Patents Assigned to Geron Corporation
  • Combined telomerase inhibitor and gemcitabine for the treatment of cancer
    Patent number: 7989428
    Abstract: A method and kit for inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells are disclosed, based on a combination of a gemcitabine and a telomerase inhibitor. When used in cancer therapy, the two compounds in combination enhance the anti-cancer treatment efficacy obtained with gemcitabine alone or the telomerase inhibitor alone. Preferably, efficacy is supraadditive or synergistic in nature relative to the combined effects of the individual agents, with minimal exacerbation of side effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Ning F. Go, Robert J. Tressler
  • Compositions and Methods for Increasing Telomerase Activity
    Publication number: 20110071095
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for increasing telomerase activity in cells. Such compositions include pharmaceutical, including topical, and nutraceutical formulations. The methods and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in cells or tissue of a patient, such as, for example, HIV infection, various degenerative diseases, and acute or chronic skin ailments. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and proliferation of stem cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Calvin Bruce Harley, Allison C. Chin, Tsutomu Akama, Nancy Yuk-yu Ip, Yung-hou Wong, David M. Miller-Martini
  • Two cell population comprising chondrocyte precursors and human embryonic stem cells
    Patent number: 7906330
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for obtaining cells of the chondrocyte lineage by differentiating primate pluripotent stem cells. The process involves culturing the cells as a micromass or other aggregate form in a cocktail of differentiation agents that facilitates outgrowth of the desired cell type. Progeny are capable of synthesizing Type II collagen or aggrecan, or other products that are characteristic of the chondrocyte lineage. Chondrocytes and chondrocyte precursor cells obtained according to this disclosure are suitable for use in both research and clinical therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventor: R. Scott Thies
  • Direct differentiation method for making cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells
    Patent number: 7897389
    Abstract: This invention provides a new procedure for generating cardiomyocyte lineage cells from embryonic stem cells for use in regenerative medicine. Differentiating by way of embryoid body formation or in serum is no longer required. Instead, the stem cells are plated onto a solid substrate, and differentiated in the presence of select factors and morphogens. After enrichment for cells with the appropriate phenotype, the cells are allowed to cluster into Cardiac Bodies™, which are remarkably homogeneous and suitable for the treatment of heart disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph D. Gold, Mohammad Hassanipour, Lila R. Collins, Chunhui Xu
  • Regulatory segments of the human gene for telomerase reverse transcriptase
    Patent number: 7879609
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg B. Morin, William H. Andrews
  • Differentiated Pluripotent Stem Cell Progeny Depleted of Extraneous Phenotypes
    Publication number: 20100330670
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for depleting extraneous phenotypes from a mixed population of cells comprising the in vitro differentiated progeny of primate pluripotent stem cells. The invention also provides mixed cell populations enriched for a target cell phenotype where the mixed cell population comprises the differentiated in vitro progeny of primate embryonic stem cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Jane S. Lebkowski, Catherine A. Priest, Ross M. Okamura
  • Compound screening using cardiomyocytes
    Patent number: 7851167
    Abstract: This invention provides populations human cells of the cardiomyocyte lineage. The cells are obtained by causing cultures of pluripotent stem cells to differentiate in vitro, and then harvesting cells with certain phenotypic features. Differentiated cells bear cell surface and morphologic markers characteristic of cardiomyocytes, and a proportion of them undergo spontaneous periodic contraction. Highly enriched populations of cardiomyocytes and their replicating precursors can be obtained, suitable for use in a variety of applications, such as drug screening and therapy for cardiac disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventor: Chunhui Xu
  • Compositions and methods for increasing telomerase activity
    Patent number: 7846904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for increasing telomerase activity in cells. Such compositions include pharmaceutical, including topical, and nutraceutical formulations. The method and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in cells or tissue of a patient, such as, for example, HIV infection, various degenerative diseases, and acute or chronic skin aliments. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and proliferation of stem cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Calvin Bruce Harley, Allison C. Chin, Tsutomu Akama, Nancy Yuk-yu Ip, Yung-hou Wong, David M. Miller-Martini
  • Cellular telomerase vaccine and its use for treating cancer
    Patent number: 7824849
    Abstract: The invention provides dendritic cell (DC) preparations that present a telomerase reverse transcriptase (TRT) peptide in the context of an MHC class I or MHC class II molecule. The DCs may be pulsed with a TRT polypeptide, or may comprise a recombinant polynucleotide encoding TRT. The invention also describes the use of such compositions for the prevention and treatment of cancers and other diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventor: Federico C. A. Gaeta
  • Differentiation and Enrichment of Islet-like Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
    Publication number: 20100240130
    Abstract: Methods for differentiating human pluripotent stem cells into islet-like cells are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods utilize sequential culturing of the human pluripotent stem cells with certain factors to produce islet-like cells. In certain embodiments, the population of cells produced by the methods is further enriched for islet-like cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Anish Sen Majumdar, JianJie Jiang, Melinda Au
  • Using undifferentiated embryonic stem cells to control the immune system
    Patent number: 7799324
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a system for minimizing the alloreactivity of tissue transplants. The patient is administered with undifferentiated embryonic stem cells or early progenitor cells. This induces a state of inflammatory quiescence or immune unresponsiveness, which in turn enhances engraftment of cells derived from the same stem cell line given for purposes of regenerative medicine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignees: Geron Corporation, University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Mickie Bhatia, Joaquin Madrenas, Iris A. Ferber, Anish Sen Majumdar
  • Differentiation protocol for making human cardiomyocytes
    Patent number: 7763464
    Abstract: This invention provides populations human cells of the cardiomyocyte lineage. The cells are obtained by causing cultures of pluripotent stem cells to differentiate in vitro, and then harvesting cells with certain phenotypic features. Differentiated cells bear cell surface and morphologic markers characteristic of cardiomyocytes, and a proportion of them undergo spontaneous periodic contraction. Highly enriched populations of cardiomyocytes and their replicating precursors can be obtained, suitable for use in a variety of applications, such as drug screening and therapy for cardiac disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventor: Chunhui Xu
  • Use of cyclic AMP and ascorbic acid to produce dopaminergic neurons from embryonic stem cells
    Patent number: 7763463
    Abstract: This disclosure provides improved methods for obtaining populations of dopaminergic neurons from pluripotent stem cells. The process involves taking a population of neural precursor cells derived from a line of human embryonic stem cells, and culturing the cells in a medium that contains a neurotrophin, either cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) or a compound that elevates intracellular cAMP levels, and optionally an antioxidant such as ascorbic acid. Cell populations have been obtained that contain a high proportion of cells staining for tyrosine hydroxylase, which is a feature of dopaminergic neurons. The neural progenitors and terminally differentiated neurons of this invention can be generated in large quantities for use in drug screening and the treatment of clinically important neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa K. Carpenter, R. Scott Thies
  • Antibody to telomerase reverse transcriptive
    Patent number: 7750121
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignees: Geron Corporation, The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Thomas R. Cech, Joachim Lingner, Toru Nakamura, Karen B. Chapman, Gregg B. Morin, Calvin B. Harley, William H. Andrews
  • Mammalian telomerase
    Patent number: 7732402
    Abstract: Nucleic acids comprising the RNA component of a mammalian telomerase are useful as pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Bryant Villeponteau, Junli Feng, Walter Funk, William Andrews
  • Process for making transplantable cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells
    Patent number: 7732199
    Abstract: This invention provides populations human cells of the cardiomyocyte lineage. The cells are obtained by causing cultures of pluripotent stem cells to differentiate in vitro, and then harvesting cells with certain phenotypic features. Differentiated cells bear cell surface and morphologic markers characteristic of cardiomyocytes, and a proportion of them undergo spontaneous periodic contraction. Highly enriched populations of cardiomyocytes and their replicating precursors can be obtained, suitable for use in a variety of applications, such as drug screening and therapy for cardiac disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Chunhui Xu, Joseph D. Gold
  • Treatment of Carcinomas with a Combination of EGF-Pathway and Telomerase Inhibitors
    Publication number: 20100104586
    Abstract: A method and kit for inhibiting the proliferation of carcinoma cells are disclosed, based on a combination of an EGF pathway inhibitor and a telomerase inhibitor. When used in cancer therapy, the two compounds in combination enhance the anti-cancer treatment efficacy obtained with the antibody alone or the telomerase inhibitor alone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Tressler, Ning F. Go
  • Oligonucleotide Conjugates
    Publication number: 20100016416
    Abstract: Oligonucleotide conjugates, where an oligonucleotide is covalently attached to an aromatic system, are provided. In particular embodiments the oligonucleotide is complementary to the RNA component of human telomerase and is covalently attached to a nucleobase via an optional linker. The conjugates inhibit telomerase enzyme activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Sergei Gryaznov, Krisztina Pongracz, Richard L. Tolman, Gregg B. Morin
  • Combined Telomerase Inhibitor and Gemcitabine for the Treatment of Cancer
    Publication number: 20100016407
    Abstract: A method and kit for inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells are disclosed, based on a combination of a gemcitabine and a telomerase inhibitor. When used in cancer therapy, the two compounds in combination enhance the anti-cancer treatment efficacy obtained with gemcitabine alone or the telomerase inhibitor alone. Preferably, efficacy is supraadditive or synergistic in nature relative to the combined effects of the individual agents, with minimal exacerbation of side effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Geron Corporation
    Inventors: Ning F. Go, Robert J. Tressler
  • Cancer treatment by combined inhibition of proteasome and telomerase activities
    Publication number: 20100010064
    Abstract: A method and kit for inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells are disclosed, based on a combination of a proteasome inhibitor and a telomerase inhibitor. When used in cancer therapy, the two compounds in combination enhance the anti-cancer treatment efficacy obtained with the proteasome inhibitor alone or the telomerase inhibitor alone. Preferably, efficacy is supraadditive or synergistic in nature relative to the combined effects of the individual agents, with minimal exacerbation of side effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicants: Geron Corporation, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
    Inventors: Malcolm A. S. Moore, Allison C. Chin