Abstract: The invention provides novel methods for preparing cardiolipin and cardiolipin analogs having varying fatty acid chain lengths, particularly 1,1?,2,2?-tetramyristoyl cardiolipin. The methods comprise reacting a starting compound, such as a 1,2-O-sn-diacylglycerol and a 2-protected glycerol, with a phosphoramidite reagent to produce a protected cardiolipin, which is deprotected to prepare cardiolipin. The cardiolipin and cardiolipin analogs may be prepared in the presence of an activator, such as pyridinium trifluororacetate. The methods of the present invention are used to prepare cardiolipin and cardiolipin analogs in large quantities. The cardiolipin prepared by the present methods can be incorporated into liposomes which can also include active agents such as hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs. Such liposomes can be used to treat diseases or in diagnostic and/or analytical assays.

Abstract: The present invention is for novel compositions and methods for treating diseases caused by cellular proliferation, particularly, for treating cancer in mammals and more particularly in humans. The therapeutic compositions of the present invention include SN-38 lipid complexes in which the complexes can contain any of a variety of neutral or charged lipids and, desirably, cardiolipin. The compositions are capable of efficiently incorporating SN-38 into complexes and are capable of solubilizing relatively high concentrations of SN-38.

Abstract: Liposomal-encapsulated taxane or an antineoplastic derivative thereof or a mixture thereof is provided which is used to effect a therapeutically enhanced method of treating cancer. The liposomal encapsulated paclitaxel allows for administration to a patient, particularly a human patient, in less than one hour without substantial toxicity.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of oligonucleotide containing cationic liposomal formulations to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, particularly as a means to sensitize cancerous tumor tissues to the efficiencies of chemotherapy. This is particularly advantageous in the context of treating raf expressing tumors such as breast, lung, pancreatic and prostate tumors.

Abstract: The present invention is for novel compositions and methods for treating cancer, particularly, for treating cancer in mammals and more particularly in humans. The therapeutic compositions of the present invention include liposome entrapped irinotecan in which the liposome can contain any of a variety of neutral or charged liposome-forming compounds and cardiolipin. The liposomes of the present invention can be either multilamellar vesicles and unilamellar vesicles, as desired.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier and two or more agents encapsulated in a liposome, wherein the combination of the two or more agents possess the following properties: (1) cytotoxicity to tumor cells, (2) nutritional properties, (3) use in application to nails, hair, skin or lips or (4) activity against parasites and insects. The invention also provides a method of making such a composition. The invention further provides a method of treating cancer when the combination of the two or more agents is cytotoxic to tumor cells.

Abstract: The invention provides an antibody directed against an IL13 receptor alpha 2 (IL13-R?2) and methods of using the antibody to detect and localize IL13-R?2, to diagnose a disease characterized by expression of IL13-R?2, and to kill a cell that expresses an IL13-R?2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inducing apoptosis within a cell by exposing the cell to an inhibitor of cardiolipin synthesis under conditions sufficient to induce apoptosis within the cell. The method can be used to investigate or treat disorders such as cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disorders. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition including an inhibitor of cardiolipin synthesis and a liposomal carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides manufacturing processes for liposomal preparations. In accordance with the methods, a lipid fraction is dissolved in a water-miscible organic solvent. This solution comprising the lipid fraction can be added to and mixed with an aqueous solution under conditions to form a bulk liposomal preparation. Desirably, the preparation can include one or more active principals. The bulk liposomal preparation can be further processed as desired, for example, by size fractionation or reduction, removal of the water-miscible organic solvent, freeze-drying, or other treatment. The methods permit the production of liposomal formulations on a large or commercial scale.

Abstract: Delivering therapeutic amounts of irinotecan remains limited due to its highly water insoluble properties. This invention overcomes this limitation by presenting a novel method of preparing liposomal irinotecan by first inactivating irinotecan prior to liposome formation and then subsequently activating the irinotecan by lowering the pH of the lipid composition to an acidic pH of less than about 3.5, such as between 1.5-3.0 or about 2.

Abstract: The invention provides a formulation of one or more antineoplastic drugs encapsulated in liposomes including at least a lipid fraction in addition to the antineoplastic drug, wherein the composition is stable in an aqueous solution at room temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides cationic cardiolipin compounds, and methods for synthesizing and using them in liposomal formulation, gene transfection, etc. In particular, the invention provides liposomes comprising cationic cardiolipin analog, pharmaceutical compositions comprising cationic cardiolipin analogs, and methods of using such liposomes and compositions, in delivering active pharmaceutical agents to treat human and animal diseases and/or in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: The invention provides new synthetic routes for cardiolipin with different fatty acids and/or alkyl chains with varying chain length and also with or without unsaturation, particularly a short-chain cardiolipin. The methods comprise reacting a 1,2-O-sn-diacyl/1,2-O-sn-dialkyl glycerol or a 2-O-protected glycerol, with a phosphoramidite reagent or a phosphate triester to produce a protected cardiolipin, which is deprotected to prepare the short chain cardiolipin. The reaction schemes can be used to generate new variants of cardiolipin. The cardiolipin prepared by the present methods can be incorporated into liposomes, which can also include active agents such as hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs. Such liposomes can be used to treat diseases or in diagnostic and/or analytical assays. Liposomes can also include ligands for targeting a particular cell type or specific tissue.

Abstract: The present invention is for novel compositions and methods for treating cancer, particularly, for treating cancer in mammals and more particularly in humans. The therapeutic compositions of the present invention include liposome entrapped gemcitabine in which the liposome can contain any of a variety of neutral or charged liposome-forming compounds including cardiolipin.

Abstract: SN38, camptothecin derivatives are poorly water soluble, highly lipophilic camptothecin derivatives and are very active against a variety of human cancers. Because of their very poor water solubility, SN38 has not been used to treat human patients with cancer due to the inability to administer sufficient quantities of dissolved in a pharmaceutical formulation. This invention overcomes these limitations by teaching novel pharmaceutically acceptable SN38 liposome complex formulation for the direct administration of the formulation to human patients with cancer. The claimed invention also describes the methods to prepare liposomal SN38 complexes and antitumor compositions of liposomal SN38 complexes to allow the administration in sufficient amounts to treat various types of cancer and as antiviral agents. This invention is also directed to injectable sterile solutions, antitumor compositions, liposomes.

Abstract: Liposomal-encapsulated taxane or an antineoplastic derivative thereof or a mixture thereof is provided which is used to effect a therapeutically enhanced method of treating cancer. The liposomal encapsulated paclitaxel allows for administration to a patient, particularly a human patient, in less than one hour without substantial toxicity.

Abstract: The invention provides new synthetic routes for cardiolipin with different fatty acids and/or alkyl chains with varying chain length and also with or without unsaturation. The reaction schemes can be used to generate new forms of cardiolipin, including cardiolipin variants. The cardiolipin prepared by the present methods can conveniently be incorporated into liposomes and other lipid formulations that can also include active agents such as hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs. Such formulations can be used to treat diseases or in diagnostic and/or analytical assays. Liposomes also can include ligands, e.g., for targeting them to a cell type or specific tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating elevated platelet levels in patients using oligonucleotides in formulations that enhance penetration of the oligonucleotide into cells. Certain oligonucleotides found suitable for use in this method are anitisense oligonucleotides. Of the antisense oligonucleotide that are effective, it has been found that antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit the expression of the raf-1 gene can be used, for example, formulated in liposomes. The method has the advantage that the formulation of oligonucleotide can be administered to human patients and the platelet count will decrease in the absence of additional therapeutic treatment steps, including other chemotherapeutic or radiation treatments.

Abstract: The present invention is for novel compositions and methods for treating cancer, particularly, for treating cancer in mammals and more particularly in humans. The therapeutic compositions of the present invention include liposome entrapped irinotecan in which the liposome can contain any of a variety of neutral or charged liposome-forming compounds and cardiolipin. The liposomes of the present invention can be either multilamellar vesicles and unilamellar vesicles, as desired.

Abstract: A method of treating tumors that express a receptor for IL-13 is disclosed. The method involves directly introducing into the tumor a cytotoxin that targets the IL-13 receptor. The cytotoxic agent can be introduced by convection-enhanced delivery through a suitable catheter or by other means. Where a convection-enhanced catheter is employed, the method involves positioning the tip of a catheter at least in close proximity to the tumor. After the catheter is positioned, it is connected to a pump which delivers the active agent through the catheter tip to the tumor. A pressure gradient from the tip of the catheter is maintained during infusion.