Patents Examined by Lorraine Spector
  • Patent number: 7981421
    Abstract: An antibody of the invention interacts with human DR5 or with human DR4 to produce agonistic or antagonistic effects downstream of the receptor including inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Methods and uses for the antibodies, optionally in combination with various therapeutic agents, are detailed, including treatment of apoptosis-related disease and treatment of dysregulated cell growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: The UAB Research Foundation
    Inventors: Tong Zhou, Kimihisa Ichikawa, Robert P. Kimberly, William J. Koopman, Jun Ohsumi, Albert F. LoBuglio, Donald J. Buchsbaum
  • Patent number: 7977314
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating a medical condition, disease, or disorder mediated by a misfolded form of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a subject in need of treatment. The method optionally comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and an agent selected from (1) an exogenous antibody or fragment thereof that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (2) an immunogen that elicits production of an endogenous antibody that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (3) a nucleic acid sequence encoding (1) or (2). In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of treating diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using amyotrophic disease-specific epitopes, and compositions including these epitopes. The invention also provides antibodies that bind to monomeric or misfolded SOD1, and not on the molecular surface of native homodimeric SOD1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Amorfix Life Sciences Limited
    Inventor: Neil R. Cashman
  • Patent number: 7964399
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of ligands for the FLK-1 receptor for the modulation of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. The invention s based, in part, on the demonstration that Flk-1 tyrosine kinase receptor expression is associated with endothelial cells and the identification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as the high affinity ligand of Flk-1. These results indicate a major role for Flk-1 in the signaling system during vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Engineering of host cells that express Flk-1 and the uses of expressed Flk-1 to evaluate and screen for drugs and analogs of VEGF involved in Flk-1 modulation by either agonist or antagonist activities is described. The invention also relates to the use of FLK-1 ligands, including VEGF agonists and antagonists, in the treatment of disorders, including cancer, by modulating vasculogenesis and angiogenesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften e.V., Yissum Research, Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Inventors: Axel Ullrich, Werner Risau, Birgit Millauer, Aviv Gazit, Alex Levitzki
  • Patent number: 7964554
    Abstract: The present invention discloses anti-histone H1 monoclonal antibodies, hybridomas for the production thereof, and polypeptides, which are useful for suppressing, predicting, or diagnosing transplant rejection in organ transplantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Amateraspharma Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Goto, Shuji Sato, Kazuhisa Ono, Seiko Shigeta, Seiji Kawamoto, Shigeru Goto
  • Patent number: 7955804
    Abstract: A brain damage-related disorder is diagnosed in a subject by detecting at least one polypeptide, or a variant or mutant thereof, selected from A-FABP, E-FABP, PGP 9.5, GFAP, Prostaglandin D synthase, Neuromodulin, Neurofilament L, Calcyphosine, RNA binding regulatory subunit, Ubiquitin fusion degradation protein 1 homolog, Nucleoside diphosphate kinase A, Glutathione S tranferase P, Cathepsin D, DJ-1 protein, Peroxiredoxin 5 and Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A (Cyclophilin A) in a sample of body fluid taken from the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Electrophoretics Limited
    Inventors: Denis F. Hochstrasser, Jean-Charles Sanchez, Pierre Lescuyer, Laure Allard
  • Patent number: 7951775
    Abstract: Methods and compositions comprising GnRH-I and GnRH-II, GnRH-I and GnRH-II antibodies, anti-receptor antibodies, polynucleotide constructs and GnRH-I and GnRH-II analogs for immune enhancement and suppression, prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions characterized by abnormal T-cell activity, treatment of viral and prion-related diseases, and treatment of T-cell related neoplastic diseases are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventors: Mia Levite, Yitzhak Koch
  • Patent number: 7951909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a peptide immunogen useful for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. More particularly, the peptide immunogen comprises a main functional/regulatory site, an N-terminal fragment of Amyloid ? (A?) peptide linked to a helper T cell epitope (Th) having multiple class II MHC binding motifs. The peptide immunogen elicits a site-directed immune response against the main functional/regulatory site of the A? peptide and generate antibodies, which are highly cross-reactive to the soluble A?1-42 peptide and the amyloid plaques formed in the brain of Alzheimer's Disease patients. The antibodies elicited being cross reactive to the soluble A?1-42 peptide, promote fibril disaggregation and inhibit fibrillar aggregation leading to immunoneutralization of the “soluble A?-derived toxins”; and being cross-reactive to the amyloid plaques, accelerate the clearance of these plaques from the brain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: United Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Yi Wang
  • Patent number: 7951928
    Abstract: To provide a novel protein that can be a preventive/remedy in neurodegenerative diseases such as polyglutamine diseases based on the finding obtained by revealing the relationship between transcriptional dysfunction and neuronal death. Disclosed is a protein that is one of the following proteins (a) and (b). (a) A protein including an amino acid sequence represented by any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3. (b) A protein including an amino acid sequence in which one to several amino acids are deleted, substituted or added in the amino acid sequence of (a), the protein having a dominant negative effect on a transcriptional activation factor YAP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
    Inventor: Hitoshi Okazawa
  • Patent number: 7943376
    Abstract: The present invention is related to the discovery of a novel class of neural progenitor cells, which proliferate in response to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and differentiate into neurons and oligodendrocytes but not astrocytes. Progeny of the progenitor cells can be obtained by culturing brain tissue in PDGF without serum, epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor 2, or transforming growth factor alpha. Upon subculturing into EGF-containing media, these progeny cells can proliferate and form neurospheres, whereas PDGF has no such effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Stem Cell Therapuetics Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Weiss, Andrew K. Chojnacki
  • Patent number: 7935340
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6. Another embodiment of this invention relates to the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the VH, VL and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. The invention also contemplates conjugates of anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-IL-6 antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with IL-6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: AlderBio Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Leon Garcia-Martinez, Anne Elisabeth Carvalho Jensen, Katie Olson, Ben Dutzar, Ethan Ojala, Brian Kovacevich, John Latham, Jeffrey T. L. Smith
  • Patent number: 7932055
    Abstract: Soluble versions of heterodimeric receptors, e.g., CD94/NKG2 receptors, and methods of producing and using such constructs, are described. The constructs comprise soluble fragments of, each receptor monomer, and some constructs further comprise at least one immunoglobulin Fc domain. Exemplary constructs are those wherein (1) each soluble fragment is linked to an immunoglobulin Fc domain, which are then allowed to dimerize, (2) each soluble fragment is linked to an immunoglobulin Fc domain mutated to promote forced dimerization with the correct counterpart, and (3) single-chain constructs where the monomeric receptor fragments are linked, and the C-terminal fragment is linked to an Fc domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Petrus Johannes Louis Spee, Søren Berg Padkær, Birgitte Nissen Friedrichsen, Inga Sig Nielsen Nørby
  • Patent number: 7927813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of screening and identifying modulators of the protein interaction between new peptides and anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family. The modulators identified on the basis of this method are administered to patients with cancer in order to bring about apoptotic-type and/or autophagic-type programmed cell death in those patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Les Laboratories Servier, Hybrigenics
    Inventors: Olivier Geneste, John Hickman, Jean-Christophe Rain
  • Patent number: 7923016
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel CXCL12-?2 locked dimer polypeptide, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using said dimer in the treatment of cancer, inflammatory disorders, autoimmune disease, and HIV/AIDS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Medical College of Wisconsin, Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Brian F. Volkman, Christopher T. Veldkamp, Francis C. Peterson, Thomas Sakmar, Christoph H. Seibert
  • Patent number: 7922999
    Abstract: A method and system that is directed to the local delivery of growth factors to the mammalian CNS to treat CNS disorders associated with neuronal death and/or dysfunction is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Krystof S. Bankiewicz
  • Patent number: 7914785
    Abstract: The present invention relates in a first aspect to a B-cell depleting anti-CD20 antibody or a CD20-binding antibody fragment thereof for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies or fragments thereof which are preferably humanized for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in a subject afflicted with said disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Bergen Teknologieverforing AS
    Inventors: Olav Mella, Oystein Fluge
  • Patent number: 7910101
    Abstract: Melanocortin receptor binding mimetibody polypeptides are disclosed. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, cells comprising these polynucleotides or expressing the mimetibodies, and methods of making and using the forgoing are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Centocor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Cunningham, Vedrana Stojanovic-Susulic, Karyn O'Neil, Chichi Huang, Jeffrey Luo
  • Patent number: 7910709
    Abstract: Novel ?10 polypeptides and heterodimers thereof, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same are disclosed. The invention also provides vectors, host cells, selective binding agents, and methods for producing ?10 polypeptides and heterodimeric forms thereof, specifically ?2/?10. Also provided for are methods for the treatment, diagnosis, amelioration, or prevention of diseases with ?10 polypeptides and ?2/?10 heterodimers or their respective binding agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. R. Paszty
  • Patent number: 7906626
    Abstract: Disclosed are bispecific antibodies comprising a first antibody binding specificity which confers the ability of the bispecific antibody to cross the blood-brain barrier, and a second antibody specificity conferring the ability of the bispecific antibody to bind to a ?-amyloid epitope. Also disclosed are methods for inhibiting the formation of ?-amyloid plaques in the brain of a human, or promoting the disaggregation of a preformed ?-amyloid plaque. Such methods recite the administration of a bispecific antibody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Biomedical Research Institute
    Inventor: Victor Raso
  • Patent number: 7906117
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat cachexia, fever, weakness and/or fatigue in a patient in need thereof. In preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting (or at risk of developing) an elevated serum C-reactive protein level. In another preferred embodiment, the patient's survivability or quality of life will preferably be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: AlderBio Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. L. Smith, Randall C. Schatzman, Mark J. Litton, John Latham
  • Patent number: 7897732
    Abstract: Substantially pure heparin-binding growth factor polypeptides (HBGFs), nucleic acids encoding the HBGFs and antibodies which bind to the HBGFs of the invention are provided. The HBGF polypeptides are useful in methods for the induction of bone, cartilage and tissue formation, growth and development of the endometrium and in the acceleration of wound healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Childrens Hospital Research Foundation
    Inventors: David R. Brigstock, Paul A. Harding