Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David J. Earp
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Patent number: 6548741Abstract: An optimum time has been discovered for obtaining porcine oocytes with improved developmental competence. Harvested oocytes are matured by culturing in vitro, and then activated ˜42-46 hours after beginning of the culture period. Alternatively, ovulation is induced in a donor female using a gonadotrophic hormone (optionally monitored by ultrasonography), maturation is allowed to proceed in vivo, and then the harvested oocyte is activated ˜44-48 hours after inducing ovulation. Outside the optimal time frame, the ability of the oocytes to undergo parthenogenetic activation declines markedly. These methods overcome problems encountered with previous protocols for nuclear transfer and assisted reproduction in the pig.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Paul Alexandre DeSousa, Timothy James King, Ian Wilmut, Jie Zhu
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Patent number: 6545133Abstract: This invention provides purified telomerase and methods of purifying it. The methods involve the use of several sequential steps, including the use of matrices that bind molecules bearing negative charges, matrices that bind molecules bearing positive charges, intermediate-selectivity matrices, methods that separate molecules based on their size, shape, or buoyant density, and by affinity purification.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Scott L. Weinrich, Edward M. Atkinson, III, Serge P. Lichtsteiner, Alain P. Vasserot, Ronald A. Pruzan
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Patent number: 6518268Abstract: Thiazolidinedione compounds, compositions, and methods of inhibiting telomerase activity in vitro and treatment of telomerase mediated conditions or diseases ex vivo and in vivo are provided. The methods, compounds and compositions of the invention may be employed alone, or in combination with other pharmacologically active agents in the treatment of conditions or diseases mediated by telomerase activity, such as in the treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are novel methods for assaying or screening for inhibitors of telomerase activity.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignees: Geron Corporation, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Allison C. Chin, Ryan Holcomb, Mieczyslaw A. Piatyszek, Upinder Singh, Richard L. Tolman, Tsutomu Akama, Yutaka Kanda, Akira Asai, Yoshinori Yamashita, Kaori Endo, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 6517834Abstract: This invention provides purified telomerase and methods of purifying it. The methods involve the use of several sequential steps, including the use of matrices that bind molecules bearing negative charges, matrices that bind molecules bearing positive charges, intermediate-selectivity matrices, methods that separate molecules based on their size, shape, or buoyant density, and by affinity purification.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Scott L. Weinrich, Edward M. Atkinson, III, Serge P. Lichtsteiner, Alain P. Vasserot, Ronald A. Pruzan
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Patent number: 6506574Abstract: It has been discovered that when pluripotent stem cells are cultured in the presence of a hepatocyte differentiation agent, a population of cells is derived that has a remarkably high proportion of cells with phenotypic characteristics of liver cells. In one example, human embryonic stem cells are allowed to form embryoid bodies, and then combined with the differentiation agent n-butyrate, optionally supplemented with maturation factors. In another example, n-butyrate is added to human embryonic stem cells in feeder-free culture. Either way, a remarkably uniform cell population is obtained, which is predominated by cells with morphological features of hepatocytes, expressing surface markers characteristic of hepatocytes, and having enzymatic and biosynthetic activity important for liver function.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Lakshmi Rambhatla, Melissa K. Carpenter
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Patent number: 6475789Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1997Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignees: University Technology Corporation, Geron CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Cech, Joachim Lingner, Toru Nakamura, Karen B. Chapman, Gregg B. Morin, Calvin B. Harley, William H. Andrews
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Patent number: 6458589Abstract: It has been discovered that when pluripotent stem cells are cultured in the presence of a hepatocyte differentiation agent, a population of cells is derived that has a remarkably high proportion of cells with phenotypic characteristics of liver cells. In one example, human embryonic stem cells are allowed to form embryoid bodies, and then combined with the differentiation agent n-butyrate, optionally supplemented with maturation factors. In another example, n-butyrate is added to human embryonic stem cells in feeder-free culture. Either way, a remarkably uniform cell population is obtained, which is predominated by cells with morphological features of hepatocytes, expressing surface markers characteristic of hepatocytes, and having enzymatic and biosynthetic activity important for liver function.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Lakshmi Rambhatla, Melissa K. Carpenter
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Patent number: 6452014Abstract: Thiazolidinedione compounds, compositions, and methods of inhibiting telomerase activity in vitro and treatment of telomerase mediated conditions or diseases ex vivo and in vivo are provided. The methods, compounds and compositions of the invention may be employed alone, or in combination with other pharmacologically active agents in the treatment of conditions or diseases mediated by telomerase activity, such as in the treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are methods for assaying or screening for inhibitors of telomerase activity.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Tsutomu Akama, Ryan Holcomb, Richard L. Tolman
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Patent number: 6444650Abstract: The present invention provides TRT antisense oligonucleotides, methods of detecting TRT, methods of diagnosing telomerase-related conditions, methods of diagnosing and providing a prognosis for cancer, and methods of treating telomerase-related conditions, including cancer.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1998Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignees: Geron Corporation, University Technology CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Cech, Joachim Lingner, Toru Nakamura, Karen B. Chapman, Gregg B. Morin, Calvin B. Harley, William H. Andrews
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Patent number: 6440735Abstract: The invention provides a method of activating a T lymphocyte by contacting the T lymphocyte with a dendritic cell (DC) that presents a telomerase reverse transcriptase (TRT) peptide in the context of a MHC class I or MHC class II molecule. The DC may be pulsed with a TRT polypeptide or may comprise a recombinant polynucleotide encoding a TRT such as hTRT. The invention also provides DCs comprising a recombinant TRT polynucleotide. The methods and compositions of the invention are used in prevention and treatment of cancers and other cell proliferation diseases or conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Geron CorporationInventor: Federico C. A. Gaeta
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Patent number: 6337200Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. Catalytically active human telomerase reverse transcriptase variants comprising deletions or other mutations are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1998Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: Geron CorporationInventor: Gregg B. Morin
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Patent number: 6309867Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel telomerase nucleic acids and amino acids. In particular, the present invention is directed to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding various telomerase protein subunits and motifs, including the 123 kDa and 43 kDa telomerase protein subunits of Euplotes aediculatus, and related sequences from Schizosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces sequences, and human telomerase. The present invention is also directed to polypeptides comprising these telomerase protein subunits, as well as functional polypeptides and ribonucleoproteins that contain these subunits.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1999Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: University Technology CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Cech, Toru Nakamura
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Patent number: 6300110Abstract: Purified and recombinant proteins TPC2 and TPC3 and recombinant or synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to those proteins or fragments thereof can be used to detect regulators of telomere length and telomerase activity in mammalian cells and for a variety of related diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1998Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Bryant Villeponteau, Junli Feng, William H. Andrews, Robert R. Adams
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Patent number: 6274738Abstract: The invention provides DNA primase assays suitable for identifying DN primase modulating agents, methods of modulating DNA primase activity, compounds for modulating DNA primase activity, and compositions which modulate DNA primase.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1997Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Michael R. Kozlowski, Junko Aimi, Ryan Holcomb
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Patent number: 6261556Abstract: This invention provides purified human telomerase and methods of purifying it. The methods involve the use of several sequential steps, including the use of a first matrix that binds molecules bearing negative charges, a matrix that binds molecules bearing positive charges, a second matrix that binds molecules bearing negative charges, an affinity purification step and a matrix that separates molecules according to their size.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1999Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Scott L. Weinrich, Edward M. Atkinson, III, Serge P. Lichtsteiner, Alain P. Vasserot, Ronald A. Pruzan, James T. Kealey
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Patent number: 6261836Abstract: The present invention is directed to telomerase nucleic acids and amino acids. In particular, the present invention is directed to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding various telomerase protein subunits and motifs, including the 123 kDa and 43 kDa telomerase protein subunits of Euplotes aediculatus, and related sequences from Schizosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces sequences, and human telomerase. The present invention is also directed to polypeptides comprising these telomerase protein subunits, as well as functional polypeptides and ribonucleoproteins that contain these subunits.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1997Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignees: Geron Corporation, University Technology CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Cech, Joachim Lingner, Toru Nakamura, Karen B. Chapman, Gregg B. Morin, Calvin B. Harley, William H. Andrews
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Patent number: 6252133Abstract: A method of reconstituting an animal embryo involves transferring a diploid nucleus into an oocyte which is arrested in the metaphase of the second meiotic division. The oocyte is not activated at the time of transfer, so that the donor nucleus is kept exposed to the recipient cytoplasm for a period of time. The diploid nucleus can be donated by a cell in either the G0 or G1 phase of the cell cycle at the time of transfer. Subsequently, the reconstituted embryo is activated. Correct ploidy is maintained during activation, for example, by incubating the reconstituted embryo in the presence of a microtubule inhibitor such as nocodazole. The reconstituted embryo may then give rise to one or more live animal births. The invention is useful in the production of transgenic animals as well as non-transgenics of high genetic merit.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1997Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignees: Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research CouncilInventors: Keith Henry Stockman Campbell, Ian Wilmut
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Patent number: 6096499Abstract: The invention provides DNA primase assays suitable for identifying DNA primase modulating agents, methods of modulating DNA primase activity and compositions which modulate DNA primase.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1997Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Geron CorporationInventors: Michael Kozlowski, Junko Aimi
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Patent number: 6054314Abstract: A substantially non-invasive and efficient method for collecting cells from the internal organs of a subject is provided. In one embodiment, energy from an external energy source is applied to the subject that is sufficient to loosen the cells from an internal cellular surface of an internal organ so that at least a portion of the loosened cells are detached from the internal cellular surface or the organ. The detached cells are collected from the subject and can be analyzed for a disease state. The methods described herein provide methods for detecting of disease states before macroscopic evidence of the disease state that also facilitate inexpensive mass screening.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Geron CorporationInventor: Nam Woo Kim
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Patent number: 6025194Abstract: Human gene GC6 is expressed more abundantly in senescent cells than young cells. Isolated, purified, and recombinant nucleic acids and proteins corresponding to the human GC6 gene and its mRNA and protein products, as well as peptides and antibodies corresponding to the GC6 protein can be used to identify senescent cells, distinguish between senescent and young cells, identify agents that alter senescent gene expression generally and GC6 expression specifically; such agents as well as GC6 gene and gene products and products corresponding thereto can be used to prevent and treat diseases and conditions relating to cell senescence.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1997Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: Geron CorporationInventor: Walter Funk