A -- RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT -- THE VA HAS DISCOVERED A NOVEL ACTION OF AN INHIBITOR OF THE CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASES (CDKS).

Notice Date

June 20, 2001

Contracting Office

National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University, 316 Washington Ave., Wheeling, WV 26003-6295

ZIP Code

26003-6295

Solicitation Number

01-053

Response Due

July 31, 2001

Point of Contact

William Chard 800-678-6882 or 304-243-2039

E-Mail Address

For more information contact Mr. William Chard (wchard@nttc.edu)

Description

A Novel Specific Inhibitor of the Cyclin Kinase Inhibitor p21 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through the National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC), is seeking a commercial partner to license and/or further develop this technology through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) in order to expedite bringing the technology to market. -- The VA has discovered a novel action of an inhibitor of the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKS). VA researchers have discovered that inhibition of cdk inhibitors (CKI), rather than causing aberrant cell growth and division, actually has the opposite effect. It has been shown that vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) requires the presence of p21Waf1/Cip1 as an assembly factor. The inhibition of p21Waf1/Cip1 using antisense oligonucleotides has reduced vascular smooth cell proliferation in-vitro. This has led to the conclusion that there is the possibility that antisense inhibition of p21Waf1/Cip1 as a therapy could be useful in diseases where cell proliferation, especially smooth muscle cell proliferation, are a feature. These may include post-angioplasty restenosis, atherosclerosis, and cancer, both through possible anti-angiogenic effects and anti-proliferative effects. Preliminary animal testing shows promising results in a murine tumor model.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010622/ASOL009.HTM (W-171 SN50P4U3)