Patents Represented by Attorney Alysia A. Finnegan
  • Patent number: 7250170
    Abstract: Synthetic DNA molecules encoding the HPV45 L1 protein are provided. Specifically, the present invention provides polynucleotides encoding HPV45 L1 protein, wherein said polynucleotides have been codon-optimized for high level expression in a yeast cell. The synthetic molecules may be used to produce HPV45 virus-like particles (VLPs), and to produce vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the HPV45 VLPs. The vaccines of the present invention provide effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Janine T. Bryan, Michelle K. Brownlow, Loren D. Schultz, Kathrin U. Jansen
  • Patent number: 7211569
    Abstract: Synthetic DNA molecules encoding papillomavirus proteins are provided. The codons of the synthetic molecules are codons preferred by the projected host cell. The synthetic molecules may be used as a polynucleotide vaccine which provides effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through stimulation of neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P Neeper, William L. McClements, Kathrin U. Jansen, Loren D. Schultz, Ling Chen, Xin-Min Wang
  • Patent number: 7163799
    Abstract: A new neuromedin U receptor, designated NMUR2 has been found, which is involved in modulation of feeding behavior in mammals. Ligands of this receptor are able to modulate eating, and weight gain. Amino acid sequences of the human and rat forms, as well as their nucleic acid sequences are given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Qingyun Liu, Kevin R. Lynch, Andrew D. Howard, Theodore N. Mellin, Alison Strack, Leonardus H. T. Van Der Ploeg, Ruiping Wang, Qingping Jiang, David Williams
  • Patent number: 7067258
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an immunoassay for simultaneously measuring the presence of antibodies to a plurality of HPV types that utilizes particle-based flow cytometric analysis. The presence and/or titre of neutralizing antibodies in a test sample are determined in a competitive format, where known, type-specific, fluorescently labeled neutralizing monoclonal antibodies compete with antibodies within a test sample for binding to conformationally sensitive, neutralizing epitopes on specific HPV-VLPs. The invention also provides a microsphere complex comprising a microsphere coupled to an HPV VLP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Esser, David W. Opalka, Victor Goetz, James E. Drummond, Michael W. Washabaugh
  • Patent number: 7033797
    Abstract: The invention is a series of synthetic virus-like particles comprising a heterologous conformational epitope useful in the characterization of human papillomavirus infection, and useful to vaccinate individual for protection against HPV 6 and HPV 11 infections, and assays employing the synthetic virus-like particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kathrin U. Jansen, Jessica C. Ling, Steven W. Ludmerer, William L. McClements, Xin-Min Wang
  • Patent number: 7029865
    Abstract: The present invention relates to rhesus monkey DNA molecules encoding the melanocortin-4 receptor protein, recombinant vectors comprising DNA molecules encoding rhesus MC-4R, recombinant host cells which contain a recombinant vectors encoding rhesus MC-4R, the rhesus MC-4R protein encoded by the DNA molecule, and methods of identifying selective agonists and antagonists of rhesus MC-4R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. MacNeil, David H. Weinberg, Leonardus H. T. Van Der Ploeg
  • Patent number: 7001995
    Abstract: Synthetic DNA molecules encoding papillomavirus proteins are provided. The codons of the synthetic molecules are codons preferred by the projected host cell. The synthetic molecules may be used as a polynucleotide vaccine which provides effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through stimulation of neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P Neeper, William L. McClements, Kathrin U. Jansen, Loren D. Schultz, Ling Chen, Xin-Min Wang
  • Patent number: 6991795
    Abstract: Human Papillomavirus virus like particles (VLPs) have been constructed so that they contain a modified L2 protein. The L2 protein has been minimized and is fused to a second protein or peptide. The fused protein is incorporated into the VLP and the VLP can deliver the protein to a cell. The modified VLPs can be used to increase the breadth of immune response in vaccine preparations or to deliver other proteins of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Lowe, Kathrin U. Jansen, Joseph G. Joyce, William L. McClements, James C. Cook, III, Jessica Ching-Yee Ling, Michael P. Neeper
  • Patent number: 6908615
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to DNA molecules encoding purified human papillomavirus type 18 and derivatives thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn J. Hofmann, Kathrin U. Jansen, Michael P. Neeper, Joseph G. Joyce, Hugh A. George
  • Patent number: 6841157
    Abstract: This invention relates to infectious chimeric papillomaviruses, and especially those where the early genes are from human papillomavirus (HPV) 18, and the late genes are from another HPV. Also presented are methods of culturing the virus in raft cell cultures, and to assays utilizing these chimeric viruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Lowe, Craig M. Meyers, Jiaping Zhang, Michelle Kaupas, Kathrin Ute Jansen
  • Patent number: 6693184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA molecules encoding splice variants of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC-R1) protein belonging to the rhodopsin sub-family of G-protein coupled receptors, recombinant vectors comprising DNA molecules encoding MC-R1B protein, recombinant host cells which contain a recombinant vector encoding MC-R1B, the human MC-R1B protein encoded by the DNA molecule, and methods of identifying selective agonists and antagonists of MC-R1B proteins disclosed throughout this specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Howard, Douglas J. MacNeil, Leonardus H. T. Van Der Ploeg
  • Patent number: 6689366
    Abstract: The invention is a series of synthetic virus-like particles comprising a heterologous conformational epitope useful in the characterization of human papillomavirus infection, and useful to vaccinate individual for protection against HPV 6 and HPV 11 infections, and assays employing the synthetic virus-like particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kathrin U. Jansen, Jessica C. Ling, Steven W. Ludmerer, William L. McClements, Xin-Min Wang
  • Patent number: 6645738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to rhesus monkey DNA molecules encoding the melanocortin-5 receptor protein, recombinant vectors comprising DNA molecules encoding rhesus MC-5R, recombinant host cells which contain a recombinant vectors encoding rhesus MC-5R, the rhesus MC-5R protein encoded by the DNA molecule, and methods of identifying selective agonists and antagonists of rhesus MC-5R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tung M. Fong, Leonardus H. T. Van Der Ploeg, Ruey-Ruey C. Huang
  • Patent number: 6602697
    Abstract: A process for purifying papillomavirus virus-like particles (VLPs) includes the step of passing a partially purified VLP-containing solution through a hydroxyapatite chromatography column. The VLPs are then eluted using a buffer containing phosphate anion. The advantages of this method include the recovery of a high yield of intact VLPs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Cook, III
  • Patent number: 6573070
    Abstract: The present invention relates to rhesus monkey DNA molecules encoding the melanocortin-4 receptor protein, recombinant vectors comprising DNA molecules encoding rhesus MC-4R, recombinant host cells which contain a recombinant vectors encoding rhesus MC-4R, the rhesus MC-4R protein encoded by the DNA molecule, and methods of identifying selective agonists and antagonists of rhesus MC-4R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. MacNeil, David H. Weinberg, Leonardus H. T. Van Der Ploeg
  • Patent number: 6511827
    Abstract: A new galanin receptor, GALR3, is described. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding same and various assays to identify ligands particular to said receptor. Ligands so identified are useful for the treatment of obesity, treatment of pain, and treatment of cognitive disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Howard, Margaret A. Cascieri, Roy G. Smith, Kathleen A. Sullivan, Carina Tan, Leonardus H. T. Van Der Ploeg, Kevin R. Lynch
  • Patent number: 6436402
    Abstract: Human papillomavirus virus-like particles (VLPs) are subjected to various maturation conditions, including incubation at higher temperatures, exposure to soluble metals or thios-oxidation. The resultant matured VLPs are more stable, and can be used to make a vaccine formulation with increased shelf life and higher potency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Qinjian Zhao, Shilu Wu, Walter Manger, Shishir Gadam