Patents Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, NIH
  • Differentiation of non-insulin producing cells into insulin producing cells by GLP-1 or exendin-4 and uses thereof
    Patent number: 7056734
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a population of insulin producing cells made by a process comprising contacting non-insulin producing cells with a growth factor selected from the group consisting of GLP-1 or Exendin-4, growth factors having amino acid sequences substantially homologous to GLP-1 or Exendin-4, and fragmets thereof. The present invention also relates to methods of differentiating non-insulin producing cells into insulin producing cells and of enriching a population of cells for insulin-producing cells. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, NIH
    Inventors: Josephine Egan, Riccardo Perfetti, Antonino Passaniti, Nigel Greig, Harold Holloway, Joel Habener, Doris Stoffers