Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies that bind to leptin receptor (LEPR), and methods of using the same. According to certain embodiments, the invention includes antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies that bind LEPR and activate LEPR signaling. In other embodiments, the invention includes antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies that bind to LEPR and enhance sensitization of LEPR to an antigen. In certain embodiments, the invention includes antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies that bind LEPR in the presence and absence of leptin. In certain embodiments, the invention includes antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies that induce signaling in cells expressing LEPR mutants that otherwise exhibit defective or impaired signaling in the presence of leptin.

Abstract: The present application provides methods for preparing soluble lipidated ligand agents comprising a ligand entity and a lipid entity, and in some embodiments, provides relevant parameters of each of these components, thereby enabling appropriate selection of components to assemble active agents for any given target of interest.

Abstract: This invention relates to transduction of cargo molecules into living cells, such as protein transduction, in particular a delivery molecule for transduction of a cargo into a cell comprising: a cargo-binding molecule and/or a cargo; a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) binding element, which is capable of binding to GAG on the surface of the cell; and a protein transduction domain. Methods of transduction, methods of producing or modifying cargo for transduction, delivery molecules for transduction and methods of treatment using transduction, or using transduced cells are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for identifying candidate compounds for limiting development of and/or treating diabetes, and methods for limiting development of and/or treating diabetes.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for accelerating wound closure and preventing inhibiting or reducing scarring or fibrosis. The methods of the present invention include administering to a person in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising collagen 7 and/or one or more functional fragments or variants thereof. The functional fragments generally comprise at least one of the nine Fibronectin Type III-like Region of the NC1 region of collagen 7.

Abstract: Provided herein are HER-3, HER-1 and IGF-1R B cell epitopes, peptide mimics, chimeric peptides and multivalent peptides. In some embodiments, the chimeric peptides include one or more HER-3, HER-1 and/or IGF-1R B cell epitopes, a linker, and a T helper cell (Th cell) epitope. Pharmaceutical compositions are also provided that contain one or more HER-3, HER-1 and/or IGF-1R chimeric peptides, and optionally, one or more HER-2 chimeric peptides and/or VEGF peptides. Also included herein are methods of treating a cancer using the HER-3, HER-1 and IGF-1R B cell epitopes, chimeric peptides and multivalent peptides.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of promoting the host defense of a patient to a bacterial infection comprising administering to a patient suffering or at risk of a bacterial infection, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of the pleiotropic cytokine, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) protein or polypeptide in an amount and at a location sufficient to promote the host defense of the patient to the bacterial infection. In a preferred embodiment, the bacterial infection is the infection of the patient with MRSA. The invention also provides a method of treating blood product, which comprises introducing a TSLP protein or polypeptide into such blood product, wherein the blood product is extracorporeal and comprises at least one neutrophil.

Abstract: The invention relates to anti-TNF? antibodies which are engineered to exhibit a pH-sensitive antigen binding. The invention is preferably directed to anti-TNF? antibody adalimumab (Humira®) or biologically active variants and fragments thereof, wherein the original adalimumab antibody or variant or fragment thereof is engineered by modifications of amino acid sequence within the variable regions. Specifically, the invention relates to adalimumab or biologically active variants or fragments thereof, wherein the CDR domains are modified by replacing one or more amino acid residues by histidine residues.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immunoconjugate having the formula: T-c-En-c-Fcn or T-c-Fcn-c-En; wherein, T is a single chain variable portion fragment of a monoclonal antibody (scFv) directed to a target protein, polypeptide, or fragment thereof, which is highly expressed on cancer cells; E is two or more foreign immunogenic CD8+ T cell antigenic epitopes; c is a peptide or polypeptide fragment thereof, capable of being cleaved by a specific protease; and Fc is two or more Fc portions of an IgG antibody. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the same and vectors containing said nucleic acid sequences are also provided. Methods of making the immunoconjugate, along with methods of making target cells susceptible to CTL mediated cell killing, and methods for treatment of cancers are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of peripheral T cell lymphoma using compounds that specifically bind KIR3DL2. The invention also relates to use of antibodies that specifically bind KIR3DL2 in diagnostic and theranostic assays in the detection and treatment of peripheral T cell lymphoma.

Abstract: The invention provides formulations and methods for ameliorating symptoms associated with metabolic disorders, such as hypoglycemia, obesity, diabetes, and the like by targeted administration to the oesphagus of a subject of Zn-?2-glycoproteins or a functional fragment thereof, alone or in combination with additional agents, such as ? adrenergin receptor agonists, ? adrenergin receptor antagonists, and/or glycemic control agents.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and compositions for treating autoimmunity and inflammatory conditions without non-specific suppression of the host immune system. In particular, the anti-OX40L antibodies described herein are unique in that they not only inhibit the differentiation of inflammatory T cells but also promote the generation and function of regulatory T cells by inducing IL-10 and inhibiting TNF-? and by reducing aberrant Th2 cell responses. Furthermore, the methods and compositions described herein eliminate or reduce aberrant T follicular helper cell—(Tfh) responses that may contribute to the pathogenicity of autoimmune disease.

Abstract: New designed ankyrin repeat domains with binding specificity for serum albumin, recombinant binding proteins comprising at least two designed ankyrin repeat domains with binding specificity for serum albumin, as well as recombinant binding proteins comprising at least one designed ankyrin repeat domain with binding specificity for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), at least one designed ankyrin repeat domain with binding specificity for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), and at least two designed ankyrin repeat domain with binding specificity for serum albumin are described, as well as nucleic acids encoding such designed ankyrin repeat domains and recombinant binding proteins, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such designed ankyrin repeat domains, recombinant binding proteins or nucleic acids and the use of such designed ankyrin repeat domains, recombinant binding proteins, nucleic acids or pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment of diseases.

Abstract: Devices, methods and compositions for treating cardiovascular disorders are configured for sustained-release of leptin antagonist into a blood vessel in order to downregulate an expression or activity of leptin in a cardiovascular tissue that is affected by a disorder.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an improved balance of the essential branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine in infant formula.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, which specifically bind to IL-2 and reduce the affinity of IL-2 binding to IL-2R? and IL-2R?. The invention further provides a method of obtaining such antibodies and nucleic acids encoding the same. The invention further relates to compositions and therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies for the treatment and/or prevention of autoimmune diseases, disorders or conditions and for immunosuppression, including, but not limited to, administering a complex comprising the antibody and IL-2.

Abstract: The conjugation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) with activated cisplatin using a malonate linker gives rise to a new Platinum-LHRH conjugate that effectively targets tumor cells that express the LHRH receptor. The Pt-LHRH conjugate may be used in a method for killing or inhibiting the growth of a tumor cell, especially in late state, highly invasive and aggressive stage IV tumors and in reoccurring tumors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drug comprising at least one insulin and at least one GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Abstract: An in vitro method for determining whether a patient has, or is at risk of having or developing an autoimmune disease or for assessing the severity or predicting the outcome of an autoimmune disease, comprising a step of detecting or quantifying in a biological sample obtained from said patient an immune anti-IL2 response, peptides specifically recognized by anti-IL2 antibodies or IL-2-specific T cells of T1D, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome and autoimmune polymyositis patients, and pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A composition-of-matter for treating cardiovascular disorders and a method of using same are provided. The composition-of-matter includes a leptin antagonist and a carrier configured for localized release of the leptin antagonist.