Featured Technologies   View all Featured Technologies Treatment and Diagnosis of Cancer, Diabetes and other Disorders Using Adrenomedullin Peptides and Antibodies Description of Technology: Adrenomedullin (AM), a 52-amino acid regulatory peptide, is expressed in a wide range of tissues, and has a variety of biological roles. AM was initially identified as a vasodilator, and the effects of AM and its fragments in the cardiovascular system have been widely studied. AM also has important effects on renal function, cell growth, glucose metabolism, and regulation of hormone secretion, and has antimicrobial activity. This technology claims AM peptides and antibodies, which would be useful in the development of a therapeutic or for diagnostics use. Also claimed are methods of inhibiting tumor cell growth using AM peptides, in particular in a patient suffering from a lung tumor. Claims are also directed to methods of treating a subject with AM-associated conditions, including diabetes, pregnancy, neurological disease, inflammation, or bone development. Finally, methods are claimed for diagnosing or monitoring a disease where AM levels are altered. Also available is a murine monoclonal antibody, MoAb-G6, which was raised against an AM peptide. This antibody neutralizes AM bioactivity, and reacts with the processed form of AM, but not the preprohormone. This antibody would be useful not only for research use, but also as part of a diagnostic assay for measurement or detection of AM. Applications: Peptide- or antibody-based therapeutics for cancer, diabetes, inflammation or other AM-associated disease Diagnostic tools for the detection of AM-positive tumors or other AM-associated conditions Research use of AM peptides and antibodies Development Status: This technology is currently in the pre-clinical stage of development. Inventors: Frank Cuttitta et al. (NCI) Publications: A Martinez et al. Regulation of insulin secretion and blood glucose metabolism by adrenomedullin. Endocrinology. 1996 Jun;137(6):2626-2632. [PubMed abs] E Zudaire et al. The central role of adrenomedullin in host defense. J Leukoc Biol. 2006 Aug;80(2):237-244. [PubMed abs] E Zudaire et al. Adrenomedullin is a cross-talk molecule that regulates tumor and mast cell function during human carcinogenesis. Am J Pathol. 2006 Jan;168(1):280-291. [PubMed abs] Patent Status: DHHS Reference No. E-206-1995/3 -- U.S. Patent 6,320,022 issued 20 Nov 2001 U.S. Patent 7,101,548 issued 05 Sep 2006 U.S. Patent Application No. 11/512,599 filed 05 Sep 2006 Foreign counterparts in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Japan Related Technologies: DHHS Reference No. E-256-1999/0 -- Determination of Adrenomedullin-Binding Proteins DHHS Reference No. E-294-2002/0 -- A New Target for Angiogenesis and Anti-Angiogenesis Therapy Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing. Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Cancer Institute Angiogenesis Core Facility is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize Use of Adrenomedullin Peptides and Antibodies in the Treatment and Diagnosis of Cancer, Diabetes and other Disorders. Please contact John D. Hewes, Ph.D. at 301-435-3121 or hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more information. Portfolios: Cancer - Therapeutics Central Nervous System - Therapeutics Infectious Diseaes - Therapeutics Internal Medicine - Therapeutics For additional information, please contact: Tara L. Kirby, Ph.D. Office of Technology Transfer National Institutes of Health 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325 Rockville MD 20852 Phone: 301/435-4426 Fax: 301/402-0220 Email: tarak@mail.nih.gov