Patents Assigned to Merck
  • Patent number: 6375929
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of gene therapy for inhibiting angiogenesis associated with solid tumor growth, tumor metastasis, inflammation, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, hemangiomas, diabetic retinopathy, angiofibromas, and macular degeneration Gene therapy methodology is disclosed for inhibition of primary tumor growth and metastasis by gene transfer of a nucleotide sequence encoding a soluble form of a VEGF tyrosine kinase receptor to a mammalian host. The transferred nucleotide sequence transcribes mRNA and a soluble receptor protein which binds to VEGF in extracellular regions adjacent to the primary tumor and vascular endothelial cells. Formation of a sVEGF-R/VEGF complex will prevent binding of VEGF to the KDR and FLT-1 tyrosine kinase receptors, antagonizing transduction of the normal intracellular signals associated with vascular endothelial cell-induced tumor angiogenesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Thomas, Jr., Richard L. Kendall, Corey K. Goldman, William R. Huckle, Andrew J. Bett
  • Patent number: 6376499
    Abstract: Compounds of the invention are useful in inhibiting thrombin and associated thrombotic occlusions having the following structure: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein b is N Y1 or O; c is CY2 or N; d is CY2; e is CY1 or N; f is CY1 or N; g is CY1 or N; Y1 is hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, or halogen; Y2 is hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C3-7 cycloalkyl, halogen, NH2, OH or C1-4 alkoxy; A is  and W, X, Z, R3, R4 and R5 are defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Philip E. Sanderson, Terry Lyle, Bruce Dorsey, Matthew G. Stanton, Adel M. Naylor-Olsen
  • Patent number: 6376495
    Abstract: Piperazine derivatives of formula (I) wherein Z, X, n, Ar and i have the meanings defined herein are usefull in the treatment of pathologies associated with insulin-resistance syndrome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft
    Inventors: Gérard Moinet, Dominique Marais, Didier Mesangeau, Liliane Doare, Micheline Kergoat
  • Publication number: 20020045605
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of retarding or preventing the transformation of a colonic adenoma to a colonic adenocarcinoma comprising the administration to a patient with FAP or a patient with one or more of said adenomas a non-toxic therapeutically effective amount of NSAID, said amount effective to inhibit the PGHS-2 in said adenoma. The preferred method comprises the administration of a specific PGHS-2 inhibiting agent as defined herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Merck & Co.
    Inventors: Stacia Kargman, Jilly Evans, Thomas J. Simon
  • Publication number: 20020045594
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel vaccine formulation comprising nucleic acid molecules and an mineral-based adjuvant provided in a biologically effective concentration so as to improve induction of an immune response subsequent to vaccination which correlates to expression of one or more specific antigens encoded by the nucleic acid molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Volkin, Robert K. Evans, Jeffrey B. Ulmer, Michael J. Caulfield
  • Publication number: 20020043646
    Abstract: Novel phenylcyclohexanes of the formula I 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: MERCK KGAA
    Inventors: Andreas Wachtler, Reinhard Hittich, Eike Poetsch, Herbert Plach, David Coates, Bernhard Rieger, Joachim Krause
  • Patent number: 6372911
    Abstract: A process for preparing a &bgr;-hydroxy carbamate product is disclosed. The process comprises reacting an olefin compound containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond with a carbamate in an aqueous solvent and in the presence of a base, an osmium catalyst, a co-oxidant selected from a halohydantoin, a haloisocyanuric acid, and an alkali metal salt of a haloisocyanuric acid, and optionally an asymmetric ligand, to form a reaction mixture containing the &bgr;-hydroxy carbamate product. The process optionally further comprises treating the &bgr;-hydroxy carbamate product with additional base to form an oxazolidinone. The oxazolidinones are useful as chiral auxiliary agents and as intermediates for the formation of pharmaceutically active substances such as alpha 1 a adrenergic receptor antagonists. A process for preparing nitrogen-functionalized derivatives of the oxazolidinones is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Barta, Robert D. Larsen, Daniel R. Sidler, Steven A. Weissman
  • Patent number: 6372764
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to pyrrolidine compounds of the formula I: (wherein R1, R2, R3, R4c, R4d, and R4f are defined herein) which are useful as modulators of chemokine receptor activity. In particular, these compounds are useful as modulators of the chemokine receptors CCR-3 and/or CCR-5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jianming Bao, Robert K. Baker, William H. Parsons, Kathleen Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 6372754
    Abstract: The present invention relates compounds of the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent a variety of substituents; R6 represents hydrogen, CORa, CO2Ra, COCONRaRb, COCO2Ra, C1-6alkyl optionally substituted by a group selected from (CO2Ra, CONRaRb, hydroxy, CN, CORa, NRaRb, C(NOH)NRaRb, CONHphenyl(C1-4alkyl), COCO2Ra, CONHNRaRb, C(S)NRaRb, CONRaC1-6alkylR12, CONR13C2-6alkenyl, CONR13C2-6alkynyl, COCONRaRb, CONRaC(NRb)NRaRb, CONRaheteroaryl, and phenyl optionally substituted by one, two or three substituents selected from C1-6alky, C1-6alkoxy, halogen and trifluoromethyl); or R6 represents a group of formula —CH2C≡CCH2NR7R8 where R7 and R8 are as defined below; or R6 represents C1-6alkyl, optionally substituted by oxo, substituted by a 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms optionally substituted by ═O or ═S and optionally substituted by a group of the formula ZNR7R8; or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd.
    Inventor: Janusz Jozef Kulagowski
  • Patent number: 6372036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pigment preparation containing a mixture of coated or uncoated Al2O3 flakes, and one or more special-effect pigments, and a phosphate derivative, and to the use thereof, especially in printing inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft Beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Gerhard Pfaff, Sabine Schoen, Norio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6372255
    Abstract: A multi-layer tablet for the instant and prolonged release of active substances comprises at least two layers where the first outer layer comprises a mixture of excipients and an active substance, allowing for the immediate release of the active substance within the first layer, and a second layer, arranged in contact with the first layer. The second layer comprises a nonbiodegradable inert porous polymeric matrix in which an active substance is dispersed, allowing for the prolonged release of the active substance within the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft
    Inventors: Olivier Saslawski, Laurence Orlando
  • Patent number: 6372183
    Abstract: Automated measurement apparatus and methods for automated drug screening procedures are provided. The apparatus is capable of initiating and measuring rapid or transient events, such as cell receptor and/or ion channel activity. In particular, the apparatus is capable of aligning with predetermined positions, one or more samples contained in a multi-well container, initiating the reaction with reagent addition and measuring a resultant attribute for a period of time. The apparatus can substantially continuously measure and record data corresponding to the measured attribute before, during and after initiation of the reaction so that a time course of the rapid or transient event may be determined. After the reaction(s) are complete in one or more wells of the multi-well container, the apparatus can align one or more different wells to be assayed with the predetermined position and repeat the cycle until a predetermined number of wells are assayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Akong, Michael Miller Harpold, Gonul Velicelebi, Paul Brust
  • Patent number: 6372425
    Abstract: A process of purifying target molecules is described that involves the selection of ligands based on identifying, in real time, association and dissociation constants with a given target molecule; using this information to select at least one ligand that exhibit predetermined association and dissociation constants with a given target molecule; anchoring a quantity of ligand to an activated solid support; contacting a quantity of target molecules with the anchored ligand(s); removing low affinity target molecules from anchored ligand and eluting particularly pure target molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Beth Arnold, Paul M. Keller, Anthony J. Conley, Alan R. Shaw, Jwu-Sheng Tung
  • Patent number: 6372733
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds of Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which have been found useful in the treatment of nitric oxide synthase mediated diseases and disorders, including neurodegenerative disorders, disorders of gastrointestinal motility and inflammation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Caldwell, Malcolm Maccoss, William K. Hagmann, Shrenik K. Shah, Kothandaraman Shankaran, Karla L. Furman
  • Patent number: 6372790
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising: (i) metformin, optionally in the form one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts; (ii) a fibrate selected from fenofibrate and bezafibrate; and optionally one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, is suitable for use in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Yves Bonhomme, Philippe Briet
  • Publication number: 20020042361
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment or prevention of depression and/or anxiety by the administration of a combination of a specific class of NK-1 receptor antagonists and an antidepressant or anti-anxiety agent. The present invention also provides preclinical screens for anxiolytic and antidepressant activity of NK-1 receptor antagonists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd.
    Inventors: Emma Joanne Carlson, Nadia Melanie Rupniak
  • Patent number: 6369082
    Abstract: This invention encompasses the novel compounds of formula A, which are useful in the treatment of prostaglandin mediated diseases, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or ester thereof. The invention also encompasses pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treatment of prostaglandin mediated diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Frosst Canada & Co.
    Inventors: Patrick Lacombe, Marc Labelle, Rejean Ruel
  • Patent number: 6369084
    Abstract: This invention encompasses the novel compounds of formula A, which are useful in the treatment of prostaglandin mediated diseases, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or ester thereof. The invention also encompasses certain pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treatment of prostaglandin mediated diseases comprising the use of compounds of formula A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Frosst Canada & Co.
    Inventors: Patrick Lacombe, Marc Labelle, Rejean Ruel
  • Patent number: 6367964
    Abstract: A housing for micromixers has two flat circular disk-shaped housing parts situated adjacent to each other in a parting plane. Each of the housing parts has a truncated cone surface on its peripheral edge. A multipart clamping ring which can be tightened in the peripheral direction encompasses the two housing parts and is adjacent to the truncated cone surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmelz, Frank Schwarz, Jöran Stoldt
  • Patent number: 6369208
    Abstract: A method is provided for making synthetic capped RNAs. These compounds serve as substrates for the virally encoded endonuclease associated with influenza virus. We are able to assay for this unique and specific viral activity of cleavage of a capped RNA in vitro. Therefore, screening of inhibitors of this activity is possible. In addition, short non-extendible (due to their length or because of the modification of the 3′-end of the oligo, i.e. 3′-dA) RNAs are potent inhibitors of the cleavage of capped RNAs by influenza endonuclease. Finally, these compounds may be used to investigate viral and cellular mechanisms of transcription/translation or mRNA maturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Cole, Lawrence C. Kuo, David B. Olsen, Fritz Benseler