Patents Examined by Cecilia J. Tsang
  • Patent number: 8227421
    Abstract: Novel fluorinated synthetic analogs of hGH-RH(1-30)NH2 that inhibit the release of growth hormone from the pituitary in mammals as well as inhibit the proliferation of human cancers through a direct effect on the cancer cells, and to therapeutic compositions containing these novel peptides and their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: University of Miami, The United States of America represented by the Department of Veteran Affairs
    Inventors: Andrew Schally, Jozsef Varga, Marta Zarandi, Ren Zhi Cai
  • Patent number: 8222008
    Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and kits useful for the treatment of cancer include certain alkyl esters of cystine and certain alkyl-substituted cystamine derived esters, including, for example, cystine dimethyl ester and a di-alkyl peptidyl cystamine ester, among others. These compounds may be employed in methods of treating cancers or methods of determining sensitivity of certain cancer cells to apoptosis alone, or in combination with other chemotherapeutic, radiological or apoptotic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Administrators of The Tulane Educational Fund
    Inventor: Jess G. Thoene
  • Patent number: 8222203
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Sun, Yonghua Gai, Yat Sun Or, Zhe Wang
  • Patent number: 8211856
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of the peptide compound Ala-Gly-Cys-Lys-Asn-Phe-Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Cys-OH as a therapeutic agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, fibrotic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, lung diseases, heart and vascular diseases and metabolic diseases. Moreover the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions preferably in form of a lyophilisate or liquid buffer solution or artificial mother milk formulation or mother milk substitute containing the peptide Ala-Gly-Cys-Lys-Asn-Phe-Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Cys-OH optionally together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, cryoprotectant, lyoprotectant, excipient and/or diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: mondoBIOTECH Laboratories AG
    Inventors: Dorian Bevec, Fabio Cavalli, Vera Cavalli, Gerald Bacher
  • Patent number: 8211855
    Abstract: A composition is disclosed herein comprising from about 0.001% to about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Chang, Orest Olejnik, Bruce A. Firestone
  • Patent number: 8207121
    Abstract: A method of sensitizing a mammal, especially a human, to another anticancer therapy by administering a sensitizing effective amount of a GST-activated anticancer compound. A method of ameliorating a side effect of another anticancer therapy in a mammal, especially a human, by administering an ameliorating effective amount of a GST-activated anticancer compound. Pharmaceutical compositions for the methods. The GST-activated anticancer compound is preferably a compound of U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,942, and more preferably canfosfamide, especially as the hydrochloride salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Telik, Inc.
    Inventors: Gail L. Brown, James G. Keck, Michael M. Wick
  • Patent number: 8188037
    Abstract: Disclosed are microparticles comprising a somatostatin analogue embedded in a biocompatible pharmacologically acceptable polymer matrix for a long acting release and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Markus Ahlheim, Michael Ausborn, Olivier Lambert, Marc Riemenschnitter
  • Patent number: 8188052
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treatment of ocular diseases. The methods comprise administering a compound of general Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and Ak are as defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Scynexis, Inc.
    Inventor: David Renwick Houck
  • Patent number: 8178490
    Abstract: Disclosed are compounds having polybasic functionalities. The compounds inhibit bacterial efflux pump inhibitors and are used in combination with an anti-bacterial agent to treat or prevent bacterial infections. These combinations can be effective against bacterial infections that have developed resistance to anti-bacterial agents through an efflux pump mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Rempex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomasz Glinka, Olga Rodny, Keith A. Bostian, David M. Wallace, Robert I. Higuchi, Chun Chow, Chi Ching Mak, Gavin Hirst, Brian Eastman
  • Patent number: 8178491
    Abstract: The invention is related to anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Gilead Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Aesop Cho, Michael O'Neil Hanrahan Clarke, Choung U. Kim, John O. Link, Hyung-jung Pyun, Xiaoning C. Sheng, Qiaoyin Wu
  • Patent number: 8178652
    Abstract: A simple, efficient apparatus and method for separating layers of immiscible or partially miscible liquids useful in methods of high-throughput combinatorial organic synthesis or parallel extraction of large libraries or megaarrays of organic compounds is disclosed. The apparatus and method are useful, whether as part of an automated, robotic or manual system for combinatorial organic synthesis or purification (extraction). In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus and method for separating layers of immiscible or partially miscible liquids compatible with microtiter plate type array(s) of reaction vessels is disclosed. Another application of centrifugation based liquid removal was found for washing the plates in biological assays or synthesis on modified substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventor: Michal Lebl
  • Patent number: 8163697
    Abstract: An isolated peptide useful as a selective antagonist of mammalian R-cadherin comprises 3 to 30 amino acid residues, three contiguous residues of the peptide having the amino acid sequence Ile-Xaa-Ser; wherein Xaa is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of Asp, Asn, Glu, and Gln. Preferably Xaa is Asp or Asn. In one preferred embodiment the peptide is a cyclic peptide having 3 to 10 amino acid residues arranged in a ring. The selective R-cadherin antagonist peptides of the invention are useful for inhibiting the targeting of stem cells, such as endothelial precursor cells, to developing vasculature, for inhibiting R-cadherin mediated cellular adhesion, and for inhibiting retinal angiogenesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Martin Friedlander, Michael I. Dorrell
  • Patent number: 8163693
    Abstract: The invention provides compounds urea-containing peptide compounds of Formula I and the pharmaceutically salts and hydrates thereof. The variables T, R1-R9, J, L, M, Y, Z, m, n, and t are defined herein. Certain compounds of Formula I are useful as antiviral agents. Certain urea-containing peptide compounds disclosed herein are potent and/or selective inhibitors of viral replication, particularly Hepatitis C virus replication. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more urea containing peptides compounds and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or diluents. Such pharmaceutical compositions may contain a urea containing peptides compound as the only active agent or may contain a combination of a urea containing peptides compound and one or more other pharmaceutically active agents. The invention also provides methods for treating viral infections, including Hepatitis C infections, in mammals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Dawei Chen, Milind Deshpande, Avinash Phadke
  • Patent number: 8158590
    Abstract: This invention relates to compounds comprising one or more therapeutic and/or diagnostic moieties and one or more functional moieties linked together via one or more triazole-containing linkers and to their intermediates and methods of their preparation. The triazole-containing linker may optionally contain one or more conditionally-cleavable or conditionally-transformable moieties and one or more spacer systems in between said moiety/moieties and the one or more therapeutic and/or diagnostic moieties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Syntarga B.V.
    Inventors: Patrick Henry Beusker, Franciscus Marinus Hendrikus De Groot
  • Patent number: 8158750
    Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for stimulating the immune system. Such methods include administering an extract, purified peptide-linked glucan or active component thereof from Coriolus versicolor. The methods are particularly useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of secondary immunodeficiency, wherein the immunodeficiency is the result of an infection, a malignant neoplastic disease, an autoimmune disease, a protein losing state, an immunosuppressive treatment, surgery or anesthesia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Albert H. L. Chow, Kevin K. W. Chu
  • Patent number: 8153594
    Abstract: A composition and kit useful as a tacrolimus standard solution for immunoassays, and methods for making and using same. The composition and kits include a known amount of tacrolimus or a derivative thereof, and a non-specific protein capable of forming a complex with the tacrolimus or derivative thereof. The standard solution may be used to generate calibration curves for an immunoassay or to check the precision of an analytical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Tie Q. Wei, David R. Hudson
  • Patent number: 8153762
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for amidating a desired peptide comprising cleaving a substrate polypeptide at a X1-cysteine sequence, wherein X1 is the amino acid at the peptide carboxyl-terminus and cysteine is the first amino acid of a palladium cleavage site comprising the sequence cysteine-X2-X3, wherein X2 is any amino acid, X3 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, histidine, or methionine, and wherein the carboxyl-terminus of the peptide is amidated upon cleavage at the X1-cysteine sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Barton Holmquist, Daniel J. Strydom, Jin Seog Seo
  • Patent number: 8153598
    Abstract: The invention relates to kinase ligands and polyligands. In particular, the invention relates to ligands, homopolyligands, and heteropolyligands that modulate protein kinase D (PKD) activity. The ligands and polyligands are utilized as research tools or as therapeutics. The invention includes linkage of the ligands and polyligands to cellular localization signals, epitope tags and/or reporters. The invention also includes polynucleotides encoding the ligands and polyligands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Intrexon Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Reed
  • Patent number: 8153599
    Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides which are highly biologically and pharmacologically active as therapeutic drug for the treatment of diseases related to hypertension, especially in medical interventions involving dilatation and remodeling of arterial blood vessels, either in the pulmonary or in the systemic circulation. The peptides which can be used according to the invention for the treatment of said diseases comprise at least one specific highly conservative amino acid residue sequence which seem to play an important role in connection with pulmonary and arteriolar hypertension events. It could be shown that the known naturally occurring peptides “vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)” and “pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)”, having these specific sequences are potent drugs which can be successfully used for treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), secondary pulmonary hypertension (SPH), and hypertension of the systemic circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mondobiotech AG
    Inventor: Lutz-Henning Block
  • Patent number: 8148330
    Abstract: C1q is shown to be expressed in neurons, where it acts as a signal for synapse elimination. Methods are provided for protecting or treating an individual suffering from adverse effects of synapse loss. These findings have broad implications for a variety of clinical conditions, including Alzheimer's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Ben A. Barres, Beth A. Stevens