| Recently Issued U.S. Patents |
Methods of treating a deficiency of functional tripeptidyl peptidase I (CLN2) protein; (Peter Lobel, David Sleat), US Patent # 8,029,781. The present invention relates to a method for treating a patient having disorder characterized by a deficient amount of functional CLN2 protein in the affected cells, which comprises administering to the patient an amount of CLN2 protein effective to reduce or eliminate the symptoms caused by the deficiency in CLN2 protein.
Methods and means for increasing resistance to cell damage; (Alexey Ryazanov, Hsueh-Ping Chu), US Patent # 8,030,286. Methods are provided to increase resistance to cell damage in a subject. The increase in resistance to cell damage in a subject in the subject is accomplished by decreasing activity of eEF2 kinase in the subject. The eEF2 kinase activity can be decreased by decreasing the amount of functional eEF2 kinase produced by the subject, including contacting the eEF2 kinase with a compound that inhibits phosphorylation of eEF2 kinase substrate or decreasing the amount of functional eEF2 kinase is decreased by reducing expression of a gene encoding the eEF2 kinase.
Methods for determining susceptibility to developmental disorders due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors; (William Johnson, Edward Stenroos), US Patent # 8,046,198. The present invention discloses a novel method for identifying an individual who may be susceptible to develop a developmental disorder (ie. schizophrenic). In addition, the present invention discloses a novel method for identifying individuals who are genetically susceptible to have offspring with a developmental disorder. Methods of diagnosing, preventing and treating developmental disorders such as schizophrenia are also provided.
Compositions for the treatment of cancer, and methods for testing and using the same; (Scott Kachlany), US Patent # 8,053,406. A composition comprising leukotoxin proteins isolated from a bacterium is provided. Also provided is a method of selectively inducing cell death in myeloid leukocytes. A method of purifying leukotoxin protein from the NJ4500 strain of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is also provided, as well as an assay that allows for the rapid determination of the activity of a given drug against leukemic cells either taken from a patient or derived from a cell line.
Dimethyl amino ethyl ether psoralens and methods for their production and use; (Jeffrey Laskin, Diane Heck, Ned Heindel), US Patent # 8,071,642.
Water-soluble dimethyl amino ethyl ether psoralens useful in the treatment of proliferative skin disorders, microbial infections and diseases, disorders of the blood and bone marrow of mammals and in microbiocidal compositions for sterilization of blood and blood products and surgical implants and inhibition of microbial growth in industrial applications are provided.Compositions and methods for modulating store-operated calcium entry; (Jianjie Ma, Noah Weisleder, Zui Pan), US Patent # 8,071,533. Compositions and methods for modulating activity of store-operated calcium entry in cells or tissues are provided. The compositions comprise the P311 protein, fused to a cell-penetrating peptide and formulated for delivery to tissues and cells. This protein has been shown to increase the levels of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in gingival cells, skeletal muscle cells, and prostate epithelial cells. Also provided are methods for preventing and treating diseases that involve administration of the P311 fusion protein, as well as methods for increasing levels of SOCE in cells.
For additional information on any of the above issued patents, please contact the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development at OTTBD@umdnj.edu.
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Recent License Agreements and Amendments
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Option Agreement to exclusively license novel interferon-associated technology developed at UMDNJ.
Amendment to the exclusive license agreement to a spin-off company, Clearview Diagnostics, Inc., to technology developed jointly between UMDNJ and Rutgers University.
Amendment to the exclusive license agreement to a spin-off company, to imaging technology developed jointly between UMDNJ and Rutgers University.
Option Agreement to a spin-off company to exclusively license novel technology aimed at developing anti-diabetes and anti-obesity therapies.
Exclusive license agreement with Aprenda Systems, LLC for a software technology.
Amendment to an existing non-exclusive license agreement for molecular beacon technology to include rights to additional intellectual property.
Non-exclusive license agreement for molecular beacon technology.
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Technology Spotlight: Potential Therapy for Batten Disease Being Developed |
| | Dr. Peter Lobel, PhD |
 | | Dr. David Sleat, PhD |
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Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (LINCL) or Batten Disease is a devastating and rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the CLN2 gene and protein (Tripeptidyl peptidase I, TPP1). Patients become symptomatic between the ages of 2 and 4 and experience cognitive impairment, visual failure, seizures, deteriorating motor development, and death by 8 to 12 years of age. While there is currently no effective treatment for this disease, symptoms are managed through the use of anti-epileptic drugs and physical, speech, and occupational therapies. Additional experimental therapies include the use of stem cells and gene therapy. However, there still exists a need to further develop effective treatments to better manage and treat this disorder specifically based on the CLN2 gene and protein. Dr. Peter Lobel, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Dr. David Sleat, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry-RWJMS, have developed a method for treating LINCL by administering CLN2 protein in an amount effective to reduce symptoms (Issued US Patent 8,029,781). This technology was exclusively licensed to a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes treatments for serious diseases. The current program focuses on a novel approach to developing enzyme replacement therapy for LINCL by concentrating on the TPP1 enzyme. Animal data demonstrate a favorable pharmokinetic profile and minimal toxicity. In addition, results show a delay in disease progression including improvement in cognitive function, reduction in ventricular enlargement, delay in neurodegeneration, and a reduction in storage accumulation. Research on this treatment method is ongoing and data suggest progression to clinical trials. To learn more about this technology, related patents, and ongoing research, please contact the UMDNJ Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development at OTTBD@umdnj.edu.
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Isolated DNA is Patentable ... For Now
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The U.S. Supreme Court may weigh in on the controversial issue of whether isolated gene sequences are different enough from natural DNA in the human body to be patentable. In this case, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) seeks to invalidate the patent on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which is owned by the University of Utah and licensed to Myriad Genetics. The ACLU has petitioned the Supreme Court to rule that patents on genes are invalid and unconstitutional, claiming that genes are not invented by any person and naturally occur in the human body. The ACLU and other organizations contend that allowing Myriad to own the gene sequences of BRCA1 and BRCA2, indicators of increased risk for breast cancer, hinders the research of and accessibility to diagnostic tests for breast cancer. On the other hand, Myriad argues that isolated DNA does not exist in nature and, unlike native DNA, it can be used as primers and probes for diagnosing cancer. Myriad further asserts that the ACLU's strict line of reasoning regarding the non-patentability of "products of nature" is impractical because every composition of matter is, at some level, composed of natural materials.
In July of last year, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that isolated gene sequences do not exist in nature and therefore can be patented (Association for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Fed. Cir. 2011). The Court explained that in isolating cDNA, the genes are separated from the bigger DNA polymer and chromosomes, and so are transformed and patentable. The test is whether the inventor has changed a natural chemical or biological entity so that it is "markedly different" or has "distinctive characteristics."
If the Supreme Court decides to hear the case, it would most likely be put on the docket for their next term, starting in October of 2012.
For more information on the court decision, please click here: http://www.genomicslawreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Decision-in-USPTO-vs-MYGN.pdf.
For more information on the ACLU's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, please click here: http://pub.bna.com/ptcj/MyriadCertPetDec7.pdf.
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News Flashes
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NAME CHANGE: The Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
The UMDNJ Office of Patents and Licensing (OPL) has changed its name! We are now referred to as the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development (OTTBD) to better reflect the broad mission of the office within the university. For all future communications we will use this new name. In addition, our new email address will be OTTBD@umdnj.edu.
2012 Howard Bremer Scholarship
Norell Hadzimichalis, PhD, of the UMDNJ Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development has been selected by the AUTM Foundation as a 2012 Howard Bremer Scholarship recipient. She will be representing the University at the Annual AUTM Meeting in March. For more information on AUTM and the AUTM Foundation please click here.
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Upcoming Events
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Transform Your TTO Into an Economic Development Engine Wednesday January 18, 2012
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Webinar
details
6th Annual Entrepreneurial University Startups Conference 2012 January 18-20, 2012
Washington, D.C.
details
Management of Intellectual Property for CINJ faculty
Wednesday January 25, 2012
12:00pm - 1:00pm CINJ Auditorium A
New Brunswick, NJ
Funding for startup companies through the Foundation Venture Capital Group
Office of Technology Transfer and Business development and The Foundation Venture Capital Group, LLC
Thursday February 16, 2012
4:00pm RWJMS - Clinical Academic Building Room 1302
New Brunswick, NJ
Funding for startup companies through the Foundation Venture Capital Group Office of Technology Transfer and Business development and The Foundation Venture Capital Group, LLC
Wednesday March 7, 2012 3:00pm SOM - Academic Center, Large Conference Room, 3rd floor Stratford, NJ OTTBD Faculty Education Seminar Series: What Every Faculty Member Needs to Know About Spin-Off Companies Reza Razavi, PhD; Director of New Ventures and Strategic Initiatives - Foundation Venture Capital Group, LLC Thursday March 8, 2012 2:00pm NJMS - MSB B610 Newark, NJ * Light refreshments will be served
BioNJ's Diagnostics & Personalized Medicine Innovation Summit and Funding Roundtable
Save the date: March 14, 2012
Princeton, NJ
details
AUTM 2012 Annual Meeting
March 14-17, 2012
Anaheim, CA
details
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UMDNJ Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
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UMDNJ Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development Staff
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From left to right: Sue Dolci, Laura Schepps, Vince Smeraglia, Norell Hadzimichalis, Susan Rae, Tania Litvin-Vechnyak, Tejal Talati (Not shown: Robert Bzdek, Lilly Cohen, Mona Daniels, Christopher Izzo, Nicole O'Hara)
For suggestions on future newsletter content, including upcoming events, news flashes, and articles please email OTTBD@umdnj.edu
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