Patents by Inventor Alan Wayne Shafer

Alan Wayne Shafer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6953670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variant from of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system. In addition, the invention relates to identifying compounds capable of supplementing biological activity of leptin on cells expressing a leptin receptor variant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 6838079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using various forms of a novel receptor expressed by hematopoietic and endothelial cells. An additional variant form of this receptor has been detected in brain cells and shown to bind to the obese gene product, leptin. Therefore, leptin may be used to stimulate the growth and development of receptor-positive hematopoietic and endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, this receptor is selectively expressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells with long-term repopulating potential. Thus, agents that specifically bind to this receptor may be used to identify and isolate progenitor cells for a variety of clinical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Publication number: 20030082612
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variant form of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Interneuron Pharmacueticals, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 6524806
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel member of the hematopoietin receptor family, herein referred to as Hu-B1.219. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding Hu-B1.219 gene product. Genetically engineered host cells that express the Hu-B1.219 coding sequence may be used to evaluate and screen for ligands or drugs involved in Hu-B1.219 interaction and regulation. Since Hu-B1.219 expression has been detected in certain human fetal tissues and cancer cells, molecular probes designed from its nucleotide sequence may be useful for prenatal testing and cancer diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Publication number: 20020197232
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using various forms of a novel receptor expressed by hematopoietic and endothelial cells. An additional variant form of this receptor has been detected in brain cells and shown to bind to the obese gene product, leptin. Therefore, leptin may be used to stimulate the growth and development of receptor-positive hematopoietic and endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, this receptor is selectively expressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells with long-term repopulating potential. Thus, agents that specifically bind to this receptor may be used to identify and isolate progenitor cells for a variety of clinical applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 6451523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variant form of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Interneuron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 6355237
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using various forms of a novel receptor expressed by hematopoietic and endothelial cells. An additional variant form of this receptor has been detected in brain cells and shown to bind to the obese gene product, leptin. Therefore, leptin may be used to stimulate the growth and development of receptor-positive hematopoietic and endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, this receptor is selectively expressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells with long-term repopulating potential. Thus, agents that specifically bind to this receptor may be used to identify and isolate progenitor cells for a variety of clinical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Progenitor, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 6005080
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel member of the hematopoietin receptor family, herein referred to as Hu-B1.219. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding Hu-B1.219 gene product. Genetically engineered host cells that express the Hu-B1.219 coding sequence may be used to evaluate and screen for ligands or drugs involved in Hu-B1.219 interaction and regulation. Since Hu-B1.219 expression has been detected in certain human fetal tissues and cancer cells, molecular probes designed from its nucleotide sequence may be useful for prenatal testing and cancer diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Progenitor, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 5912123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to variant forms of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting receptor variants in the reproductive organs for the diagnosis of the cause of infertility. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of defective variants in cells to augment their responsiveness to regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system to improve fertility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Progenitor, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 5882860
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variant form of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Progenitor, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 5869610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel member of the hematopoietin receptor family, herein referred to as Hu-B1.219. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding Hu-B1.219 gene product. Genetically engineered host cells that express the Hu-B1.219 coding sequence may be used to evaluate and screen for ligands or drugs involved in Hu-B1.219 interaction and regulation. Since Hu-B1.219 expression has been detected in certain human fetal tissues and cancer cells, molecular probes designed from its nucleotide sequence may be useful for prenatal testing and cancer diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Progenitor, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 5856098
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variant form of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Progenitor, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 5763211
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel member of the hematopoietin receptor family; herein referred to as Hu-B1.219. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding Hu-B1.219 gene product Genetically engineered host cells that express the Hu-B1.219 coding sequence may be used to evaluate and screen for ligands or drugs involved in Hu-B1.219 interaction and regulation. Since Hu-B1.219 expression has been detected in certain human fetal tissues and cancer cells, molecular probes designed from its nucleotide sequence may be useful for prenatal testing and cancer diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Progenitor, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer
  • Patent number: 5643748
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel member of the hematopoietin receptor family, herein referred to as Hu-B1.219. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding Hu-B1.219 gene product. Genetically engineered host cells that express the Hu-B1.219 coding sequence may be used to evaluate and screen for ligands or drugs involved in Hu-B1.219 interaction and regulation. Since Hu-B1.219 expression has been detected in certain human fetal tissues and cancer cells, molecular probes designed from its nucleotide sequence may be useful for prenatal testing and cancer diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Progenitor, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ralph Snodgrass, Joseph Cioffi, Thomas Joel Zupancic, Alan Wayne Shafer