Patents Examined by Donna C. Wortman
  • Monoclonal antibodies to transforming growth factor-beta and methods of use
    Patent number: 6419928
    Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies to transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B) are prepared from hybrid cell lines by immunizing with TGF-B2. The antibodies may be of any isotype and may be of any mammalian origin such as murine or human origin. Therapeutic applications utilizing the TGF-B monoclonal antibody are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Genzyme Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Dasch, Doran R. Pace, III, Wendy O. Waegell
  • Compositions and methods for eliciting CTL immunity
    Patent number: 6419931
    Abstract: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses are effectively induced to an antigen of interest, particularly viral, bacterial, parasitic and tumor antigens. Compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions, of CTL-inducing peptide and an adjuvant or a lipidated peptide which induces a helper T cell (HTL) response stimulate the antigen specific CTL response. Among the viral antigens to which the CTL responses are effectively induced in humans are those of hepatitis B. The CTL response may be optimized by a regimen of two or more booster administrations. Cocktails of two or more CTL inducing peptides are employed to optimize epitope and/or MHC class I restricted coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Epimmune Inc.
    Inventors: Maria A. Vitiello, Robert W. Chestnut, Alessandro D. Sette, Esteban Celis, Howard Grey
  • Methods of typing hepatitis C virus and reagents for use therein
    Patent number: 6416946
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for use therein for typing hepatitis C viruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Chiron Corporation
    Inventors: David Y. Chien, George Kuo
  • Antibody against cleavage product or vimentin
    Patent number: 6417336
    Abstract: The present invention provides the antibody that react with the cleavage product of vimentin, but not with intact vimentin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Morishima, Keiko Nakanishi, Takehiko Shibata
  • Methods of typing hepatitis C virus and reagents for use therein
    Patent number: 6416944
    Abstract: The claimed invention provides methods of detecting and typing HCV using nucleic acid molecules encoding type specific and type-cluster specific epitopes. The nucleic acid molecules flanking regions encoding type specific or type cluster specific epitopes are useful in priming the polymerase chain reaction to determine the genotype an HCV isolate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Chiron Corporation
    Inventors: David Y. Chien, George Kuo
  • Methods of immunizing adults using anti-meningococcal vaccine compositions
    Patent number: 6413520
    Abstract: A method for boosting an immune response against meningococcal capsular antigen is disclosed. The method entails administering a first glycoconjugate vaccine composition to a subject to provide an initial state of anti-meningococcal immunity, and then boosting the anti-meningococcal immunity by administration of a second, boosting vaccination. Also disclosed is the use of vaccine compositions in the preparation of anti-meningococcal medicaments. The use entails administering a first glycoconjugate vaccine composition to a subject to provide an initial state of anti-meningococcal immunity, and then boosting the anti-meningococcal immunity by administration of a second, boosting vaccination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Chiron Corporation
    Inventor: Dan Granoff
  • Mammalian deep orange proteins
    Patent number: 6414120
    Abstract: Mammalian deep orange tumor suppressor genes are disclosed. Mammalian deep orange genes and proteins can be used as therapeutics, as diagnostic tools, and in making animal models. The genes can be used to identify a q13 region of a human chromosome 15 and a central region of a mouse chromosome 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Chiron Corporation
    Inventor: Filippo M. Randazzo
  • Treatment of hepatitis C by administration of anti-IL-2 receptor monoclonal antibody
    Patent number: 6406695
    Abstract: A novel method using anti-interleukin 2 receptor monoclonal antibodies for treating patients having severe viral hepatitis C is described. The inventive method may be used to treat recurrent hepatitis C following liver transplantation, thereby reducing complications in recipients of liver allografts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: University of Miami
    Inventors: Antonio Pinna, Camillo Ricordi, Andreas G. Tzakis
  • Isolated DNA molecule encoding human TSC403
    Patent number: 6403785
    Abstract: This invention provides the TSC403 gene having a nucleotide sequence coding for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, which is a novel gene of great utility particularly in the field of research, diagnosis, therapy, etc. for cancer of the lung, among other diseases. In addition, this invention provides the human ING1L gene comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, which is a novel human gene useful for regulating the cell cycle, inhibiting or activating cell proliferation, studies on metabolic aging or apoptosis of cells, pathological exploration, diagnosis and therapy of cancer and other diseases, and screening for the development of new drugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Nagata, Kouichi Ozaki, Yoshikazu Shimada, Masato Horie
  • Method of augmenting T cell-mediated immunity against Toxoplasma gondii
    Patent number: 6399077
    Abstract: A method of augmenting T cell-mediated immunity against Toxoplasma gondii is provided. Immunization with Toxoplasma gondii soluble parasite antigen and exogenous rIL-15 was found to protect against Toxoplasma gondii infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Lloyd H. Kasper, Imtiaz A. Khan
  • TCF mutant
    Patent number: 6399744
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a TCF mutant having a novel amino acid sequence which is obtained by mutagenesis of one or more amino acid between N-terminus and the first kringle of the amino acid sequence of native TCF and has lowered affinity to heparin and/or elevated biological activity. The present TCF mutant is prepared by gene manipulation of TCF. The TCF mutants of the present invention have proliferative activity and/or growth stimulative activity in hepatocyte and beneficial as a therapeutic agent for various hepatic diseases and an antitumor agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Kinosaki, Kyoji Yamaguchi, Fumie Kobayashi, Masaaki Goto, Akihiko Murakami, Masatsugu Ueda, Yasushi Yamashita, Kanji Higashio
  • Non-naturally occurring targeted lipolytic compounds and related compositions and methods
    Patent number: 6399355
    Abstract: This invention provides a non-naturally occurring targeted lipolytic compound comprising a lipolytic agent linked to a targeting agent. In an embodiment, the lipolytic agent is covalently attached to the targeting agent. In an embodiment, the lipolytic agent is a phospholipase and the targeting agent is a viral receptor. This invention further provides for therapeutic uses of the non-naturally occurring targeted lipolytic compound. In an embodiment, the non-naturally occurring targeted lipolytic compound neutralizes virions of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Peter D. Kwong, Wayne A. Hendrickson
  • Hepatitis C surrogate virus for testing the activity of hepatitis C virus protease, a recombinant gene and a use thereof
    Patent number: 6395471
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid virus comprising poliovirus and the hepatitis C virus protease NS3 and a target site for NS3. The hybrid virus is useful for screening for drugs against hepatitis C virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: LG Chemicals Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Key Jang, Bumsuk Hahm
  • Removal of viruses from protein solutions by ultrafiltration
    Patent number: 6391657
    Abstract: The invention relates to the removal of viruses from aqueous solutions, as a rule protein solutions, by ultrafiltration. This entails the viruses to be removed being increased in size by incubation with a high molecular weight receptor binding thereto, preferably a specific antibody, so that, on the one hand, the separation effect is improved and, on the other hand, a larger pore diameter which can now be chosen for the filters used also makes it possible for smaller viruses to be separated from larger protein molecules present in protein solutions, and, where appropriate, the filtration rate is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Aventis Behring GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Bernhardt, Albrecht Gröner, Thomas Nowak
  • Method for detecting antibodies in a sample
    Patent number: 6391540
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to assays for detecting antibodies in a sample in a single incubation step. The assays employ universal solid phases and/or universal detectable markers, and facilitate the detection and differentiation of antigens from the same source or from different sources in a single test sample. The present invention includes test kits for performing the methods according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Chiron Corporation
    Inventors: David Y. Chien, Phillip Arcangel, Stephen Tirell, Wanda Zeigler
  • Recombinant alphavirus-based vectors with reduced inhibition of cellular macromolecular synthesis
    Patent number: 6391632
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules are disclosed, comprising an alphavirus nonstructural protein gene which, when operably incorporated into a recombinant alphavirus particle, eukaryotic layered vector initiation system, or RNA vector replicon, has a reduced level of vector-specific RNA synthesis, as compared to wild-type, and the same or greater level of proteins encoded by RNA transcribed from the viral junction region promoter, as is compared to a wild-type recombinant alphavirus particle. Also disclosed are RNA vector replicons, alphavirus vector constructs, and eukaryotic layered vector initiation systems which contain the above-identified nucleic acid molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignees: Chiron Corporation, Washington University
    Inventors: Thomas W. Dubensky, Jr., John M. Polo, Barbara A. Belli, Sondra Schlesinger, Sergey A. Dryga, Ilya Frolov
  • Synthesis and purification of hepatitis C virus-like particles
    Patent number: 6387662
    Abstract: Production of enveloped RNA virus-like particles intracellularly in vitro in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus vector containing a cDNA coding for viral structural proteins is disclosed. In vitro production and purification of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-like particles containing HCV core protein, E1 protein and E2 protein is disclosed. Production of antibodies in vivo to the purified HCV-like particles is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health & Human Services
    Inventors: T. Jake Liang, Thomas F. Baumert
  • Fragments of prion proteins
    Patent number: 6379905
    Abstract: Synthetic polypeptides having at least one antigenic site of a prion protein, methods for their use and manufacture, antibodies raised against such polypeptides and diagnostic kits containing these polypeptides or antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Proteus Molecular Design Limited
    Inventors: Robert Vincent Fishleigh, Barry Robson, Roger Paul Mee
  • Proteins encoded by polynucleic acids of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)
    Patent number: 6380376
    Abstract: The present invention provides a purified preparation containing, for example, at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of proteins encoded by one or more open reading frames (ORF's) of an Iowa strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), antigenic regions of such proteins which are at least 5 amino acids in length and which effectively protect a porcine host against a subsequent challenge with a PRRSV isolate, and combinations thereof in which amino acids non-essential for antigenicity may be conservatively substituted. The present invention also concerns a vaccine comprising an effective amount of such a protein; antibodies which specifically bind to such a protein; methods of producing the same; and methods of protecting a pig against a PRRSV, treating a pig infected by a PRRSV, and detecting PRRSV in a pig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Prem S. Paul, Yanjin Zhang
  • Ligand capture-directed selection of antibody
    Patent number: 6376170
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for the identification and clonal isolation of antibodies that bind to unique epitopes. The method is based on the use of antibodies as solid phase capture reagents to bind a known capture antibody epitope, thereby precluding the capture antibody epitope from being presented to a population of antibodies to be screened. The method is particularly suited for screening libraries of cloned antibodies, such as phage display combinatorial antibodies. An antibody specific for herpes simplex virus (HSV), was employed as a model for the assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Dennis R. Burton, Roberto Burioni, R. Anthony Williamson, Pietro P. Sanna