Patents Assigned to Georgetown University
  • Thyroid hormone analysis by mass spectrometry
    Patent number: 7618827
    Abstract: Methods, systems and kits for the simultaneous or sequential analysis of one or more hormones by mass spectrometry are disclosed. The methods require minimal sample size and minimal preparation time. The methods include ionizing the hormones and analyzing the hormones by mass spectrometry. In addition, methods, systems and kits for the simultaneous or sequential analysis of thyroid hormones are disclosed including ionization of the thyroid hormones in the negative mode using an electrospray source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventor: Soldin J. Steven
  • Peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor expression level as an index of organ damage and regeneration
    Patent number: 7615355
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, reagents, and kits for assessing organ damage, such as damage due to ischemia reperfusion injury, in the course of a transplantation therapy and/or for assessing organ regeneration following transplantation therapy. The invention provides a method for determining an index of organ health in the course of transplantation therapy comprising measuring the expression level of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) in the organ. Measuring the expression level of PBR is also useful for assessing the progress of organ regeneration in the course of transplantation therapy by comparing the index of organ health. The expression level of PBR may be used as a predictor of the outcome of transplantation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Vassilios Papadopoulos, Thierry Hauet
  • Antibodies that bind to pleiotrophin growth factor receptor
    Patent number: 7608264
    Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery that pleiotrophin binds to and activates a pleiotrophin-receptor which is responsible for the events associated with pleiotrophin activity including tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, and cell invasion. By interfering with that association, the cascade of events associated with pleiotrophin activity can be prevented or reversed. Further, by evaluating the effect of different compounds and conditions on the interaction, new drugs and treatments can be identified for use in preventing certain cancers and growth and developmental disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventor: Anton Wellstein
  • ANTIBODIES THAT BIND TO PLEIOTROPHIN GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR
    Publication number: 20090232815
    Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery that pleiotrophin binds to and activates a pleiotrophin-receptor which is responsible for the events associated with pleiotrophin activity including tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, and cell invasion. By interfering with that association, the cascade of events associated with pleiotrophin activity can be prevented or reversed. Further, by evaluating the effect of different compounds and conditions on the interaction, new drugs and treatments can be identified for use in preventing certain cancers and growth and developmental disorders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Georgetown University
    Inventor: Anton Wellstein
  • Antibody fragment-targeted immunoliposomes for systemic gene delivery
    Publication number: 20090191261
    Abstract: Nucleic acid-immunoliposome compositions useful as therapeutic agents are disclosed. These compositions preferably comprise (i) cationic liposomes, (ii) a single chain antibody fragment which binds to a transferrin receptor, and (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a wild type p53. These compositions target cells which express transferrin receptors, e.g., cancer cells. These compositions can be used therapeutically to treat persons or animals who have cancer, e.g., head and neck cancer, breast cancer or prostate cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicants: SynerGene Therapeutics, Inc., Georgetown University
    Inventors: Liang Xu, Cheng-Cheng Huang, William Alexander, WenHua Tang, Esther H. Chang
  • Mammalian sphingosine kinase type 2 isoforms, cloning, expression and methods of use thereof
    Publication number: 20090169555
    Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding mouse and human sphingosine kinase type 2 isoforms, methods for detecting agents or drugs which inhibit or promote sphingosine activity and therapeutic agents containing peptides or antibodies to peptides encoded by such nucleic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicants: SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Sarah Spiegel, Takafumi Kohama
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors and Methods of Use Thereof
    Publication number: 20090163543
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to HDAC inhibitors. Methods of sensitizing a cancer cell to the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy are also provided. The invention also provides methods for treating cancer and methods for treating neurological diseases. Additionally, the invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an HDAC inhibitor of the invention, and kits comprising a container containing an HDAC inhibitor of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Alan P. Kozikowski, Bin Chen
  • Pleiotrophin growth factor receptor for the treatment of proliferative, vascular and neurological disorders
    Patent number: 7528109
    Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery that pleiotrophin binds to and activates a pleiotrophin-receptor which is responsible for the events associated with pleiotrophin activity including tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, and cell invasion. By interfering with that association, the cascade of events associated with pleiotrophin activity can be prevented or reversed. Further, by evaluating the effect of different compounds and conditions on the interaction, new drugs and treatments can be identified for use in preventing certain cancers and growth and developmental disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventor: Anton Wellstein
  • Method of treating hepatitis delta virus infection
    Patent number: 7511027
    Abstract: A method for the treatment for hepatitis delta infection in a host, that includes administering an effective amount of a nucleoside or a nucleoside analog that suppresses the expression of the hepatitis B surface or preS1 antigen in the host 100-fold or more relative to pretreatment values in vivo; or to not more than 1 microgram per milliliter in vivo. In a preferred embodiment, the nucleoside is L-FMAU, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignees: Georgetown University, University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Casey, Brent E. Korba, Paul J. Cote, John L. Gerin, Bud C. Tennant, Chung K. Chu
  • Histone deacetylase inhibitors and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 7507828
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to HDAC inhibitors. Methods of sensitizing a cancer cell to the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy are also provided. The invention also provides methods for treating cancer and methods for treating neurological diseases. Additionally, the invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an HDAC inhibitor of the invention, and kits comprising a container containing an HDAC inhibitor of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Alan P. Kozikowski, Bin Chen
  • Vascular endothelial cell growth inhibitor, VEGI-192a
    Patent number: 7498407
    Abstract: This invention discloses two new VEGI isoforms named VEGI-192a and VEGI-192b consisting of 192 amino acid residues. These isoforms show endothelial cell-specific expression and share a C-terminal 151-residues segment with the previously described VEGI-174 and VEGI-251. Methods of using these isoforms of VEGI in diagnosing, screening agonist and antagonist of the isoforms, and treating various angiogenesis-related diseases are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Luyuan Li, Hongguang Pan
  • Methods for generating immune response using cationic-liposome-mediated nucleic acid delivery
    Publication number: 20090053299
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of drug delivery, and specifically, cationic liposome-based vaccines. In embodiments, this invention provides methods of making ligand-targeted (e.g., antibody- or antibody fragment-targeted) liposomes useful for the delivery of molecules to induce immune responses against viral antigens or to treat or prevent viral diseases. The specificity of the delivery system is derived from the targeting ligands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Esther H. Chang, Kathleen F. Pirollo
  • Antibody fragment-targeted immunoliposomes for systemic gene delivery
    Patent number: 7479276
    Abstract: Nucleic acid-immunoliposome compositions useful as therapeutic agents are disclosed. These compositions preferably comprise (i) cationic liposomes, (ii) a single chain antibody fragment which binds to a transferrin receptor, and (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a wild type p53. These compositions target cells which express transferrin receptors, e.g., cancer cells. These compositions can be used therapeutically to treat persons or animals who have cancer, e.g., head and neck cancer, breast cancer or prostate cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignees: SynerGene Therapeutics, Inc., Georgetown University
    Inventors: Liang Xu, Cheng-Cheng Huang, William Alexander, WenHua Tang, Esther H. Chang
  • Steroid hormone analysis by mass spectrometry
    Patent number: 7473560
    Abstract: Methods, systems and kits for the simultaneous or sequential analysis of a multitude of steroid hormones by mass spectrometry are disclosed. The methods require minimal sample size and minimal preparation time. The methods include ionizing the hormones and analyzing the hormones by mass spectrometry. In addition, methods, systems and kits for the simultaneous or sequential analysis of steroid hormones are disclosed including ionization of the steroid hormones by photoionization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventor: Steven J. Soldin
  • Gene BRCC-3 and diagnostic and therapeutic uses thereof
    Patent number: 7442520
    Abstract: A gene that is a modulator of tumor growth and metastasis in certain cancer types is provided. This gene and corresponding polypeptide have diagnostic and therapeutic application for detecting and treating cancers that involve expression of BRCC-3 such as breast cancer and lung cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Usha Kasid, Prafulla Gokhale, Deepak Kumar, Howard Boudreau, Imran Ahmad, Anatoly Dritschilo, Aquilur Rahman
  • Heregulin-like Factor
    Publication number: 20080254466
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel HLF protein which is a member of the heregulin family. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human HLF protein. HLF polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of HLF activity. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting disorders of the regulation of cell growth and therapeutic methods for treating disorders of the regulation of cell growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicants: Human Genome Sciences, Inc., Georgetown University Medical Center
    Inventors: Paul E. Young, C. Richter King, Mai Hijazi, Steven M. Ruben
  • MATRIPTASE, A SERINE PROTEASE AND ITS APPLICATIONS
    Publication number: 20080248566
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of detecting a malignancy or a pre-malignant lesion in breast or other tissue, or a pathologic condition, by detecting the presence of single-chain or two-chain forms of matriptase in the tissue. The invention is further directed to a method of treating malignancies, which have the phenotype of matriptase production by administering a tumor formation inhibiting effective amount of concentrate of Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBIC), or other matriptase inhibitor. The invention also is directed to nucleic acids encoding a matriptase protein or fragments thereof, and their use for structure elucidation and modeling to identify other inhibitors of matriptase, as well as to methods of identifying matriptase modulating agents, including activators and inhibitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Georgetown University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Robert B. Dickson, Chen-Yong Lin, Michael Johnson, Shaomeng Wang, Istvan Enyedy
  • ErbB-2 selective small molecule kinase inhibitors
    Patent number: 7427689
    Abstract: A novel method for erbB-2 kinase inhibition by compounds identifies through computational modeling and data processing and/or rational and de novo drug design is provided the compounds bind erbB-2 kinase molecules and which can be used as erbB-2 kinase agonists or antagonists. These compounds are useful especially in the treatment of cancer, particularly breast cancer, and can be used alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, particularly with hercetin, a humanized anti-HER-2 antibody, or with radiation therapy. A specific compound which is exemplified is “compound B17”=methyl-(p-nitrophenyl)-2-propynoate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Shaomeng Wang, Dajun Yang, Istvan Enyedy
  • Mammalian sphingosine kinase type 2 isoforms, cloning, expression and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 7419814
    Abstract: Methods for detecting agents or drugs which inhibit or promote an activity of sphingosine kinase type 2 isoform involving providing a recombinant DNA construct into a cell such that sphingosine kinase type 2 isoform is produced in the cell, adding at least one drug or agent to the cell, and detecting whether or not the drug or agent inhibits or promotes an activity of sphingosine kinase type 2 isoform by measuring sphingosine kinase-depedendent phosphorylation of lipids in the cell and comparing the resultant measurement to a control which did not receive the drug or agent, wherein a decrease in the amount of sphingosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation of the lipids as compared to the control indicates an inhibitory drug or agent, or an increase in the amount of sphingosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation of the lipids in the cell as compared to the control indicates a stimulatory drug or agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignees: Sankyo Company, Limited, Georgetown University
    Inventors: Sarah Spiegel, Takafumi Kohama
  • IMMUNOREACTIVE PEPTIDES FROM EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS
    Publication number: 20080175849
    Abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) specific polypeptides are disclosed. Also disclosed are the use of these polypeptides for the production of polypeptide-specific antibodies and the diagnosis and treatment of EBV-associated disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicants: Ortho Diagnostics Systems, Inc., Georgetown University
    Inventors: Richard S. Smith, Gary R. Pearson, D. Elliot Parks, Susan Pothen Varghese