Methods for Treating or Ameliorating Fibrosis by Inhibiting the Interaction between IL-21 Receptor (IL-21R) and IL-21

This invention includes methods for treating or ameliorating fibrosis by inhibiting the interaction between IL-21 Receptor (IL-21R) and IL-21 using either anti-IL-21R monoclonal antibodies (or binding fragments of anti-IL-21R mAbs), anti-IL-21 monoclonal antibodies (or binding fragments of anti-IL-21 mAbs) or soluble IL-21R (or binding fragments of IL-21R). It is believed that the TH2 immune response, induced by IL-21, plays a major role in the in the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis.

Novel Antigen for Use as Vaccine Against Nematode Infection

This invention describes a new vaccine against Strongyoides stercoralis, which establishes a parasitic infection that affects an estimated 100-200 million people worldwide. The potential for fatal disease associated with S. stercoralis infection and the difficulty in treating hyperinfection underscores the need for prophylactic vaccines against the disease. This vaccine uses S. stercoralis immunoreactive antigen (SsIR); a novel antigen capable of providing 70-90 % protection for mice immunized with the antigen.

Humanized Monoclonal Antibodies Specific Against Human Soluble Tissue Factor (hsTF) as Diagnosis, Prevention and Therapeutic Agents for Thrombosis

Summary:

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for a novel humanized monoclonal antibody (58B3) that selectively targets a newly identified soluble Tissue Factor (sTF) to diagnose, prevent and treat pathological thrombosis associated with inflammation, viral/bacterial infection, sepsis and cancer – without affecting normal hemostasis.

Angubindin-1 Peptide for Transient Blood-Brain Barrier Opening to Boost Chemotherapy in Malignant Glioma

This technology includes a first-in-class synthetic peptide, angubindin-1, designed to temporarily relax the blood-brain barrier (BBB)—the tightly sealed network of brain blood vessel cells that normally blocks most drugs—from the inside. By binding the tricellular tight-junction protein angulin-1/LSR, the peptide creates a reversible “molecular doorway” that lets cancer medicines such as liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®) reach tumors in the central nervous system (CNS).

A Novel System for Producing Infectious Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Virions and Development of a Novel Reporter System for Studying HCV Entry

HCV has infected an estimated 3% of the world population in whom viral infection persists for more than two third of the cases, often resulting in life-threatening complications. The standard of care (pegylated interferon alpha-2 plus ribavirin) is efficient in only 50% of treated patients, costly and has numerous side effects. In addition, viral resistance to newly developed drugs -- targeting viral protease or RNA polymerase -- has been described, but no vaccine is yet available.

Mouse Anti-Mouse CXCL9 (Mig) Monoclonal Antibodies

This technology describes monoclonal antibodies against mouse chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9), also known as Monokine induced by gamma interferon (Mig). CXCL9 is a secreted protein that functions to attract white cells and increased expression of CXCL9 has been linked to several diseases. The inventors at the NIH generated over 100 anti-mouse CXCL9 antibodies from a CLXL9/Mig knockout mouse and further characterized several antibodies to show neutralization of CXCL9.

CXCR4 Reduction Leads to Enhancement of Engraftment of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Methods of enhancing engraftment of donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by reducing expression or activity of CXCR4 in HSCs is described. HSC are the only cells in the bone marrow that are both pluripotent and long lived. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) using HSC is an increasingly common medical therapy for severe hematologic cancers and primary hematologic immunodeficiencies. However, for significant HSC engraftment to occur there must usually be pre-transplant conditioning with either irradiation or chemotherapy or both.

Potency Assay for Membrane Transporter Protein-based Drugs Acting on Antioxidant, Redox, and Apoptosis Response Pathways

This technology includes a method of analyzing the potency of membrane transporter protein-based drugs acting on intracellular antioxidant and redox response pathways (and associated apoptosis pathways), wherein the drug delivery and activity is lipid associated. The present invention is a cell-based bioassay for measuring the bioactivity of drug substance and formulated drug product by determining the drug's dose-dependent inhibitory effects on 4 hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)-induced antioxidant response element (ARE) activity.
Subscribe to Therapeutics