Patents by Inventor Jack Higgins

Jack Higgins 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).

  • Publication number: 20170101636
    Abstract: The present invention provides protease-cleavage resistant molecules comprising Shiga toxin effector polypeptides capable of exhibiting potent, Shiga toxin functions (e.g. subcellular routing and cytotoxicity). The present invention also provides protease-cleavage resistant, cell-targeting molecules for targeting specific cell types, e.g., infected or malignant cells. Certain molecules of the present invention are cytotoxic, and certain cell-targeting molecules of the present invention may be used for the targeted killing of specific cell types and the treatment of a variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, including cancers, tumors, growth abnormalities, immune disorders, and microbial infections. Certain cell-targeting molecules of the invention exhibit improved, in vivo tolerability as compared to related cell-targeted molecules comprising protease-cleavage sensitive, wild-type, Shiga toxin effector polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Molecular Templates, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Poma, Erin Willert, Jack Higgins, Jason Kim
  • Publication number: 20170002046
    Abstract: The present invention provides proteins comprising binding regions for cell-type specific targeting, Shiga toxin effector regions derived from A Subunits of members of the Shiga toxin family for providing Shiga toxin effector functions (e.g. cellular internalization and cytotoxicity), and carboxy-terminal endoplasmic reticulum localization signal motifs. The presently disclosed proteins can comprise additional exogenous materials, such as, e.g., antigens, cytotoxic agents, and detection-promoting agents, and are capable of targeted delivery of these additional exogenous materials into the interiors of target cells. The proteins of the present invention have uses in methods such as, e.g., methods involving targeted killing of target cells, delivering exogenous materials into target cells, labeling subcellular compartments of target cells, and diagnosing and/or treating a variety of conditions including cancers, tumors, other growth abnormalities, immune disorders, and microbial infections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: Molecular Templates, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Poma, Erin Willert, Jason Kim, Jack Higgins
  • Publication number: 20160355803
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of screening libraries of chimeric molecules comprising ribotoxic polypeptides, where screening is based on the interim reduction or elimination of ribotoxicity and the methods can identify cytotoxic molecules, each comprising a binding region and a ribotoxic region which jointly possess a desired assay-selectable characteristic, such as, e.g., binding to a target biomolecule, binding to a target cell, and/or cellular internalization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Molecular Templates, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Poma, Erin Willert, Jason Kim, Jack Higgins
  • Publication number: 20160177284
    Abstract: The present invention provides cell-targeted molecules comprising binding regions for cell-type specific targeting and Shiga toxin A Subunit effector regions for Shiga toxin effector functions, wherein the Shiga toxin effector regions are at and/or proximal to an amino-terminus of a polypeptide component of the cell-targeted molecule, and optionally comprising a disrupted, furin-cleavage motif between the Shiga toxin effector region and the binding region. The cell-targeted molecules of the invention exhibit a more optimized cytotoxicity and/or improved, in vivo tolerability as compared to related molecules comprising less amino-terminus proximal, Shiga toxin effector regions and/or furin-cleavage sensitive, wild-type, Shiga toxin effector regions. The cell-targeted molecules of the invention have uses, such as, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: MOLECULAR TEMPLATES, INC.
    Inventors: Eric POMA, Erin WILLERT, Jack HIGGINS, Jason KIM
  • Publication number: 20160068577
    Abstract: The present invention provides cytotoxic proteins comprising immunoglobulin-type binding regions for mediating cell-type specific targeting and Shiga toxin effector regions derived from A Subunits of members of the Shiga toxin family for effectuating cytotoxicity. The cytotoxic proteins have uses for selective killing of specific cell types and as therapeutics for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancers, immune disorders, and microbial infections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Poma, Erin Willert, Jason Kim, Jack Higgins
  • Publication number: 20160017047
    Abstract: The present invention provides CD20-binding proteins that bind to and rapidly internalize CD20 antigens from a cell surface location to the interior of a cell. CD20-binding proteins of the invention comprise a CD20 binding region and a Shiga toxin effector region. Certain of the disclosed CD20-binding proteins kill cells that express CD20 on their surface. Further, the presently disclosed CD20-binding proteins can comprise additional exogenous materials and are capable of targeted delivery of these additional exogenous materials into the interior of CD20 expressing cells. Such additional materials may include peptides, antigens, enzymes, and polynucleotides. These CD20-binding proteins have uses in methods of internalizing themselves, targeted killing of CD20 expressing cells, delivering exogenous materials into CD20 expressing cells, and treating a variety of diseases involving CD20 expressing cells, such as cancers and immune disorders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Molecular Templates, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Poma, Erin Willert, Jason Kim, Jack Higgins, Sangeetha Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20150259428
    Abstract: The present invention provides CD20-binding proteins that bind to and rapidly internalize in a CD20-mediated fashion from a cell surface location to the interior of the cell. CD20-binding proteins of the invention comprise a CD20 binding region and a Shiga toxin effector region. Certain of the disclosed CD20-binding proteins kill cells that express CD20 on their surface. Further, the presently disclosed CD20-binding proteins can comprise additional exogenous materials, such as, e.g., antigens, and are capable of targeted delivery of these additional exogenous materials into the interior of CD20 expressing cells. These CD20-binding proteins have uses in methods such as, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Eric POMA, Jason KIM, Jack HIGGINS, Erin WILLERT, Sangeetha RAJAGOPOLAN
  • Publication number: 20110160535
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable access port for use in endoscopic procedures, including laparoscopic procedures. The access port includes a cannula with an embedded camera in communication with an external control box. In operation, a trocar is combined with the access port to facilitate insertion of the access port into an anatomical site. Prior to insertion, the camera is pushed inside the cannula, where it remains during insertion. The trocar is removed after the access port has been inserted to allow surgical instruments to access the anatomical site. During removal of the trocar, a portion of the trocar urges the camera out of the cannula, thereby allowing visualization of the anatomical site. The camera can be fixedly or adjustably mounted on the port. A camera may also be mounted on the trocar. The trocar may include irrigation and suction channels to facilitate a clear view of the anatomical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Avantis Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lex Bayer, Jack Higgins
  • Patent number: 7927272
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable access port for use in endoscopic procedures, including laparoscopic procedures. The access port includes a cannula with an embedded camera in communication with an external control box. In operation, a trocar is combined with the access port to facilitate insertion of the access port into an anatomical site. Prior to insertion, the camera is pushed inside the cannula, where it remains during insertion. The trocar is removed after the access port has been inserted to allow surgical instruments to access the anatomical site. During removal of the trocar, a portion of the trocar urges the camera out of the cannula, thereby allowing visualization of the anatomical site. The camera can be fixedly or adjustably mounted on the port. A camera may also be mounted on the trocar. The trocar may include irrigation and suction channels to facilitate a clear view of the anatomical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Avantis Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lex Bayer, Jack Higgins
  • Publication number: 20080033450
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable access port for use in endoscopic procedures, including laparoscopic procedures. The access port includes a cannula with an embedded camera in communication with an external control box. In operation, a trocar is combined with the access port to facilitate insertion of the access port into an anatomical site. Prior to insertion, the camera is pushed inside the cannula, where it remains during insertion. The trocar is removed after the access port has been inserted to allow surgical instruments to access the anatomical site. During removal of the trocar, a portion of the trocar urges the camera out of the cannula, thereby allowing visualization of the anatomical site. The camera can be fixedly or adjustably mounted on the port. A camera may also be mounted on the trocar. The trocar may include irrigation and suction channels to facilitate a clear view of the anatomical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Lex Bayer, Jack Higgins
  • Publication number: 20070015989
    Abstract: An endoscope is communicatively coupled to electronics that receive images of tissue from the endoscope and determine a correlation between the received images and images of normal and abnormal tissues in a database. Based on the determined correlation, an operator of the endoscope is notified of the correlation and the electronics can cause the endoscope to act accordingly (e.g., biopsy abnormal tissue).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: AVANTIS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Rupesh Desai, Fred Seddiqui, Jack Higgins, Alex Niel