Patents by Inventor Peter J. Kniskern

Peter J. Kniskern 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: 5847112
    Abstract: Type-specific capsular polysaccharide preparations from Streptococcus pneumoniae, having on average less than about 1000 oligosaccharide repeat units per molecule, polydispersities between 1.0 and 1.4, intrinsic viscosities between 0.6 and 3.0 dL/g, and less than 3% contamination of type-specific polysaccharide by group-specific C-polysaccharide, are produced by a novel process. The novel type specific polysaccharide products are useful in the preparation of vaccines, especially covalent conjugates comprising the novel polysaccharide linked to a T-cell stimulatory carrier protein. Vaccines comprising the novel polysaccharides are useful in the prevention of infection and of diseases associated with infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kniskern, William J. Miller, Arpi Hagopian, Charlotte C. Ip, John P. Hennessey, Jr., Dennis J. Kubek, Pamela D. Burke
  • Patent number: 5623057
    Abstract: A novel conjugate vaccine comprising partially hydrolyzed, highly purified, capsular polysaccharide (Ps) from Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria (pneumococci, Pn) linked to an immunogenic carrier protein, is produced by a new process. The conjugate is useful in the prevention of pneumococcal infections. Vaccines comprising a mixture of from one to ten different pneumococcal polysaccharide-immunogenic protein (Pn-Ps-PRO) conjugates induce broadly protective recipient immune responses against the cognate pathogens from which the polysaccharide components are derived. Young children and infants younger than 2 years old, normally unable to mount a protective immune response to the Pn-Ps alone, exhibit protective immune responses upon vaccination with these Pn-Ps-PRO conjugates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Marburg, Richard L. Tolman, Peter J. Kniskern, William J. Miller, Arpi Hagopian, Charlotte C. Ip, John P. Hennessey, Jr., Dennis J. Kubek, Pamela D. Burke
  • Patent number: 5614384
    Abstract: In order to produce hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface proteins in the form of particles with substantially reduced entrapped carbohydrate content, DNA encoding the HBV surface proteins was expressed in a recombinant yeast host which is deficient in its ability to glycosylate proteins. These HBV surface proteins display the antigenie sites genetically encoded by the S domain of the HBV virion envelope open reading frame and contains substantially reduced levels of entrapped carbohydrate when compared with HBsAg particles produced in "wild-type" yeast cells. These particles are useful as a vaccine for both the active and passive treatment or prevention of disease and/or infection caused by HBV or other agents serologically related to HBV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kniskern, Arpi Hagopian
  • Patent number: 5133961
    Abstract: The entire hepatitis B virus pre-S antigen gene linked in one contiguous reading frame to the hepatitus B virus surface antigen gene has been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The expressed protein aggregates into a particulate form which displays the major antigenic sites encoded by both domains, thereby highlighting the utility of yeast as a host for the expression of pre-S domains. This protein is useful in in vitro diagnostic systems and as a vaccine for the treatment and prevention of hepatitis B virus-induced diseases and/or infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Ellis, Peter J. Kniskern, Hagopian Arpi
  • Patent number: 5130247
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant fusion polypeptides of HIV envelope and HBsAg, suitable as vaccines against AIDS and/or ARC and hepatitis, as well as immunogens for inducting antibodies for passive protection or treatment of AIDS and/or ARC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kniskern, Arpi Hagopian, Pamela Burke
  • Patent number: 5130248
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant fusion polypeptides of HIV envelope and HBsAg, suitable as vaccines against AIDS and/or ARC and hepatitis, as well as immunogens for inducing antibodies for passive protection or treatment of AIDS and/or ARC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kniskern, Arpi Hagopian, Pamela Burke
  • Patent number: 4963483
    Abstract: The hepatitis B virus preS2 antigen gene linked in one contiguous reading frame to the hepatitis B virus surface antigen gene has been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae utilizing an optimized plasmid construction. The expressed protein aggregates into a particulate form which displays the major antigenic sites encoded by both domains, thereby highlighting the utility of yeast as a host for the high level expression of the preS2 as well as the S domain. This protein is useful in in vitro diagnostic systems and as a vaccine for the treatment and prevention of hepatitis B virus-induced diseases and/or infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Ellis, Arpi Hagopian, Peter J. Kniskern, Donna L. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 4882317
    Abstract: Covalently modified bacterial polysaccharides and proteins; covalent conjugates of such polysaccharides linked by a bigeneric spacer, which permits proof of covalency and facilitates purification of conjugated materials, with immunogenic bacterial membrane or other proteins, which conjugates are useful components of bacterial vaccines; and methods of preparing such polysaccharides, proteins and conjugates and of confirming the covalency of the linkage between polysaccharides and proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Marburg, Peter J. Kniskern, Richard L. Tolman
  • Patent number: 4816564
    Abstract: The entire hepatitis B Virus pre-S antigen gene linked in one contiguous reading frame to the hepatitis B virus surface antigen gene has been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The expressed protein aggregates into a particulate form which displays the major antigenic sites encoded by both domains, thereby highlighting the utility of yeast as a host for the expression of pre-S domains. This protein is useful in in vitro diagnostic systems and as a vaccine for the treatment and prevention of hepatitis B virus-induced diseases and/or infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Ellis, Arpi Hagopian, Peter J. Kniskern
  • Patent number: 4695624
    Abstract: Covalently modified bacterial polysaccharides and proteins; covalent conjugates of such polysaccharides linked by a bigeneric spacer, which permits proof of covalency and facilitates purification of conjugated materials, with immunogenic bacterial membrane or other proteins, which conjugates are useful components of bacterial vaccines; and methods of preparing such polysaccharides, proteins and conjugates and of confirming the covalency of the linkage between polysaccharides and proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Marburg, Richard L. Tolman, Peter J. Kniskern
  • Patent number: 4407949
    Abstract: A high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide from H. influenza type b is an effective immunogenic agent against infection caused by the H. influenza type b bacterium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kniskern, Arpi Hagopian, Dennis J. Carlo
  • Patent number: 4307080
    Abstract: A high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide from H. influenza type b is an effective immunogenic agent against infection caused by the H. influenza type b bacterium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kniskern, Arpi Hagopian, Dennis J. Carlo
  • Patent number: 4264764
    Abstract: A high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide from H. influenza type b is an effective immunogenic agent against infection caused by the H. influenza type b bacterium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kniskern, Arpi Hagopian, Dennis J. Carlo
  • Patent number: 4250265
    Abstract: A sub-cellular antigenic fraction of Bordetella bronchiseptica protects against the incidence and severity of swine atropic rhinitis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Carlo, Arpi Hagopian, Peter J. Kniskern
  • Patent number: 4203970
    Abstract: A sub-cellular antigenic fraction of Bordetella bronchiseptica protects against the incidence and severity of swine atropic rhinitis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Carlo, Arpi Hagopian, Peter J. Kniskern