Patents by Inventor Brian C. Cunningham

Brian C. Cunningham 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: 8637646
    Abstract: The invention provides variants of human growth hormone having an amino acid substitution at amino acid residue R77, numbered from the N-terminus of 191-amino add human growth hormone as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding these variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Wells, Brian C. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7090834
    Abstract: The present invention provides VEGF variants having one or more amino acid mutations in the KDR and/or FLT-1 receptor binding domains in the native VEGF sequence and selective binding affinity for either the KDR receptor or the FLT-1 receptor. Methods of making the VEGF variants and methods of using the VEGF variants are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Cunningham, Abraham M. de Vos, Bing Li
  • Patent number: 6936440
    Abstract: We have discovered that growth hormones from ternary complexes with their receptors in which site 1 on the hormone first binds to one molecule of receptor and then hormone site 2 then binds to another molecule of receptor, thereby producing a 1:2 complex. We believe this phenomenon is shared by other ligands having similar conformational structure. Assays based on this phenomenon are useful for identifying ligand agonists and antagonists. Sites 1 and 2 are structurally identified to facilitate generation of amino acid sequence variants of ternary complex-forming ligands. Novel variants of growth hormone, prolactin placental lactogen and other related ligands are provided. As a result of our studies with the ternary complex we have determined that selected antibodies to the receptor for these ligands are capable of acting as ligand agonists or antagonists. Novel growth hormones and novel uses for anti-growth hormone receptor antibodies are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Cunningham, James A. Wells
  • Patent number: 6800740
    Abstract: Growth hormones contain two receptor binding sites termed site 1 and site 2 with which they form ternary complexes with their receptors. In this scheme, site 1 on the hormone binds to one molecule of receptor and then site 2 binds to another molecule of receptor, thereby producing a 1:2 complex. Disclosed herein are growth hormone variants consisting of modifications to the native sequence in the region of site 1 or site 2, or alternatively a combination of modifications at both site 1 and site 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Cunningham, James A. Wells
  • Patent number: 6780613
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for the systematic analysis of the structure and function of polypeptides by identifying active domains which influence the activity of the polypeptide with a target substance. Such active domains are determined by substituting selected amino acid segments of the polypeptide with an analogous polypeptide segment from an analog to the polypeptide. The analog has a different activity with the target substance as compared to the parent polypeptide. The activities of the segment-substituted polypeptides are compared to the same activity for the parent polypeptide for the target. A comparison of such activities provides an indication of the location of the active domain in the parent polypeptide. The invention also provides methods for identifying the active amino acid residues within the active domain of the parent polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Wells, Brian C. Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20030153003
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for the systematic analysis of the structure and function of polypeptides by identifying active domains which influence the activity of the polypeptide with a target substance. Such active domains are determined by substituting selected amino acid segments of the polypeptide with an analogous polypeptide segment from an analog to the polypeptide. The analog has a different activity with the target substance as compared to the parent polypeptide. The activities of the segment-substituted polypeptides are compared to the same activity for the parent polypeptide for the target. A comparison of such activities provides an indication of the location of the active domain in the parent polypeptide. The invention also provides methods for identifying the active amino acid residues within the active domain of the parent polypeptide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: James A. Wells, Brian C. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 6525022
    Abstract: Human receptor selective atrial natriuretic factor variants containing various substitutions, especially G16R, show equal potency and binding affinity for the human A-receptor but have decreased affinity for the human clearance or C-receptor. These ANF variants have natriuretic, diuretic and vasorelaxant activity but have increased metabolic stability, making them suitable for treating congestive heart failure, acute kidney failure and renal hypertension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Lowe, Brian C. Cunningham, David Oare, Robert S. McDowell, John P. Burnier
  • Patent number: 6465235
    Abstract: Novel carbonyl hydrolase mutants derived from the amino acid sequence of naturally-occurring or recombinant non-human carbonyl hydrolases and DNA sequences encoding the same. The mutant carbonyl hydrolases, in general, are obtained by in vitro modification of a precursor DNA sequence encoding the naturally-occurring or recombinant carbonyl hydrolase to encode the substitution, insertion or deletion of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence of a precursor carbonyl hydrolase. Such mutants have one or more properties which are different than the same property of the precursor hydrolase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Genenco International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Ray Bott, Robert Mark Caldwell, Brian C. Cunningham, David Aaron Estell, Scott Douglas Power, James Allen Wells
  • Patent number: 6451561
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for the systematic analysis of the structure and function of polypeptides by identifying active domains which influence the activity of the polypeptide with a target substance. Such active domains are determined by substituting selected amino acid segments of the polypeptide with an analogous polypeptide segment from an analog to the polypeptide. The analog has a different activity with the target substance as compared to the parent polypeptide. The activities of the segment-substituted polypeptides are compared to the same activity for the parent polypeptide for the target. A comparison of such activities provides an indication of the location of the active domain in the parent polypeptide. The invention also provides methods for identifying the active amino acid residues within the active domain of the parent polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Wells, Brian C. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 6428954
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for the systematic analysis of the structure and function of polypeptides by identifying active domains which influence the activity of the polypeptide with a target substance. Such active domains are determined by substituting selected amino acid segments of the polypeptide with an analogous polypeptide segment from an analog to the polypeptide. The analog has a different activity with the target substance as compared to the parent polypeptide. The activities of the segment-substituted polypeptides are compared to the same activity for the parent polypeptide for the target. A comparison of such activities provides an indication of the location of the active domain in the parent polypeptide. The invention also provides methods for identifying the active amino acid residues within the active domain of the parent polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Wells, Brian C. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 6376524
    Abstract: Triphenyl compounds of the formulae I, II, and VI: methods of making them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods for their use. The compounds are compounds are interleukin-4 antagonists; and are useful for the treatment of asthma and allergies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Barr, Brian C. Cunningham, William Michael Flanagan, Wanli Lu, Brian C. Raimundo, Nathan D. Waal, Jennifer Wilkinson, Jiang Zhu, Wenjin Yang
  • Patent number: 6143523
    Abstract: Human growth hormone variants and their nucleic acids are disclosed wherein the amino acid residues at positions 10, 14, 18, 21, 167, 171, 174, 176 and 179 have been replaced with other amino acids. Also claimed are vectors and host cells comprising these human growth hormone variants as well as processes for their preparation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Cunningham, Henry Lowman, James A. Wells
  • Patent number: 6136563
    Abstract: Human growth hormone variants are disclosed having enhanced affinity for the growth hormone receptor. Also disclosed are human growth hormone variants conjugated to one or more chemical groups, such as poly(ethylene glycol), which is believed to prolong the in vivo half-life of the variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Cunningham, James A. Wells, Ross G. Clark, Kenneth Olson, Germaine G. Fuh
  • Patent number: 6057428
    Abstract: The present invention involves the preparation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) variants which provide materials that are selective in respect to binding characteristics to the kinase domain region and the FMS-like tyrosine-kinase region, respectively KDR and FLT-1. The respective KDR and FLT-1 receptors are bound by corresponding domains within the VEGF compound domains. The variants hereof define those two binding regions and modify them so as to introduce changes that interrupt the binding to the respective domain. In this fashion the final biological characteristics of the VEGF molecule are selectively modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Keyt, Francis Hung Nguyen, Napoleone Ferrara, Brian C. Cunningham, James A. Wells, Bing Li
  • Patent number: 6057292
    Abstract: Human growth hormone variants are disclosed having enhanced affinity for the growth hormone receptor. Also disclosed are human growth hormone variants conjugated to one or more chemical groups, such as poly(ethylene glycol), which is believed to prolong the in vivo half-life of the variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Cunningham, Henry B. Lowman, James A. Wells, Ross G. Clark, Kenneth Olson, Germaine G. Fuh
  • Patent number: 6022711
    Abstract: Growth hormone participates in the regulation of normal growth and development processes. The binding affinity of growth hormone for its target receptors is dependent upon the interaction of site 1 and site 2 domains of growth hormone with the target receptor. Embodiments of the present invention include site 1 variants of human growth hormone which bind to target receptors with a different affinity than that of the native hormone. Embodiments of the invention further include components for the production of isolated human growth hormone variants using a host cell/vector expression system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Cunningham, Henry Lowman, James A. Wells
  • Patent number: 6013478
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for the systematic analysis of the structure and function of polypeptides by identifying active domains which influence the activity of the polypeptide with a target substance. Such active domains are determined by substituting selected amino acid segments of the polypeptide with an analogous polypeptide segment from an analog to the polypeptide. The analog has a different activity with the target substance as compared to the parent polypeptide. The activities of the segment-substituted polypeptides are compared to the same activity for the parent polypeptide for the target. A comparison of such activities provides an indication of the location of the active domain in the parent polypeptide. The invention also provides methods for identifying the active amino acid residues within the active domain of the parent polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Wells, Brian C. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 6004931
    Abstract: Human growth hormone variants are disclosed having enhanced affinity for the growth hormone receptor. Also disclosed are human growth hormone variants conjugated to one or more chemical groups, such as poly(ethylene glycol), which is believed to prolong the in vivo half-life of the variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Cunningham, James A. Wells, Ross G. Clark, Kenneth Olson, Germaine G. Fuh
  • Patent number: 5972682
    Abstract: Novel carbonyl hydrolase mutants derived from the amino acid sequence of naturally-occurring or recombinant non-human carbonyl hydrolases and DNA sequences encoding the same. The mutant carbonyl hydrolases, in general, are obtained by in vitro modification of a precursor DNA sequence encoding the naturally-occurring or recombinant carbonyl hydrolase to encode the substitution, insertion or deletion of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence of a precursor carbonyl hydrolase. Such mutants have one or more properties which are different than the same property of the precursor hydrolase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Genencor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Ray Bott, Robert Mark Caldwell, Brian C. Cunningham, David Aaron Estell, Scott Douglas Power, James Allen Wells
  • Patent number: 5955346
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for the systematic analysis of the structure and function of polypeptides by identifying active domains which influence the activity of the polypeptide with a target substance. Such active domains are determined by substituting selected amino acid segments of the polypeptide with an analogous polypeptide segment from an analog to the polypeptide. The analog has a different activity with the target substance as compared to the parent polypeptide. The activities of the segment-substituted polypeptides are compared to the same activity for the parent polypeptide for the target. A comparison of such activities provides an indication of the location of the active domain in the parent polypeptide. The invention also provides methods for identifying the active amino acid residues within the active domain of the parent polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Wells, Brian C. Cunningham