Patents Assigned to University of Zurich
  • Patent number: 7274844
    Abstract: A light-emitting textile structure, which in particular is useful for medical purposes, comprises a flat support (2) and a plurality of light-emitting elements (4) fixed thereto. Each light-emitting element comprises a light-supplying optical fiber (6), to each optical fiber (6) there being associated exactly one light-emitting element (4), which comprises at least one output zone formed by a local curvature of the optical fiber. The local curvature is selected in such a way that a lateral exit of light from the optical fiber occurs due to the absence of total reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: University of Zurich EMPA
    Inventors: Heinrich Walt, Bärbel Selm, Thomas Wessel
  • Patent number: 7186689
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel mutants of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) useful as inhibitors of heterotopic ossification. Specifically, the present invention relates to novel mutants containing only the entire region involved in the formation of finger 2 including the wrist epitope of a BMP with a specific cysteine residue or specific cysteine residues replaced by a different amino acid. The present invention also relates pharmaceutical compositions containing these mutants and to the use of the mutants and pharmaceutical compositions in therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: The University of Zurich
    Inventor: Franz Weber
  • Publication number: 20060257448
    Abstract: Novel polymer compositions that are useful in the manufacture of medical implants, implants having osteogenic properties and methods of making the implants are disclosed. Polymer compositions include a base material having a polymer matrix of resorbable polymer(s) or copolymer(s), and a glycerol mono-, di-, or triester derivative, wherein the glycerol mono-, di-, or triester derivative is present in an amount imparting osteogenic properties for the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: The University of Zurich
    Inventor: Franz Weber
  • Publication number: 20060258578
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a plasticizer in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as in a biodegradable polymer, in amounts providing a synergistic bone forming and bone healing effect. The present invention further relates to methods of treating orthopedic and dental, including periodontal, diseases by simultaneously administering to a subject in a need of such treatment at least one bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and at least one plasticizer optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in amounts providing a synergistic bone forming effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: The University of Zurich
    Inventor: Franz Weber
  • Publication number: 20060159683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for stabilizing chimeric immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments. Furthermore, the invention also provides a stabilized anti-EGP-2 scFv fragment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: University of Zurich
    Inventors: Andreas Pluckthun, Annemarie Honegger, Jorg Willuda
  • Patent number: 7074412
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing a synergistic amount of at least one bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a synergistic amount of at least one pyrrolidone optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as a biodegradable polymer. The present invention further relates to methods of treating orthopaedic and dental, including periodontal, diseases by simultaneously administering a synergistic amount of at least one bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a synergistic amount of at least one pyrrolidone optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to patients in need of such treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: The University of Zurich
    Inventor: Franz Weber
  • Publication number: 20060147534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a mixture of stable folding variants of recombinant bone morphogenic proteins (rBMPs) and its use in therapy, especially in the treatment of orthopaedic and dental patients. Specifically, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a mixture of stable folding variants of at least two rBMPs or their monomers or mutants in a suitable carrier system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: University of Zurich
    Inventors: Hermann Sailer, Franz Weber
  • Patent number: 7041645
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a mixture of stable folding variants of recombinant bone morphogenic proteins (rBMPs) and its use in therapy, especially in the treatment of orthopaedic and dental patients. Specifically, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a mixture of stable folding variants of at least two rBMPs or their monomers or mutants in a suitable carrier system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: The University of Zurich
    Inventors: Hermann Sailer, Franz Weber
  • Patent number: 7033798
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for stabilizing chimeric immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments. Furthermore, the invention also provides a stabilized anti-EGP-2 scFv fragment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: University of Zurich
    Inventors: Andreas Plückthun, Annemarie Honegger, Jörg Willuda
  • Patent number: 6960559
    Abstract: The present invention relates to genes and their encoded proteins which regulate neurite growth and the diagnostic and therapeutic use of such proteins (termed herein neurite growth regulatory factors). The proteins of the present invention include metalloproteases associated with glioblastoma cells. The metalloproteases of the invention have value in the treatment of nerve damage and of degenerative disorders of the nervous system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: University of Zurich
    Inventors: Martin E. Schwab, Pierenrico W. Caroni, Paolo A. Paganetti
  • Patent number: 6878804
    Abstract: Template-fixed ?-hairpin loop mimetics comprising a template corresponding to one of the structures (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and a template-fixed chain of 4 to 20 ?-amino acid residues which, if their ?-C atom is asymmetric, have L-configuration can be manufactured by a novel process which is based on a mixed solid- and solution phase synthetic strategy. If desired, this process can be modified to give the enantiomers of these template-fixed ?-hairpin loop mimetics. These enantiomers are novel compounds, and many of said template-fixed ?-hairpin loop mimetics themselves are also novel compounds. The template-fixed ?-hairpin loop mimetics and their enantiomers can mimick flat surfaces of proteins and thus be used to probe large surface protein-protein interactions. Accordingly they can serve as lead finding tools for protein targets where it is difficult to find small-molecular-weight lead compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignees: University of Zurich, Polyphor AG
    Inventors: John A. Robinson, Daniel Obrecht
  • Patent number: 6815540
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the modification of immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) domains, IgSF fragments and fusion proteins thereof, especially to the modification of antibody derivatives, so as to improve their solubility, and hence the yield, and ease of handling. The inventors have found that this can be achieved by making the region which comprised the interface with domains adjoined to said IgSF domain in a larger fragment or a full IgSF protein, and which becomes exposed in the IgSF domain, more hydrophilic by modification. The present invention describes DNA sequences encoding modified IgSF domains or fragments and fusion proteins thereof, vectors and hosts containing these DNA sequences, IgSF domains or fragments or fusion proteins obtainable by expressing said DNA sequences in suitable expression systems, and a method for modifying IgSF domains, so as to improve their solubility, expressibility and ease of handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: University of Zurich
    Inventors: Andreas Plückthun, Lars Nieba, Annemarie Honegger
  • Patent number: 6780621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fatty acid 13-hydroperoxide lyase protein from guava (Psidium guajava) and the gene encoding the protein. Expression systems for recombinant guava 13-hydroperoxide lyase and methods of using recombinant guava 13-hydroperoxide lyase for the production of green notes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignees: Firmenich SA, Vanderbilt University, The University of Zurich
    Inventors: Ian Michael Whitehead, Alan John Slusarenko, Urs Wäspi, Duncan James Horatio Gaskin, Alan Richard Brash, Nathalie Tijet
  • Publication number: 20040152627
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing a synergistic amount of at least one bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a synergistic amount of at least one pyrrolidone optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as a biodegradable polymer. The present invention further relates to methods of treating orthopaedic and dental, including periodontal, diseases by simultaneously administering a synergistic amount of at least one bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a synergistic amount of at least one pyrrolidone optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to patients in need of such treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: The University of Zurich
    Inventor: Franz Ernst Weber
  • Patent number: 6630317
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining nucleic acid sequences encoding (poly)peptides which increase the expression yields of periplasmic proteins in functional form upon co-expression of said (poly)peptides and said periplasmic proteins. The invention also provides a method for the identification of said (poly)peptides. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for increasing the expression yields of periplasmic proteins in functional form by co-expressing (poly)peptides, for example Skp, FkpA, or a homolog of Skp or FkpA, in bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: University of Zurich
    Inventors: Andreas Plückthun, Hendrick Bothmann
  • Patent number: 6589741
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying nucleic acid molecules encoding (poly)peptides that interact with target molecules. The method of the present invention is particularly characterized by an in vitro translation step under conditions that allow formation of polysomes in the presence of antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the tag-coding sequence of ssrA-RNA. The present invention further relates to kits that are useful for carrying out the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: University of Zurich
    Inventors: Andreas Plückthun, Jozef Hanes, Lutz Jermutus
  • Patent number: 6573090
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced and simplified herpes virus amplicon packaging system. The packaging system comprises a herpes virus amplicon vector and a packaging vector. In one embodiment, the packaging vector comprises a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing the HSV-1 genome. The packaging vector contains an intact pac site but is otherwise rendered packaging defective. The packaging vector can be rendered packaging defective by inserting nucleotides into the pac site, or by otherwise interfering with the capsid's ability to close, for example, by increasing the size of the DNA fragment upon which the herpes virus genome is cloned. This system can be used to package a wide range of nucleotide sequences (e.g., a therapeutic or antigenic gene) into an empty herpes virus particle taking advantage of the large transgene capacity of herpes viruses. This system can also be used as a vaccine to induce protective immunity against HSV-1, or other complex pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, University Medical Centre St. Radboud of the University of Nijmegen, University of Zurich, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    Inventors: Xandra O. Breakefield, E. Antonio Chiocca, Yoshinaga Saeki, Cornel Fraefel, Kurt Tobler, Mathias Ackermann, Mark Suter, Gosse J. Adema, Ken Shortman
  • Publication number: 20030045474
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a mixture of stable folding variants of recombinant bone morphogenic proteins (rBMPs) and its use in therapy, especially in the treatment of orthopaedic and dental patients. Specifically, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a mixture of stable folding variants of at least two rBMPs or their monomers or mutants in a suitable carrier system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: University of Zurich
    Inventors: Hermann Sailer, Franz Weber
  • Patent number: 6348315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying nucleic acid molecules encoding (poly)peptides that interact with target molecules. The method of the present invention is particularly characterized by an in vitro translation step under conditions that allow formation of polysomes in the presence of antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the tag-coding sequence of ssrA-RNA. The present invention further relates to kits that are useful for carrying out the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: University of Zürich, Assignee for Josef Hanes
    Inventors: Andreas Plückthun, Jozef Hanes, Lutz Jermutus
  • Patent number: 6200794
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fatty acid 13-hydroperoxide lyase protein from guava (Psidium guajava) and the gene encoding the protein. Expression systems for recombinant guava 13-hydroperoxide lyase and methods of using recombinant guava 13-hydroperoxide lyase for the production of green notes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignees: Fimenrich SA, University of Zurich, Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Ian Michael Whitehead, Alan John Slusarenko, Urs Wäspi, Duncan James Horatio Gaskin, Alan Richard Brash, Nathalie Tijet