Patents Examined by Prema Mertz
  • Patent number: 9804170
    Abstract: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is often conjugated with therapeutic proteins to enhance their PK properties. PEG may, however, be immunogenic, and the presence of PEG in food and cosmetics is believed to result in pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies in humans. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies reactive to PEG are provided for use in immunogenicity assay development to detect such anti-drug antibodies. Such antibodies exhibit preferential binding based on the size of PEG with molecular weight ranging from 350 daltons to 40 kD. Anti-PEG antibodies of the invention are engineered to comprise human Fc regions to enable non-bridging immunoassay formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
    Inventors: Murli Krishna, Alexander T. Kozhich, Martin J. Corbett, Zheng Lin, Steven P. Piccoli
  • Patent number: 9797882
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of screening a compound for modulating activity at a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) binding site on a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14). The present disclosure also provides heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and methods for the prevention, treatment, and amelioration of cell proliferative disorders with these compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Translational Genomics Research Institute
    Inventors: Nhan Tran, Nathalie Meurice, Harshil Dhruv, Hongwei Yin
  • Patent number: 9782475
    Abstract: Provided are nanoparticles comprising heparin, chitosan, and at least one immunomodulatory agent, e.g. a cytokine. The cytokine can be selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-12, IL-2, IL-23, IL-1?, IL-10, IL-18, and combinations thereof. Further provided are methods of making a nanoparticle comprising mixing a first composition comprising heparin with a second composition comprising chitosan in the presence of at least one cytokine to form a third composition. Further provided are methods of modulating an immune response comprising co-administering to a subject an antigen or vaccine with nanoparticles comprising heparin, chitosan, and at least one cytokine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Soman Abraham, Kam Leong, Herman Staats, Ashley St. John
  • Patent number: 9775921
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as an Ab1 antibody or antibody fragment having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat disease or to improve survivability or quality of life of 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, reduced serum albumin level, elevated D-dimer or other coagulation cascade related protein(s), cachexia, fever, weakness and/or fatigue prior to treatment. The subject therapies also may include the administration of other actives such as chemotherapeutics, anti-coagulants, statins, and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ALDERBIO HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Leon F. Garcia-Martinez, Anne Elisabeth Carvalho Jensen, Katie Anderson, Benjamin H. Dutzar, John A. Latham, Brian R. Kovacevich, Jeffrey T. L. Smith, Mark Litton, Randall Schatzman
  • Patent number: 9778269
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the use of a soluble CD52 glycoprotein in treating diseases regulated by effector T-cells, for example sepsis or multiple sclerosis. The present disclosure also relates to diagnostic methods based on the detection of CD52 expression levels in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    Inventors: Leonard Charles Harrison, Maryam Rashidi, Yuxia Zhang
  • Patent number: 9771404
    Abstract: A compound comprising, in combination: a cell surface binding ligand or internalizing factor, such as an IL-13R?2 binding ligand; at least one effector molecule (e.g., one, two, three or more effector molecules); optionally but preferably, a cytosol localization element covalently coupled between said binding ligand and said at least one effector molecule; and a subcellular compartment localization signal element covalently coupled between said binding ligand and said at least one effector molecule (and preferably with said cytosol localization element between said binding ligand and said subcellular compartment localization signal element). Methods of using such compounds and formulations containing the same are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: Waldemar Debinski, Hetal Pandya, Denise Gibo
  • Patent number: 9758580
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides antibodies that bind to human interleukin-6 (IL6). The antibodies can modulate IL6 signaling and thus used in treatment or prevention of IL6 associated diseases or disorders, particularly inflammatory disorder, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), angiogenesis, and cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Fountain Biopharma Inc.
    Inventors: Tong-Young Lee, Han-Chung Wu, Tanny Chen Tsao, Willie Lin
  • Patent number: 9750752
    Abstract: The present application discloses methods for treating an IL-6-mediated disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), systemic JIA (sJIA), polyarticular course JIA (pcJIA), systemic sclerosis, or giant cell arteritis (GCA), with subcutaneously administered antibody that binds interleukin-6 receptor (anti-IL-6R antibody). In particular, it relates to identification of a fixed dose of anti-IL-6R antibody, e.g. tocilizumab, which is safe and effective for subcutaneous administration in patients with IL-6-mediated disorders. In addition, formulations and devices useful for subcutaneous administration of an anti-IL-6R antibody are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Chugai Seiyaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Xiaoping Zhang, Kimio Terao, Olivier Alfred Harari
  • Patent number: 9751938
    Abstract: Provided is a T cell activation inhibitor containing an RGM inhibiting substance such as an anti-RGM neutralizing antibody and the like as an active ingredient. The T cell activation inhibitor is useful as a pharmaceutical composition for the prophylaxis or treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and the like, and other diseases caused by T cell activation. In addition, a T cell activation inhibiting substance can be screened for by contacting a test substance with RGM and selecting a test substance that lowers the activity level of RGM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihide Yamashita, Takekazu Kubo
  • Patent number: 9751939
    Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant antigen-binding regions, antibodies and functional fragments thereof that are specific for GM-CSF, which plays an integral role in various disorders or conditions. These antibodies, accordingly, can be used to treat, for example, inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Antibodies of the invention also can be used in the diagnostics field, as well as for further investigating the role of GM-CSF in the progression of various disorders. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences encoding the foregoing antibodies, vectors containing the same, pharmaceutical compositions and kits with instructions for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Morphosys AG
    Inventors: Stefan Steidl, Elisabeth Thomassen-Wolf
  • Patent number: 9745343
    Abstract: The present invention provides peptides containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 30, 31, 34, 36, 37, 40, 41, 45, 49, 55, 57 and 61, as well as peptides containing the above-mentioned amino acid sequences in which 1, 2, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted or added, but still have cytotoxic T cell inducibility. The present invention also provides drugs for treating or preventing tumors, which drugs containing these peptides. The peptides of the present invention can also be used as vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: OncoTherapy Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Tsunoda, Ryuji Ohsawa, Sachiko Yoshimura, Tomohisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9738700
    Abstract: Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for zcytor17-containing multimeric or heterodimer cytokine receptors that may be used as novel cytokine antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the multimeric or heterodimeric cytokine receptor, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ZYMOGENETICS INC.
    Inventors: Cindy A. Sprecher, Joseph L. Kuijper, Maria M. Dasovich, Francis J. Grant, Theodore E. Whitmore, Angela K. Hammond, Julia E. Novak, Jane A. Gross, Stacey R. Dillon
  • Patent number: 9732147
    Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for delivering a polypeptide to the central nervous system of a mammal via intranasal administration are provided. The polypeptide can be a catalytically active protein or an antibody, antibody fragment or antibody fragment fusion protein. The polypeptides are formulated with one or more specific agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Janssen Biotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Johanna Bentz, Beth Hill, Lisbeth Illum
  • Patent number: 9732160
    Abstract: The invention provides antibodies which bind to the ADP-ribosyl cyclase 2. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies are also provided. The antibodies may be used for the treatment of human cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer and human inflammatory diseases, including asthma, gout, crohns, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, diabetes and atherosclerotic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Oxford BioTherapeutics Ltd
    Inventors: Christian Rohlff, Jonathan Alexander Terrett
  • Patent number: 9732134
    Abstract: Described herein are immunosuppressive molecules including immunosuppressive variants of IL-2, and use of such molecules to treat inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventors: Marc A Gavin, Li Li
  • Patent number: 9732133
    Abstract: Variant IL-13 polypeptides are provided, which are engineered to have one or more of the following properties: (a) altered affinity for IL-13R?2, relative to the native human IL-13 protein; (b) altered affinity for IL-13R?1 relative to the native human IL-13 protein; (c) a disruption in the binding site for IL-4R? relative to the native human IL-13 protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Kenan Christopher Garcia, Ignacio Moraga Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9724410
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods and compositions, especially subcutaneous and intravenous composition 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, the anti-IL-6 antibodies will be humanized and/or will be aglycosylated. Also, 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 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ALDERBIO HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. L. Smith, John A. Latham, Mark Litton, Randall Schatzman
  • Patent number: 9718892
    Abstract: Bi-specific fusion proteins with therapeutic uses are provided, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such fusion proteins, and methods for using such fusion proteins to repair or regenerate damaged or diseased tissue. The bi-specific fusion proteins generally comprise: (a) a targeting polypeptide domain that binds to a target molecule; and (b) an activator domain that detectably modulates tissue regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrik Nielsen, Thomas Wickham, Birgit Schoeberl, Brian Harms, Bryan Linggi, Matthew Onsum, Byron DeLaBarre, Shaun M. Lippow
  • Patent number: 9714287
    Abstract: An anti-IL-23 antibody, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one anti-IL-23 antibody, vectors, host cells, transgenic animals or plants, and methods of making and using thereof have applications in diagnostic and/or therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Janssen Biotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacqueline Benson, Mark Cunningham, Cynthia Duchala, Jill Giles-Komar, Jinquan Luo, Michael Rycyzyn, Raymond Sweet
  • Patent number: 9707272
    Abstract: The invention provides inhibitors capable of binding to a member of the inflammasome group comprised of IL-1?, IL-1 receptor type 1, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and cathepsin B with a dissociation constant of 10-8 mol/l or smaller for the prevention and treatment of acne, specifically an antibody, an antibody fragment, an antibody-like molecule, an oligopeptide of 6 to 30 amino acid residues, a nucleic acid aptamer molecule of 10 to 75 nucleotides in length or a soluble polypeptide comprising a contiguous amino acid sequence of at least 30 amino acids comprised within the protein sequence of a member of the group comprised of IL-1?, IL-1 receptor type 1, IL-1 receptor type 2, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. Similarly, an interfering RNA or an antisense modulator of gene expression of IL-1?, I L-1? receptor type 1, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and cathepsin B are provided for the prevention or treatment of acne.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAT ZURICH
    Inventors: Dragana Jankovic, Magdalena Kistowska, Emmanuel Contassot, Lars E. French, Samuel Gehrke