza vaccine candidates based on group 2 influenza hemagglutinin (HA) proteins. These group 2 HA proteins were engineered to remove the highly variable head region and stabilize the remaining stem region. The researchers then fused the engineered group 2 HA stabilized stem with a ferritin subunit. These immunogens elicit cross-reactive antibodies to group 2 influenza viruses and could be used in combination with group 1 HA stem-ferritin immunogens as a universal influenza vaccine.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Nov 27, 2018

Substitutions-modified Prefusion RSV F Proteins and their Use: Collaboration and Licensing Opportunity

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Substitutions-modified Prefusion RSV F Proteins and their Use: Collaboration and Licensing Opportunity

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Nov 27, 2018

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Self-assembling Insect Ferritin Nanoparticles for Display of Co-assembled Trimeric Antigens

Researchers at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases are developing novel recombinant ferritin nanoparticles that are based on insect ferritin proteins, and that have been engineered to display two different trimeric antigens in a defined ratio and geometric pattern. An animal study demonstrated that after immunization with ferritin nanoparticles displaying two different trimeric antigens induced B cells could simultaneously recognize both trimeric antigens, thus leading to an immune response with improved neutralization breadth.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Nov 27, 2018

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HIV-1 Env Fusion Peptide Immunogens and Their Use - Licensing Opportunity

Researchers at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases designed fusion peptide immunogens that were comprised of the exposed residues of the fusion peptide coupled to highly immunogenic carrier proteins to focus the immune response. The fusion peptide can be displayed on scaffold proteins and – when coupled to HIV-1 Env trimer boosts – has the potential to elicit antibodies capable of neutralizing diverse HIV-1 strains in mice, guinea pigs and rhesus macaques, and might therefore serve as the basis for an effective HIV vaccine.

NIAID Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office

Nov 27, 2018