Abstract: The present invention provides a method of bioluminescence-driven optogenetic control of excitable cells. The excitable cell expresses a light-gated ion channel, and a luminescent protein can be expressed either in the excitable cell or in another cell proximal to the excitable cell. The methods of the invention can be used to desynchronize local activity of excitable cells in a mammalian tissue. The methods of the invention can be used to treat a disease or condition in a mammal, the disease or condition being related to bursting. The disease or condition can be Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, a sleep disorder, or a sensory-related disease or condition (e.g., attention deficit disorder or pain). The invention also provides a conjugate of containing a voltage-gated ion channel and a luminescent protein.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 22, 2016
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2022
Assignees:
Brown University, Central Michigan University
Inventors:
Christopher I. Moore, Ute Hochgeschwender, Diane Lipscombe
Abstract: The instant disclosure provides antibodies that specifically bind to CD137 (e.g., human CD137) and increases CD137 function. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these antibodies, nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, expression vectors and host cells for making these antibodies, and methods of treating a subject using these antibodies.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 12, 2018
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2022
Assignee:
AGENUS INC.
Inventors:
Yanping Xiao, Nicholas Stuart Wilson, Benjamin Maxime Morin, Mark Arthur Findeis, Cornelia Anne Mundt, Marc van Dijk, Dhan Sidhartha Chand, David Adam Savitsky, Dennis John Underwood, Olga Ignatovich
Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for identifying compounds that modulate the activity and/or expression of GPR92, wherein said compounds can be incorporated into flavor compositions that can be used to modify the taste and/or palatability of pet food products. In certain non-limiting embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method for identifying a composition that modulates the activity of a GPR92 receptor comprising (a) contacting a test agent with a GPR92 receptor, (b) determining the activity of the GPR92 receptor, and (c) selecting as the composition, a test agent that increases the activity of the GPR92 receptor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 14, 2017
Date of Patent:
February 1, 2022
Assignee:
MARS, INCORPORATED
Inventors:
Scott Joseph McGrane, Matthew Ronald Gibbs, Richard Masten Fine, Boris Klebansky
Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for identifying a compound that can be used in mitigating and/or the treatment of a disease associated with abnormal astrocytic function, said method comprising: (i) providing a compound; (ii) determining whether said compound is a ligand for the GPR81 receptor by determining said compound's binding energy with the GPR81 receptor using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and comparing said binding energy to the binding energy determined for a reference compound (such as L-lactate) with the GPR81 receptor; and (iii) if said compound is determined to be a ligand for the GPR81 receptor, bringing said compound in contact with a living astrocyte and determining the cAMP level in said astrocyte contacted with said compound. The present invention further pertains to an agent elevating the cAMP level in astrocytes for use in mitigating and/or in the treatment of a disease associated with abnormal astrocytic function.
Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, that bind to glucocorticoid-inducible TNF receptor (GITR). Also provided are uses of these proteins in therapeutic applications, such as in the treatment of cancer. Further provided are cells that produce the antibodies, polynucleotides encoding the heavy and/or light chain variable region of the antibodies, and vectors comprising the polynucleotides encoding the heavy and/or light chain variable region of the antibodies.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 17, 2016
Date of Patent:
January 4, 2022
Assignee:
BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY
Inventors:
Changyu Wang, Nils Lonberg, Alan J. Korman, Mark J. Selby, Mohan Srinivasan, Karla A. Henning, Michelle Minhua Han, Guodong Chen, Richard Y. Huang, Indrani Chakraborty, Haichun Huang, Susan Chien-Szu Wong, Huiming Li, Bryan C. Barnhart, Aaron P. Yamniuk, Ming Lei, Liang Schweizer, Sandra V. Hatcher, Arvind Rajpal
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel polypeptide having an activity of exporting 5?-inosine monophosphate, a microorganism comprising the same, a method for preparing 5?-inosine monophosphate using the same, and a method for increasing export of 5?-inosine monophosphate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2019
Date of Patent:
November 23, 2021
Assignee:
CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION
Inventors:
Jung Gun Kwon, Min Ji Baek, Ji Hye Lee, Nara Kwon, Ju Jeong Kim, Jin Ah Rho, Jin Man Cho
Abstract: Antibodies binding to sites on the alpha-subunit of the (Na++K+)-ATPase increase cardiac contraction of both ventricular myocytes and mouse heart. In particular, antibodies binding to the RSATEEEPPNDD (SEQ ID NO: 1) or DVEDSYGQQWTYEQR (SEQ ID NO: 2) peptides (or isoforms/derivatives thereof) of the alpha-subunit of the (Na++K+)-ATPase, have been found to be highly inotropic. Both the antibodies and the peptides are important for the treatment of human heart failure and other contractile disorders.
Abstract: The present invention relates to immunoglobulins that specifically bind Kv1.3 and more in particular to polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides; to methods for preparing such polypeptides; to compositions and in particular to pharmaceutical compositions that comprise such polypeptides, for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. In particular, the immunoglobulins of the present invention inhibit the activity of Kv1.3.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 18, 2015
Date of Patent:
October 19, 2021
Assignee:
Ablynx N.V.
Inventors:
Diane Van Hoorick, Erik Depla, Frank Kamiel Delphina Verdonck, Veerle Delanote, Daniel Janssen, Francis Descamps, Mark Edward Labadia, Ann Mikhail, Alisa K. Waterman
Abstract: The present disclosure provides conditionally active, heterodimeric polypeptides. The conditionally active, heterodimeric polypeptides are active in the presence of a dimerizing agent that induces dimerization of the polypeptides of the heterodimer. A conditionally active, heterodimeric polypeptide of the present disclosure is useful in a variety of research and treatment methods, which are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 21, 2017
Date of Patent:
October 5, 2021
Assignee:
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Inventors:
John W. Taunton, Wendell A. Lim, Chia-Yung Wu
Abstract: A method and device for localized treatment of tissues or organs that were exposed to ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury, in order to reduce their structural damage and loss of function. The method further includes intra-arterial treatment of transplanted tissues or organs, which are exposed to similar damage of IR and are at risk of impaired function. Leptin antagonist is administered as a bolus injection directly into a re-opened artery, which supplies blood to the tissue or organ involved, immediately after reperfusion. In some cases, after administering a bolus injection of leptin antagonist, the effect of leptin antagonist in the involved organ can be prolonged by deploying a double function drug eluting stent, which elutes leptin antagonist into the lumen, e.g., by sustained release, while eluting antiproliferative drug into the vessel wall to prevent local stenosis, which may appear due to stent deployment.
Abstract: The instant disclosure provides antibodies that specifically bind to CD137 (e.g., human CD137) and increases CD137 function. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these antibodies, nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, expression vectors and host cells for making these antibodies, and methods of treating a subject using these antibodies.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 10, 2020
Date of Patent:
August 24, 2021
Assignee:
Agenus Inc.
Inventors:
Yanping Xiao, Nicholas Stuart Wilson, Benjamin Maxime Morin, Mark Arthur Findeis, Cornelia Anne Mundt, Marc van Dijk, Dhan Sidhartha Chand, David Adam Savitsky, Dennis John Underwood, Olga Ignatovich
Abstract: Controlled release of VIP from PLGA microparticles was accomplished and varied through use of different polymer molecular sizes, addition of solutes to the inner aqueous phase, and use of our computer model. Released VIP from microparticles appeared to be bioactive and caused DCs to produce more CCL22 than DCs treated with blank particles at 7 and 24 hours. Additionally, DCs treated with VIP microparticle releasates recruited higher percentages of FoxP3+ T-cells in in vitro chemotaxis studies. Testing in a mouse model in vivo indicated that VIP microparticles have significant therapeutic potential to treat periodontal disease by reducing the bone loss in infected mice relative to the blank group.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 23, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 17, 2021
Assignee:
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH—OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Inventors:
Steven R. Little, Andrew Jason Glowacki
Abstract: The present invention provides caninized human anti-human IL-4R? antibodies that have specific sequences and a high binding affinity for canine IL-4R?. The invention also relates to use of these antibodies in the treatment of dogs against atopic dermatitis.
Abstract: The invention relates to methods of identifying compounds that modulate mTORC1 activity in a cell by modulating the activity of CASTOR1, as well as to the use of such identified compounds in the modulation of mTORC1 and the treatment of diseases and conditions characterized by aberrant mTORC1 activity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 17, 2021
Assignee:
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Inventors:
David M. Sabatini, Lynne Chantranupong, Robert A. Saxton, Steven P. Gygi, Melanie P. Gygi
Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, that bind to glucocorticoid-inducible TNF receptor (GITR). Also provided are uses of these proteins in therapeutic applications, such as in the treatment of cancer. Further provided are cells that produce the antibodies, polynucleotides encoding the heavy and/or light chain variable region of the antibodies, and vectors comprising the polynucleotides encoding the heavy and/or light chain variable region of the antibodies.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2019
Date of Patent:
August 10, 2021
Assignee:
BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY
Inventors:
Changyu Wang, Nils Lonberg, Alan J. Korman, Mark J. Selby, Mohan Srinivasan, Karla Henning, Michelle Minhua Han, Guodong Chen, Richard Huang, Indrani Chakraborty, Haichun Huang, Susan Wong, Huiming Li
Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies selected from immunized mice, immunized rabbits and a human scFv library that specifically bind fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) are described. Chimeric antigen receptors, antibody-drug conjugates, immunoconjugates, bispecific antibodies and immunoliposomes comprising the disclosed FGFR4-specific antibodies are also described. The antibody compositions can be used to diagnose or treat a FGFR4-positive cancer, such as rhabdomyosarcoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer or prostate cancer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 19, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 3, 2021
Assignee:
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
Inventors:
Javed Khan, Sivasubramanian Baskar, Rimas J. Orentas, Dimiter S. Dimitrov, Zhongyu Zhu, Tai Chi Cheuk
Abstract: The invention relates to CXCR2, to antibodies and related fragments thereof for binding to CXCR2, to production of said antibodies and fragments and to use of said antibodies and fragments for detection and therapy of various conditions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 27, 2018
Date of Patent:
July 6, 2021
Assignee:
Monash University
Inventors:
Charles Reay Mackay, Remy Michel Robert
Abstract: A method and device for localized treatment of tissues or organs that were exposed to ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury, in order to reduce their structural damage and loss of function. The method further includes intra-arterial treatment of transplanted tissues or organs, which are exposed to similar damage of IR and are at risk of impaired function. Leptin antagonist is administered as a bolus injection directly into a re-opened artery, which supplies blood to the tissue or organ involved, immediately after reperfusion. In some cases, after administering a bolus injection of leptin antagonist, the effect of leptin antagonist in the involved organ can be prolonged by deploying a double function drug eluting stent, which elutes leptin antagonist into the lumen, e.g., by sustained release, while eluting antiproliferative drug into the vessel wall to prevent local stenosis, which may appear due to stent deployment.
Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating leukemia, for example, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and B-cell acute lymphoid leukemia (B-ALL). The invention also relates to at least one chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific to CD123, vectors comprising the same, and recombinant T cells comprising the CD123 CAR. The invention also includes methods of administering a genetically modified T cell expressing a CAR that comprises a CD123 binding domain. The invention also includes methods of bone marrow ablation for use in treatments necessitating bone marrow reconditioning or transplant.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 6, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 8, 2021
Assignees:
Novartis AG, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Inventors:
Jennifer Brogdon, Saar Gill, Carl H. June, Michael D. Kalos, Andreas Loew, John Scholler
Abstract: Provided herein are vaccine compositions containing at least one retrievable biocompatible macrocapsule containing immuno-isolated allogeneic cells that secrete an immunomodulator such as GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor) and an antigenic component such as autologous tumor cells or infectious agents. Also provided are kits and pharmaceutical compositions containing the vaccine compositions as well as methods of use thereof for therapeutic or preventative vaccination against tumors or infectious agents.