Patents Assigned to Morphotek, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130045163
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and methods for the treatment, inhibition and/or reduction, and detection of metastatic tumors. In some embodiments, the inventive methods include systemic (e.g., intravenous) administration of a chlorotoxin agent that may or may not be labeled. In some embodiments, the inventive methods allow treatment, inhibition and/or reduction, and detection of metastases in the brain. In some embodiments, neovascularization is inhibited and/or newly formed vessels are caused to regress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: MORPHOTEK, INC.
    Inventors: Alison O'Neill, Douglas B. Jacoby, Abdellah Sentissi, Kamala Kesavan, Laura Sen
  • Publication number: 20130028836
    Abstract: Reduced lysine chlorotoxin polypeptides that may be used to generate single species conjugates of chlorotoxin. Conjugates comprising such chlorotoxin polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Methods of using such compositions and/or conjugates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: MORPHOTEK, INC.
    Inventors: Abdellah Sentissi, Douglas B. Jacoby
  • Publication number: 20120328524
    Abstract: Described herein are antibodies that specifically bind ganglioside GD2. Also described are nucleotides encoding such antibodies, cells expressing such antibodies, methods of use for such antibodies, and methods for using the antibodies to treat diseases associated with ganglioside GD2. In addition, tissue culture media supplements are described as are methods of use for the supplements. Described herein are albumin-ganglioside conjugates and corresponding methods for producing such conjugates. Methods of purifying or isolating antibodies are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: MORPHOTEK, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Philip M. Sass, Luigi Grasso, Wolfgang Ebel, Yuhong Zhou
  • Patent number: 8318168
    Abstract: Hybridoma lines that secrete human monoclonal antibodies with high binding specificity and biological activity, particularly neutralizing activity against granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and methods of generating the hybridoma lines are provided. Target antigens and epitopes are also provided. The antibodies may be used in therapeutic methods, for example in the treatment of cancer, infectious disease, or autoimmune disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip M. Sass, Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Luigi Grasso, Jian Li, Qimin Chao, Eric Routhier, Wolfgang Ebel
  • Patent number: 8278065
    Abstract: Described herein are antibodies that specifically bind ganglioside GD2. Also described are nucleotides encoding such antibodies, cells expressing such antibodies, methods of use for such antibodies, and methods for using the antibodies to treat diseases associated with ganglioside GD2. In addition, tissue culture media supplements are described as are methods of use for the supplements. Described herein are albumin-ganglioside conjugates and corresponding methods for producing such conjugates. Methods of purifying or isolating antibodies are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Philip M. Sass, Luigi Grasso, Wolfgang Ebel, Yuhong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20120237509
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to and become internalized by mesothelin-positive cells and also induce an immune effector activity such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The antibodies are useful in specific delivery of pharmacologic agents to mesothelin expressing cells as well as eliciting an immune-effector activity particularly on tumor cells and precursors. The invention is also related to cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, antibody derivatives, such as human, humanized, and chimeric monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, mammalian cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, derivatives and fragments, and methods of treating cancer using the antibodies, derivatives and fragments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MORPHOTEK INC.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ebel, Luigi Grasso, Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Philip M. Sass, Eric Routhier
  • Publication number: 20120207771
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits for assessing whether a subject is afflicted with an FR?-expressing cancer, methods and kits for predicting the progression of ovarian cancer in a subject afflicted with an FR?-expressing cancer, methods and kits for assessing the level of risk that a subject will develop an FR?-expressing cancer, and methods of stratifying a subject with an FR?-expressing cancer into cancer therapy groups. The methods involve determining the level of folate receptor alpha (FR?) which is not bound to a cell in a sample derived from the subject and comparing this level with the level of FR? in a control sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Morphotek Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. O'Shannessy, Luigi Grasso, Shanhong Wan, Qimin Chao, Elizabeth Brooke Somers
  • Patent number: 8236932
    Abstract: This invention provides antibodies that specifically bind and neutralize Staphylococcus enterotoxin B. In addition, nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, and cells that express such antibodies are provided. Also provided are methods for treating diseases mediated by, and for neutralizing Staphylococcus enterotoxin B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip M. Sass, Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Luigi Grasso, Marc Berger, Tao Sai
  • Patent number: 8227439
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and methods for the treatment, inhibition and/or reduction, and detection of metastatic tumors. In some embodiments, the inventive methods include systemic (e.g., intravenous) administration of a chlorotoxin agent that may or may not be labeled. In some embodiments, the inventive methods allow treatment, inhibition and/or reduction, and detection of metastases in the brain. In some embodiments, neovascularization is inhibited and/or newly formed vessels are caused to regress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Alison O'Neill, Douglas B. Jacoby, Abdellah Sentissi, Kamala Kesavan, E. Michael Egan, Laura Sen, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20120164137
    Abstract: The invention provides anti-FRA antibodies with novel N-linked neutral glycan profiles in that the relative amounts of one or more neutral glycans are increased or decreased compared to anti-FRA antibodies produced under reference cell culture conditions. The invention further provides anti-FRA antibodies with altered binding to FRA, altered antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and/or altered rate and/or efficiency of internalization in a cell expressing FRA. In related aspects, the invention provides cell cultures comprising an anti-FRA antibody of the invention, a cell isolated from such a culture, kits and compositions comprising an anti-FRA antibody of the invention, methods of producing an anti-FRA antibody of the invention and diagnostic and therapeutic uses of an anti-FRA antibody of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: MORPHOTEK, INC.
    Inventors: Philip M. Sass, Nicholas Nicolaides, Luigi Grasso, Eric Routhier, Wei Gu, Jason Young, Jun Yao
  • Patent number: 8206710
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to and become internalized by mesothelin-positive cells and also induce an immune effector activity such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The antibodies are useful in specific delivery of pharmacologic agents to mesothelin expressing cells as well as eliciting an immune-effector activity particularly on tumor cells and precursors. The invention is also related to cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, antibody derivatives, such as human, humanized, and chimeric monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, mammalian cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, derivatives and fragments, and methods of treating cancer using the antibodies, derivatives and fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ebel, Luigi Grasso, Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Philip M. Sass, Eric Routhier
  • Publication number: 20120156131
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of neuroectodermally-derived tumors, such as gliomas. The inventive methods of treatment generally include local (e.g., intracavitary) administration of a chloroxotoxin moiety conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety to a patient. Also provided are diagnostic methods for screening neoplastic neuroectodermal tumors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: MORPHOTEK, INC.
    Inventor: Vernon Leon Alvarez
  • Patent number: 8124083
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to and have the ability in the alternative to become internalized by cells expressing folate receptor alpha (FRA) and to induce an immune effector activity such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The antibodies are useful in specific delivery of pharmacologic agents to FRA-expressing cells as well as in eliciting an immune-effector activity particularly on tumor cells and precursors. The invention is also related to nucleotides encoding the antibodies of the invention, cells expressing the antibodies; methods of detecting cancer cells; and methods of treating cancer using the antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Luigi Grasso, Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Philip M. Sass
  • Patent number: 8110356
    Abstract: Blockade of mismatch repair in a plant can lead to hypermutation and a new genotype and/or phenotype. One approach used to generate hypermutable plants is through the expression of dominant negative alleles of mismatch repair genes in transgenic plants or derived cells. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic plants, new cell lines and plant varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. Moreover, methods to inhibit the expression and activity of endogenous plant MMR genes and their encoded products are also useful to generate hypermutable plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: The Johns Hopkins University, Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Luigi Grasso, Phillip M. Sass, Kenneth W. Kinzler, Bert Vogelstein
  • Patent number: 8105836
    Abstract: Dominant negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic animals, new cell lines and animal varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. Methods of generating mutations in genes of interest and of making various cells mismatch repair defective through the use of chemicals to block mismatch repair in in vivo are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Luigi Grasso, Philip M. Sass
  • Publication number: 20110311445
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of diagnosing and treating myeloproliferative or lymphoproliferative cell disorders, such as cancer, with chlorotoxin and/or derivatives, analogs or fragments thereof, which are effective to bind to an inhibit abnormal myeloid or lymphoid cell growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: MORPHOTEK, INC.
    Inventors: Vernon L. Alvarez, Matthew A. Gonda
  • Patent number: 7939324
    Abstract: Dominant-negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into mammalian cells new cell lines with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation or introduction of mutations by chemical mutagens. These methods are useful for generating novel and highly active antimicrobial molecules as well as superior antimicrobial agents from pre-existing chemicals. These methods are also useful for generating cell lines expressing novel antimicrobials that are useful for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Luigi Grasso, Philip M. Sass
  • Publication number: 20110055964
    Abstract: Blockade of mismatch repair in a plant can lead to hypermutation and a new genotype and/or phenotype. One approach used to generate hypermutable plants is through the expression of dominant negative alleles of mismatch repair genes in transgenic plants or derived cells. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic plants, new cell lines and plant varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. Moreover, methods to inhibit the expression and activity of endogenous plant MMR genes and their encoded products are also useful to generate hypermutable plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicants: The Johns Hopkins University, Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Luigi Grasso, Phillip M. Sass, Ken Kinzler, Bert Vogelstein
  • Patent number: 7892832
    Abstract: Bacteria are manipulated to create desirable output traits using dominant negative alleles of mismatch repair proteins. Enhanced hypermutation is achieved by combination of mismatch repair deficiency and exogenously applied mutagens. Stable bacteria containing desirable output traits are obtained by restoring mismatch repair activity to the bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: The Johns Hopkins University, Morphotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Philip M. Sass, Luigi Grasso, Bert Vogelstein, Kenneth W. Kinzler
  • Publication number: 20110033455
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for inhibiting the interaction of endosialin with endosialin ligands. The inhibition is effectuated on the genetic level, by inhibiting endosialin gene expression, and on the protein level, by blocking the interaction of cell-surface expressed endosialin with ligands such as fibronectin and collagen. The invention provides methods for identifying inhibitors of the interaction of endosialin with endosialin ligands. Also provided are methods for inhibiting angiogenesis and neovascularization in vivo and in vitro.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: MORPHOTEK INC,
    Inventors: Yuhong Zhou, Brian Tomkowicz, Luigi Grasso, Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Philip M. Sass