Out-licensing

Monoclonal antibody for a novel HIV protein with potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic uses.

Antibody/Antigen

Summary

HIV-1 asscociated dementia is the result of a cumulative pathogenic damage that ultimately affect the brains synaptic functions. As HIV-A is a growing epidemic, new and more effective treatments need to be found. Researchers at the University Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) have discovered and cloned a novel virally-induced, macrophage transcription factor, OTK18, whose expression correlates with progression HIV-1 encephalitis. Monoclonal antibodies specific for OTK18 have been developed for potential use as diagnostic and/or prognostic indicators of HIV-1 encephalitis or as research tools. The manner in which OTK 18 differentially accumulates in HIV infected macrophage cells deems it a potential target for the treatment of HIV.

Market Value

HIV-1 is a global epidemic and new methods for treating it would be highly useful to patients throughout the world.

Features and Benefits

• Diagnostic marker of HIV-1 encephalitis
• Antibody may inhibit HIV-1 replication in macrophages
• Antibody can be used in human serum

Publications

• Carlson KA, Limoges J, Pohlman GD, Poluektova LY, Langford D, Masliah E, Ikezu T, Gendelman HE. OTK18 expression in brain mononuclear phagocytes parallels the severity of HIV-1 encephalitis. J Neuroimmunol. 2004 May;150(1-2):186-98.
• Carlson KA, Leisman G, Limoges J, Pohlman GD, Horiba M,
Buescher J, Gendelman HE, Ikezu T. Molecular characterization of
a putative antiretroviral transcriptional factor, OTK18. J Immunol.
2004 Jan 1;172(1):381-91.

Early Stage

US Patents Issued:

      6,689,877

      7,074,554

UNeMed Corporation offers a variety of licensing options and collaborative development opportunities with the University of Nebraska Medical Center.