Patents by Inventor Dennis E. Epps

Dennis E. Epps 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: 6979545
    Abstract: A method for screening chemical compounds for electrophilic properties comprising the steps of: (a) providing an assay having one or more reaction vessels; (b) adding a predetermined amount of separate chemical compounds for screening to each reaction vessel; (c) adding a predetermined amount of a surrogate chemical marker to each reaction vessel and allowing said separate chemical compounds and surrogate chemical marker to incubate for a period of time; (d) adding a reactive chemical to each reaction vessel which is capable of reacting with residual surrogate chemical marker such that the amount of residual surrogate chemical marker present after step (c) can be quantitatively or qualitatively measured; and (e) quantitatively or qualitatively measuring said residual chemical marker is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Larry C. Wienkers, Michael J. Hauer, Dennis E. Epps
  • Patent number: 6818413
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel fluorescence-based assays for protein kinases and phosphatases which can be used in high throughput screening. The methods of the invention utilize a competitive immunoassay to determine the amount of substrate that is phosphorylated or dephosphorylated during the course of a kinase or phosphatase reaction to yield a product, as well as the phosphorylating or dephosphorylating activity of a kinase or phosphatase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Pharmacia and Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Dennis E. Epps, Charles K. Marschke
  • Publication number: 20040209283
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting RNA polymerase activity in a continuous-read manner. Specifically, the invention provides a method for detecting the de novo polymerase activity of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase, NS5B, in a continuous-read manner. The invention also provides a method of screening for modulators of RNA polymerase activity. More specifically, the invention provides a method of screening for modulators of HCV NS5B activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Pfizer Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yagi, Michael P. Sheets, Peter A. Wells, John A. Shelly, Roger A. Poorman, Dennis E. Epps, Aric G. Morgan
  • Patent number: 6713260
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a test compound that binds to a target species. The method includes: incubating at least one test mixture under isothermal denaturing conditions, each test mixture comprising at least one test compound, and at least one target species, wherein the isothermal denaturing conditions are effective to cause at least a portion of the target species to denature to a measurable extent; detecting a denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of the at least one test compound by a change in the diffusion properties of the target molecule using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy; and comparing the denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of at least one test compound with a denaturation signal of the same target species in the absence of the at least one test compound under the same isothermal denaturing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Paul K. Tomich, Dennis E. Epps, Ferenc J. Kezdy, Charles K. Marschke, Ronald W. Sarver
  • Publication number: 20030235865
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel fluorescence-based assays for protein kinases and phosphatases which can be used in high throughput screening. The methods of the invention utilize a competitive immunoassay to determine the amount of substrate that is phosphorylated or dephosphorylated during the course of a kinase or phosphatase reaction to yield a product, as well as the phosphorylating or dephosphorylating activity of a kinase or phosphatase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Dennis E. Epps, Charles K. Marschke
  • Publication number: 20030219820
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a test compound that binds to a target species. The method includes: incubating at least one test mixture under isothermal denaturing conditions, each test mixture comprising at least one test compound, and at least one target species, wherein the isothermal denaturing conditions are effective to cause at least a portion of the target species to denature to a measurable extent; detecting a denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of the at least one test compound by a change in the diffusion properties of the target molecule using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy; and comparing the denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of at least one test compound with a denaturation signal of the same target species in the absence of the at least one test compound under the same isothermal denaturing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis E. Epps, Paul K. Tomich, Ferenc J. Kezdy, Charles K. Marschke
  • Publication number: 20030211542
    Abstract: Among other things, assays and methods of diagnosis and treatment of disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) based on the surprising observation of an interaction between amyloid &bgr; or its aggregates with the sodium channel are provided. In particular, methods to identify compounds that modulate this interaction are provided, as well as methods of diagnosis and treatment that are based on this interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Kai S. Lee, Xiao-Dong Sun, Bruce M. Taylor, Dennis E. Epps, Allen E. Buhl
  • Patent number: 6630311
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel fluorescence-based assays for protein kinases and phosphatases which can be used in high throughput screening. The methods of the invention utilize a competitive immunoassay to determine the amount of substrate that is phosphorylated or dephosphorylated during the course of a kinase or phosphatase reaction to yield a product, as well as the phosphorylating or dephosphorylating activity of a kinase or phosphatase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Dennis E. Epps, Charles K. Marschke
  • Patent number: 6589747
    Abstract: Among other things, assays and methods of diagnosis and treatment of disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) based on the surprising observation of an interaction between amyloid &bgr; or its aggregates with the sodium channel are provided. In particular, methods to identify compounds that modulate this interaction are provided, as well as methods of diagnosis and treatment that are based on this interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Kai S. Lee, Xiao-Dong Sun, Bruce M. Taylor, Dennis E. Epps, Allen E. Buhl
  • Patent number: 6582907
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a test compound that binds to a target species. The method includes: incubating at least one test mixture under isothermal denaturing conditions, each test mixture comprising at least one test compound, and at least one target species, wherein the isothermal denaturing conditions are effective to cause at least a portion of the target species to denature to a measurable extent; detecting a denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of the at least one test compound by a change in the diffusion properties of the target molecule using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy; and comparing the denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of at least one test compound with a denaturation signal of the same target species in the absence of the at least one test compound under the same isothermal denaturing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Dennis E. Epps, Paul K. Tomich, Ferenc J. Kezdy, Charles K. Marschke
  • Publication number: 20020110919
    Abstract: A method for screening chemical compounds for electrophilic properties comprising the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Larry C. Wienkers, Michael J. Hauer, Dennis E. Epps
  • Publication number: 20020068298
    Abstract: A high throughput screening method for identifying a compound that binds to a target species. The method includes: incubating a plurality of test mixtures under isothermal denaturing conditions, each test mixture including at least one test compound and at least one target species, wherein the isothermal denaturing conditions are effective to cause at least a portion of the target species to denature to a measurable extent. The method further involves detecting a denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of the at least one test compound; and comparing the denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of the at least one test compound with a denaturation signal of the same target species in the absence of the at least one test compound under the same isothermal denaturing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Global Intellectual Property
    Inventors: Paul K. Tomich, Dennis E. Epps, Ferenc J. Kezdy, Charles K. Marschke, Ronald W. Sarver
  • Patent number: 6376180
    Abstract: A high throughput screening method for identifying a compound that binds to a target species. The method includes: incubating a plurality of test mixtures under isothermal denaturing conditions, each test mixture including at least one test compound and at least one target species, wherein the isothermal denaturing conditions are effective to cause at least a portion of the target species to denature to a measurable extent. The method further involves detecting a denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of the at least one test compound; and comparing the denaturation signal of each target species in the presence of the at least one test compound with a denaturation signal of the same target species in the absence of the at least one test compound under the same isothermal denaturing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Paul K. Tomich, Dennis E. Epps, Ferenc J. Kezdy, Charles K. Marschke, Ronald W. Sarver
  • Publication number: 20020004194
    Abstract: Among other things, assays and methods of diagnosis and treatment of disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) based on the surprising observation of an interaction between amyloid &bgr; or its aggregates with the sodium channel are provided. In particular, methods to identify compounds that modulate this interaction are provided, as well as methods of diagnosis and treatment that are based on this interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Kai S. Lee, Xiao-Dong Sun, Bruce M. Taylor, Dennis E. Epps, Allen E. Buhl
  • Publication number: 20010044117
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel fluorescence-based assays for protein kinases and phosphatases which can be used in high throughput screening. The methods of the invention utilize a competitive immunoassay to determine the amount of substrate that is phosphorylated or dephosphorylated during the course of a kinase or phosphatase reaction to yield a product, as well as the phosphorylating or dephosphorylating activity of a kinase or phosphatase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Dennis E. Epps, Charles K. Marschke
  • Patent number: 6203994
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel fluorescence-based assays for protein kinases and phosphatases which can be used in high throughput screening. The methods of the invention utilize a competitive immunoassay to determine the amount of substrate that is phosphorylated or dephosphorylated during the course of a kinase or phosphatase reaction to yield a product, as well as the phosphorylating or dephosphorylating activity of a kinase or phosphatase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Dennis E. Epps, Charles K. Marschke