34694 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 121 / Monday, June 25, 2007 / Notices 

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. 

Zscan4: A Gene Critical for Early 

Embryonic Development 

Description of Technology: Activation 

of transcription from the embryonic 

genome, known as zygotic genome 

activation (ZGA), marks the key switch 

from maternal to embryonic control of 

development and establishes gene 

expression patterns required for 

continued development of the embryo. 

Genes expressed during ZGA may be 

important for assisted reproductive 

technologies, and in stem cell research 

and development. 

The inventors have identified Zscan4, 

a gene expressed solely in late 2-cell 

stage embryos and in embryonic stem 

cells. Inhibition of Zscan4 expression 

using siRNA techniques delays 

progression from the 2-cell stage to the 

4-cell stage, and produces blastocysts 

that fail to implant in the mouse 

embryo. Thus, Zscan4 plays an essential 

role in early embryonic development, 

with potential applications for the 

development of stem cell therapeutics. 

The invention discloses methods of 

promoting blastocyst outgrowth of 

embryonic stem cells. Also disclosed are 

Zscan4 expression vectors and methods 

of identifying a subpopulation of stem 

cells expressing Zscan4. 

Applications: Development of stem 

cell therapeutics; Assisted reproduction 

technologies and studies of early 

embryonic development. 

Market: State and federal funding for 

stem cell research is predicted to reach 

$10 billion by 2018. 

Development Status: Early stage. 

Inventors: Minoru S. Ko et al. (NIA). 

Publications: Geppino Falco et al. 

Zscan4: A novel gene expressed 

exclusively in late 2-cell embryos and 

embryonic stem cells. Dev Biol., in 

press. 

Patent Status: U.S. Provisional 

Application No. 60/920,215 filed 26 Mar 

2007 (HHS Reference No. E–088–2007/ 

0–US–01). 

Licensing Status: Available for 

exclusive or non-exclusive licensing. 

Licensing Contact: Tara L. Kirby, 

Ph.D.; 301/435–4426; 

tarak@mail.nih.gov. 

Retrovirus Packaging Cell Lines Based 

on Gibbon Ape Leukemia Virus 

Description of Technology: Gene 

therapy and gene transfer have recently 

been recognized as effective therapeutic 

tools to combat diseases. Accordingly, 

market demands for vectors and carriers 

to facilitate such interventions have 

surged in recent years. Retroviral 

vectors provide an efficient and safe 

means of gene transfer to eukaryotic 

cells. The present invention relates to 

genetic engineering involving retrovirus 

packaging cells that produce retroviral 

vectors. Specifically, the invention 

involves the expression plasmids 

encoding the envelope glycoproteins of 

a family of primate type C retrovirus, 

namely, the Gibbon Ape leukemia virus 

(GALV). Recombinant vectors derived 

from murine leukemia virus (MLV) have 

been widely used to introduce genes in 

human gene therapy clinical trials. A 

key determinant for their use in clinical 

gene therapy is the availability of 

packaging cell lines capable of 

producing large amounts of virus with 

identical titers. The present invention 

describes the packaging cell lines that 

produce MLV-based gene transfer 

vectors with the envelope from gibbon 

ape leukemia virus. Retroviral vectors 

produced are of high titer and have an 

expanded host range providing a means 

for gene transfer to a wide range of 

animal species. The gene transfer 

vectors produced are non-infectious and 

there was no evidence of production of 

helper virus, making these vectors safe. 

These cell lines are critical for 

producing large amounts of 

standardized vector necessary for 

efficient in vivo and ex vivo gene 

transfer. Therefore, this invention has a 

significant commercial application as a 

tool in the development of diagnostic 

and therapeutic interventions related to 

gene transfer and gene therapy. 

Inventors: Maribeth V. Eiden (NIMH) 

et al. 

Patent Status: U.S. Patent No. 

5,470,726 issued 28 Nov 1995 (HHS 

Reference No. E–201–1991/0–US–02). 

Licensing Status: Available for nonexclusive licensing. 

Licensing Contact: Tara L. Kirby, 

Ph.D.; 301/435–4426; 

tarak@mail.nih.gov. 

Collaborative Research Opportunity: 

The National Institute of Mental Health, 

Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular 

Regulation, is seeking statements of 

capability or interest from parties 

interested in collaborative research to 

further develop, evaluate, or 

commercialize the Gibbon Ape 

leukemia virus (GALV) packaging cell 

line. Please contact Suzanne Winfield at 

winfiels@mail.nih.gov for more 

information. 

Dated: June 14, 2007. 

Steven M. Ferguson, 

Director, Division of Technology Development 

and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer, 

National Institutes of Health. 

[FR Doc. E7–12174 Filed 6–22–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

National Center on Minority Health and 

Health Disparities; Notice of Closed 

Meeting 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of the following 

meeting. 

The meeting will be closed to the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions set forth in sections 

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., 

as amended. The grant applications and 

the discussions could disclose 

confidential trade secrets or commercial 

property such as patentable material, 

and personal information concerning 

individuals associated with the grant 

applications, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy. 

Name of Committee: National Center 

on Minority Health and Health 

Disparities Special Emphasis Panel; 

NCMHD Conference Grant Application. 

Date: July 19, 2007. 

Time: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications and/or proposals. 

Place: National Institutes of Health, 

Two Democracy Plaza, 6707 Democracy 

Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892, 

(Virtual Meeting). 

Contact Person: Robert Nettey, MD, 

Scientific Review Administrator, 

National Institute on Minority Health, 

and Health Disparities, 6707 Democracy 

Blvd., Suite 800, Bethesda, MD 20892, 

301–496–3996. 

Dated: June 15, 2007. 

Jennifer Spaeth, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy. 

[FR Doc. 07–3080 Filed 6–22–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M 


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