36240 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 22, 2009 / Notices 

Licensing Contact: Peter A. Soukas, 

J.D.; 301–435–4646; 

soukasp@mail.nih.gov. 

A Unique Infectious Hepatitis C Virus 

Clone, Strain HC–TN (genotype 1a) 

Description of Invention: It is 

anticipated that this infectious clone of 

hepatitis C virus (HCV) strain HC–TN 

(genotype 1a) will be useful for the 

development of vaccines and antiviral 

drugs that target HCV, genotype 1a. The 

HC–TN strain is unique because it has 

been shown to cause fulminant 

hepatitis. To date, only one other HCV 

strain, JFH1 (genotype 1b), has been 

isolated that is known to cause 

fulminant hepatitis. Additionally, little 

is known about the etiology of 

fulminant hepatitis C disease. Therefore, 

the HC–TN strain may be useful as a 

tool for studying the etiology of 

fulminant hepatitis. This invention 

includes the infectious clone, 

nucleotide sequences of the clone, and 

polypeptides encoded by the HC–TN 

clone. Methods are included for 

producing attenuated HCV, and for 

screening therapeutics against HCV and 

developing vaccines and diagnostics. 

Apparently, no companies or other 

laboratories have this HC–TN strain. 

The availability of the pHC–TN clone 

will be highly useful to pharmaceutical 

companies since no further research is 

required for its commercialization into, 

e.g., assays for testing antiviral 

compounds targeting HCV. 

Applications: 

• Production of attenuated viruses 

and polypeptides. 

• HCV vaccines, diagnostics, 

therapeutics and screening tool for antiHCV compounds. 

Advantages: There is no universally 

effective therapy against HCV infection. 

This invention enables development of 

vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics 

that are specific for the HC–TN strain or 

HCV genotype 1a. 

Development Status: The technology 

is currently in the preclinical stage of 

development. 

Market: More than 80% of the HCV 

infections in North and South America, 

Europe, Russia, China, Japan and 

Australia are genotype 1. The instant 

technology may be transferred through 

biological materials licenses for 

territories in which no patent rights 

exist. 

Inventors: Jens Bukh, Robert H. 

Purcell, Suzanne U. Emerson, Akito 

Sakai, Patrizia Farci (NIAID). 

Publication: A Sakai et al. In vivo 

study of the HC–TN strain of hepatitis 

C virus recovered from a patient with 

fulminant hepatitis: RNA transcripts of 

a molecular clone (pHC–TN) are 

infectious in chimpanzees but not in 

Huh7.5 cells. J Virol. 2007 

July;81(13):7208–7219. 

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Application 

No. 12/061,504 filed 02 April 2008 

(HHS Reference No. E–249–2007/0–US– 

01); No foreign rights available. 

Licensing Status: Available for 

licensing. 

Licensing Contact: RC Tang, JD, LLM; 

301–435–5031; tangrc@mail.nih.gov. 

Dated: July 13, 2009. 

Richard U. Rodriguez, 

Director, Division of Technology Development 

and Transfer, Office of Transfer, National 

Institutes of Health. 

[FR Doc. E9–17319 Filed 7–21–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

National Institute of Environmental 

Health Sciences; Notice of Closed 

Meeting 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. App.), 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 Institute of 

Environmental Health Sciences Special 

Emphasis Panel. Formative Children’s Center 

Review 2. 

Date: July 24, 2009. 

Time: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Place: Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas 

Circle, NW., Washington, DC 20005. 

Contact Person: Linda K. Bass, PhD, 

Scientific Review Administrator, Scientific 

Review Branch, Division of Extramural 

Research and Training, Nat. Institute 

Environmental Health Sciences, P. O. Box 

12233, MD EC–30, Research Triangle Park, 

NC 27709. (919) 541–1307. 

malone@niehs.nih.gov. 

This notice is being published less than 15 

days prior to the meeting due to the timing 

limitations imposed by the review and 

funding cycle. 

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 93.115, Biometry and Risk 

Estimation—Health Risks from 

Environmental Exposures; 93.142, NIEHS 

Hazardous Waste Worker Health and Safety 

Training; 93.143, NIEHS Superfund 

Hazardous Substances—Basic Research and 

Education; 93.894, Resources and Manpower 

Development in the Environmental Health 

Sciences; 93.113, Biological Response to 

Environmental Health Hazards; 93.114, 

Applied Toxicological Research and Testing, 

National Institutes of Health, HHS) 

Dated: July 14, 2009. 

Jennifer Spaeth, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy. 

[FR Doc. E9–17303 Filed 7–21–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention 

Healthcare Infection Control Practices 

Advisory Committee (HICPAC) 

In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of 

the Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(Pub. L. 92–463), the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC) 

announces the following meeting for the 

aforementioned committee: 

Time and Date: 11 a.m.–12 p.m., July 23, 

2009. 

Place: The teleconference call will 

originate at the CDC. 

Status: Open to the public. Teleconference 

access limited only by availability of 

telephone ports. To participate in the 

teleconference please dial 1 (800) 779–6036 

and enter conference code 6417394. 

Purpose: The Committee is charged with 

providing advice and guidance to the 

Secretary, HHS; the Assistant Secretary for 

Health; the Director, CDC; and the Director, 

National Center for Preparedness, Detection, 

and Control of Infectious Diseases 

(NCPDCID), regarding: (1) The practice of 

hospital infection control; (2) strategies for 

surveillance, prevention, and control of 

infections (e.g., nosocomial infections), 

antimicrobial resistance, and related events 

in settings where healthcare is provided; and 

(3) periodic updating of guidelines and other 

policy statements regarding prevention of 

healthcare-associated infections and 

healthcare-related conditions. 

Matters To Be Discussed: The agenda will 

include a follow up discussion of CDC’s 

Interim Guidance for Infection Control for 

Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected 

Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in 

a Healthcare Setting. 

Agenda items are subject to change as 

priorities dictate. This notice is being 

published less than 15 days prior to the 

meeting due to the public health emergency 

declared on April 26, 2009. There is a critical 

need for this committee to deliberate and 

discuss urgent matters related to the H1N1 

virus, and be actively engaged in the national 

preparedness and response efforts as dictated 

by circumstances and events. 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES