Patents by Inventor Walter J. Koch

Walter J. Koch 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).

  • Method of inhibiting smooth muscle proliferation
    Publication number: 20030125254
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to vascular smooth muscle proliferation and, in particular, to a method of inhibiting arterial and venous smooth muscle proliferation resulting, for example, from arterial injury, vein grafting or shunt implantation. The invention also relates to an expression construct encoding a G&bgr;&ggr; inhibitor suitable for use in such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Walter J. Koch, Jeffrey H. Lawson
  • Preventing desensitization of receptors
    Publication number: 20030092633
    Abstract: Desensitization of receptors that control disease is prevented by inhibiting G-protein receptor kinases. This has applicability, e.g., for patients with heart failure or on a left ventricular heart device or a heart pump after surgery or about to undergo surgery and at high risk for a cardiac event of on an opiate or addicted to opiate or with cystic fibrosis or rheumatoid arthritis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Stamler, Robert J. Lefkowitz, Erin J. Whalen, Walter J. Koch, Claude A. Piantadosi
  • Use of exogenous beta-adrenergic receptor and beta-adrenergic receptor kinase gene constructs to enhance myocardial function
    Publication number: 20030026784
    Abstract: The present invention deals with gene therapy for treating chronic heart failure and other cardiac disease states which are accompanied by a reduced number or functioning of myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors (&bgr;-AR). &bgr;-AR receptor function is augmented in transgenic animals by delivery and expression of a beta-2-adrenergic receptor gene or a gene encoding a beta adrenergic receptor kinase inhibitor, resulting in increased in vivo left ventricular function. The present invention includes recombinant plasmid vectors, alternative beta-adrenergic receptor gene delivery strategies, and transgenic mice carrying a &bgr;-AR transgene, a &bgr;-ARK transgene, or a &bgr;-ARK inhibitor transgene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Walter J. Koch, Robert J. Lefkowitz, Carmelo A. Milano, Howard A. Rockman
  • Intracellular inhibitors of Gq protein signaling
    Publication number: 20020198151
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to myocardial hypertrophy and, in particular, to agents that inhibit cardiac Gq-coupled receptor signaling and to methods of inhibiting myocardial hypertrophy using same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Walter J. Koch, Robert J. Lefkowitz, Shahab A. Akhter, Louis M. Luttrell, Howard A. Rockman
  • Hypotension
    Publication number: 20020165118
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to hypotension and, in particular, to a novel therapeutic target for lowering blood pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Walter J. Koch, Andrea D. Eckhart
  • Use of exogenous &bgr;-adrenergic receptor and &bgr;-adrenergic receptor kinase gene constructs to enhance myocardial function
    Patent number: 6436908
    Abstract: The present invention deals with gene therapy for treating chronic heart failure and other cardiac disease states which are accompanied by a reduced number or functioning of myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors (&bgr;-AR). &bgr;-AR receptor function is augmented in transgenic animals by delivery and expression of a beta-2-adrenergic receptor gene or a gene encoding a beta adrenergic receptor kinase inhibitor, resulting in increased in vivo left ventricular function. The present invention includes recombinant plasmid vectors, alternative beta-adrenergic receptor gene delivery strategies, and transgenic mice carrying a &bgr;-AR transgene, a &bgr;-ARK transgene, or a &bgr;-ARK inhibitor transgene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Walter J. Koch, Robert J. Lefkowitz, Carmelo A. Milano, Howard A. Royman
  • Hypertension
    Publication number: 20020062490
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to hypertension and, in particular, to an animal model of hypertension that elucidates a novel therapeutic target for lowering blood pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Walter J. Koch, Andrea D. Eckhart
  • INTRACELLULAR INHIBITORS OF GQ PROTEIN SIGNALING
    Publication number: 20020045248
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to myocardial hypertrophy and, in particular, to agents that inhibit cardiac Gq-coupled receptor signaling and to methods of inhibiting myocardial hypertrophy using same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: WALTER J. KOCH, ROBERT J. LEFKOWITZ, SHAHAB A. AKHTER, LOUIS M. LUTTRELL
  • Method of inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation
    Patent number: 5981487
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to vascular smooth muscle proliferation and, in particular, to a method of inhibiting arterial and venous smooth muscle proliferation resulting, for example, from arterial injury or vein grafting. The invention also relates to an expression construct encoding a G.beta..gamma. inhibitor suitable for use in such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Walter J. Koch, Robert J. Lefkowitz, Per-Otto Hagen