Government Owned Inventions Available for License: Fluorophthalimides as Anti-Inflammatory Agents for Systemic and Neurodegenerative Disorders

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS. SUMMARY: The National Institute on Aging (NIA) seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for the pre-clinical and clinical development of the compounds as anti-inflammatory therapeutics for systemic and neurodegenerative disorders. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Numerous systemic, as well as neurological disorders, have a hallmark inflammatory element that can drive disease progression. However, the use of currently available anti-inflammatory agents have failed to demonstrate efficacy as potential treatment for systemic and neurological disorders in clinical trials. The immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) thalidomide exerts anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which is a master regulator of the inflammatory response. Researchers at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) have synthesized novel thalidomide analogs possessing potent anti-inflammatory actions but, importantly, hinder the cerebon binding that associated with the adverse teratogenic actions of classic IMiDs. This invention has potential to be developed as therapeutics for a variety of systemic and neurological disorders including inflammatory disorders, autoim. “This Notice is in accordance with 37 CFR 404.4 Authority to grant licenses.” NIH Reference Number: E-151-2022. Related Technologies: E-045-2012-0; E-208-2015-0. Product Type: Therapeutic. Therapeutic Area(s): Oncology | Neurology. Development Stage: Pre-clinical ( in vivo validation). Patent Information: US Nonprovisional Patent Application, US 19/102,830, filed on February 2, 2025. Status: Pending. Publication: Lecca D, et al. Novel, thalidomide-like, non-cereblon binding drug etrafluorobornylphthalimide mitigates inflammation and brain injury. (PMID 36872339). Potential Commercial Applications: - Neurodegenerative diseases. - Inflammatory disorders. - Autoimmune disorders. - Viral infections. - Cancer. Competitive Advantages: - More potent anti-inflammatory properties. - Potentially clinically safer than classic IMiDs by lower risk of fetal malformations. - Potential to treat a wide range of significant unmet medical needs. Dated: June 10, 2026. Richard U. Rodriguez, Associate Director, Technology Transfer Center, National Cancer Institute.