Patents by Inventor Loren D. Walensky

Loren D. Walensky 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: 10844053
    Abstract: This application features pyrazol-3-one compounds that activate pro-apoptotic BAX. Also featured are methods of using such compounds, e.g., for the treatment or prevention of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with deregulated apoptosis of cells (e.g., insufficient apoptosis of diseased or damaged cells or essentially the absence of apoptosis of diseased or damaged cells).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Evripidis Gavathiotis
  • Publication number: 20200354413
    Abstract: The present application describes stapled peptide degron chimeras, which act as protein degradation inducing moieties, either by combining a stapled peptide that binds a disease-related protein with a small molecule degron, such as a cereblon- or VHL-binding small molecule as the degron, or a polypeptide sequence degron, such as a Cop1-binding Trib peptide as the degron; or by combining a stapled peptide degron with a peptide, such as a stapled peptide, or a small molecule that binds a disease-related protein. The present application also relates to methods for the targeted degradation of endogenous proteins through the use of stapled peptide degron chimeras which can be utilized in the treatment of proliferative disorders or other conditions whereby elimination of a disease-causing or disease-related protein would have a therapeutic benefit. The present application also provides methods for making compounds of the application and intermediates thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Gregory H. Bird, Ann Morgan Cathcart, Rida Mourtada, Henry D. Herce, James E. Bradner
  • Publication number: 20200352899
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment or prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and hearing loss in a subject in need thereof. The methods involve administering to the subject a bclw protein, a BH4 domain-containing fragment thereof, or a bclw mimetic. Also provided are exemplary bclw mimetics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Rosalind Segal, Loren D. Walensky, Lisa Vaughn Goodrich, Sara Elizabeth Raissi, Maria F. Murphy, Gregory H. Bird
  • Patent number: 10822374
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for increasing p53-dependent transcriptional activity in a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Federico Bernal, Geoffrey Wahl, Mark Wade
  • Publication number: 20200308236
    Abstract: Structurally stabilized, e.g., stapled, peptides with the ability to translocate through microbial cell membranes to the interior of microbial cells and exert a biological activity there are provided, as are methods of designing, making and using such peptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Rida Mourtada
  • Publication number: 20200231638
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of designing and making structurally stabilized anti-microbial peptides for the prophylaxis and treatment of infection. Methods are also disclosed for designing stabilized anti-microbial peptides that are selectively lytic/cytotoxic to bacteria, allowing for internal use of anti-microbial peptides without mammalian membrane disruption and cytotoxicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Rida Mourtada, Gregory H. Bird
  • Patent number: 10716828
    Abstract: The invention provides composition and therapeutic, methods for modulating homeostatic pathways that are useful in treatment, and prevention of diabetes, diabetes associated disorders, metabolic disorders and cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Nika N. Danial, Loren D. Walensky, Gregory Bird, Susan R. Korsmeyer
  • Patent number: 10703785
    Abstract: The invention provides structurally-constrained peptides by hydrocarbon stapling of a BCL9 HD2 helix for use as a therapeutic agent. The invention further provides methods and kits for use of the structurally-constrained peptide of the instant invention. The invention is based, at least in part, on the results provided herein demonstrating that hydrocarbon stapled helical peptides display excellent proteolytic, acid, and thermal stability, restore the native helical structure of the peptide, possess superior pharmacokinetic properties compared to the corresponding unmodified peptides, and are highly effective in binding to ?-catenin in vitro, in cellulo, and in vivo, disrupting the BCL-9/?-catenin interaction, and thereby interfering with deregulated Wnt/?-catenin signaling for therapeutic benefit in a variety of human diseases including human cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Ruben Carrasco, Gregory H. Bird
  • Publication number: 20200207821
    Abstract: Methods of generating and optimizing stabilized (e.g., stapled and/or stitched) anti-microbial peptides (StAMPs) for the prophylaxis and treatment of antibiotic-resistant (e.g., colistin-resistant, methicillin resistant, meropenem-resistant) bacterial infections (e.g., Gram-negative, Gram-positive), and methods for using such peptides for experimental investigation, livestock management, management of crops/trees/plants, and/or therapeutic benefit. Also featured are methods for reducing renal toxicity of a StAMP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Rida Mourtada
  • Publication number: 20200172530
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising a compound of Formulas I, II, or III, and compositions a compound comprising a moiety of Formula IV, which are useful for sensitizing and/or activating pro-apoptotic activity of BAX. Methods of treating diseases associated with BAX (e.g., cancer) and methods of identifying compounds which sensitize and/or activate the pro-apoptotic activity of a BAX polypeptide are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Jonathan Pritz, Franziska Wachter
  • Publication number: 20200174007
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a mass spectrometry tag may comprise a linker region, a mass balance region, and a reporter region. The mass spectrometry tag may be configured to fragment in a mass spectrometer via an energy dependent process to produce multiple reporter molecules. For example, the reporter region of the tag may be configured to produce at least two reporter molecules via fragmentation. In some embodiments, one or more regions of the tag may comprise at least one heavy isotope. In some such embodiments, the ability to fragment into multiple reporter molecules as well as the placement and/or number of heavy isotope(s) allows the mass spectrometry tag to be distinguished from other similar mass spectrometry tags. In some such embodiments, the ability to distinguish between tags having the same or substantially similar total mass to charge ratio and reporter region mass may allow the system to have a greater multiplexing capacity than conventional systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Braun, Wilhelm Haas, Steven P. Gygi, Gregory H. Bird, Loren D. Walensky, Martin Helmut Wuhr, Brian K. Erickson
  • Patent number: 10487129
    Abstract: The present invention provides stably crosslinked insulinotropic polypeptides having superior and unexpected benefits in the treatment of conditions involving abnormal glucose homeostasis, e.g., type 2 diabetes and conditions relating to type 2 diabetes. Such benefits include, but are not limited to, extended polypeptide half-life, enhanced alpha-helicity, improved thermal stability and protease resistance, increased functional activity and pharmacologic properties, improved bioavailability when administered by any route, and improved bioavailability and gastrointestinal absorption when delivered orally, as compared to the corresponding unmodified polypeptides. The invention also provides compositions for administering the polypeptides of the invention, as well as methods for preparing and evaluating the polypeptides of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Gregory Bird
  • Patent number: 10464975
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of designing and making structurally stabilized anti-microbial peptides for the prophylaxis and treatment of infection. Methods are also disclosed for designing stabilized anti-microbial peptides that are selectively lytic/cytotoxic to bacteria, allowing for internal use of anti-microbial peptides without mammalian membrane disruption and cytotoxicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Rida Mourtada, Gregory H. Bird
  • Publication number: 20190315730
    Abstract: This application features pyrazol-3-one compounds that activate pro-apoptotic BAX. Also featured are methods of using such compounds, e.g., for the treatment or prevention of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with deregulated apoptosis of cells (e.g., insufficient apoptosis of diseased or damaged cells or essentially the absence of apoptosis of diseased or damaged cells).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Evripidis Gavathiotis
  • Patent number: 10351554
    Abstract: This application features pyrazol-3-one compounds that activate pro-apoptotic BAX. Also featured are methods of using such compounds, e.g., for the treatment or prevention of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with deregulated apoptosis of cells (e.g., insufficient apoptosis of diseased or damaged cells or essentially the absence of apoptosis of diseased or damaged cells).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Evripidis Gavathiotis
  • Patent number: 10308926
    Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides containing stabilized therapeutic peptides related to enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), histone lysine N-methyltransferase. Also provided are compositions containing these polypeptides and methods of using such peptides in the treatment of cancer that include administering to a subject one of the polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Gregory H. Bird, Woojin Kim, Stuart Orkin
  • Patent number: 10273290
    Abstract: The invention provides structurally constrained viral peptides for use as therapeutic and vaccination agents, and for the production of antibodies for use in a number of applications including as therapeutic agents. The invention further provides methods and kits for use of the structurally constrained peptides and antibodies of the instant invention. The invention is based, at least in part, on the result provided herein demonstrating the viral hydrocarbon stapled helical peptides display excellent proteolytic, acid, and thermal stability, restore the native helical structure of the peptide, are highly effective in interfering with the viral fusogenic process, and possess superior pharmacokinetic properties compared to the corresponding unmodified peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Gregory Bird
  • Patent number: 10259848
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions, kits and methods utilizing polypeptides having a viral alpha-helix heptad repeat domain in a stabilized ?-helical structure (herein also referred to as SAH). The compositions are useful for treating and/or preventing viral infections. The invention is based, at least in part, on the result provided herein demonstrating that viral hydrocarbon stapled alpha helical peptides display excellent proteolytic, acid, and thermal stability, restore the native alpha-helical structure of the peptide, are highly effective in interfering with the viral fusogenic process, and possess superior pharmacokinetic properties compared to the corresponding unmodified peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Gregory H. Bird
  • Publication number: 20190092822
    Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides containing stabilized BH4 domains of BCL-2 family proteins that are capable of binding and/or inactivating and/or modulating BAX protein, and/or its close homologues BAK and BOK, and/or other physiological BH4 targets. Also provided are compositions containing these polypeptides and methods of treating cytotoxic diseases that include administering to a subject one of the polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Michelle L. Stewart, Lauren Barclay
  • Publication number: 20190076504
    Abstract: Methods for assessing the efficacy of internally cross-linked p53 transactivation domain-based inhibitor peptides in the treatment of pediatric cancer and methods of using such peptides to treat pediatric cancer are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Loren D. Walensky, Kimberly Stegmaier, Ann Maurine Morgan, Björn Stolte