Patents Examined by Terra Cotta Gibbs
  • Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of the HAMP gene
    Patent number: 8268799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the HAMP gene (HAMP gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the HAMP gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by HAMP gene expression and the expression of the HAMP gene using the pharmaceutical composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoko Nakayama, Anke Geick, Pamela Tan, Herbert Y. Lin
  • RNAi modulation of RSV and therapeutic uses thereof
    Patent number: 8263572
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the in vivo demonstration that RSV can be inhibited through intranasal administration of iRNA agents as well as by parenteral administration of such agents. Further, it is shown that effective viral reduction can be achieved with more than one virus being treated concurrently. Based on these findings, the present invention provides general and specific compositions and methods that are useful in reducing RSV mRNA levels, RSV protein levels and viral titers in a subject, e.g., a mammal, such as a human. These findings can be applied to other respiratory viruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Rachel Meyers
  • Compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating melanoma
    Patent number: 8252760
    Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and treatment of melanoma or melanoma associated symptoms. The compositions are microRNA molecules associated with melanoma, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Eva Hernando, Miguel F. Segura, Douglas Hanniford, Silvia Menendez
  • Neuronal pain pathway
    Patent number: 8252754
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel molecular pathway involved in long-term hyperexcitability of sensory neurons, which, in higher animals, is associated with persistent pain. It is based on the discovery that, following injury to an axon of a neuron, an increase in nitric oxide synthase activity results in increased nitric oxide production, which, in turn, activates guanylyl cyclase, thereby increasing levels of cGMP. Increased cGMP results in activation of protein kinase G (“PKG”), which then is retrogradely transported along the axon to the neuron cell body, where it phosphorylates MAPKerk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Richard Ambron, Ying-Ju Sung, Donald W. Landry, Shi-Xian Deng
  • Oligonucleotide and the use thereof for modulating an isoform C beta-1 protein-kinase in the form of a skin depigmentation agent
    Patent number: 8252753
    Abstract: This invention relates to oligonucleotide sequences and their derivatives. These oligonucleotide sequences are capable of hybridising with the genes or with products of the genes coding for the PKC-beta 1. This invention also relates to the use of these oligonucleotide sequences as a depigmenting or bleaching agent for the skin in a cosmetic composition or in a topical pharmaceutical composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: L V M H Recherche
    Inventors: Robin Kurfurst, Carine Nizard
  • Treatment of scleroderma
    Patent number: 8247389
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating scleroderma. The method consists in the upregulation of miR-29 by administration of miR-29 or a miR-29 upregulator which elevates circulating and/or intracellular concentrations of miR-29. The invention likewise relates to the use of miR-29 for such a treatment, and the use of miR-29 for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of scleroderma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Universitat Zurich Prorektorat MNW
    Inventors: Steffen Gay, Oliver Distler, Britta Maurer
  • siRNA of NF-kB p105 for inhibiting cell proliferation and migration and a composition comprising same
    Patent number: 8242094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a siRNA which targets mRNA of the NF-Kappa B p105 gene to cause its degradation by RNAi induction. In addition, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of diseases associated with aberrant cell proliferation and migration, comprising the siRNA and delivery vehicle capable of intracellular delivery of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Biopolymed, Inc.
    Inventors: Myung-Ok Park, Choun-Ki Joo, Jun-Sub Choi, Kyung-A Kim, Sung-Sik Bang
  • Means for inhibiting the expression of protein kinase 3
    Patent number: 8232256
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a nucleic acid molecule and uses thereof. The nucleic acid molecule comprises a double-stranded structure, whereby the double-stranded structure comprises a first strand and a second strand, whereby the first strand comprises a first stretch of contiguous nucleotides and said first stretch is at least partially complementary to a target nucleic acid, and whereby the second strand comprises a second stretch of contiguous nucleotides and said second stretch is at least partially complementary to the first stretch, whereby the first stretch comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is at least partially complementary to a nucleotide core sequence of the nucleic acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:1 (NM_013355).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Silence Therapeutics AG
    Inventors: Jorg Kaufmann, Oliver Keil, Ansgar Santel
  • Use of inhibitors and antisense oligonucleotides of BTK for treating proliferative mastocytosis
    Patent number: 8227433
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating proliferative mastocytosis comprising administering a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, a BTK antisense to a mammal in need of such treatment. The invention is more particularly suited for treating category II, III and IV mastocytosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris-Sud, Universite, Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan
    Inventors: Christian Auclair, Frédéric Subra
  • Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of the PCSK9 gene
    Patent number: 8222222
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the PCSK9 gene (PCSK9 gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the PCSK9 gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by PCSK9 gene expression and the expression of the PCSK9 gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting expression of a PCSK9 gene in a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Pamela Tan, Birgit Bramlage, Maria Frank-Kamenetsky, Kevin Fitzgerald, Akin Akinc, Victor E. Kotelianski
  • Means and methods for the specific modulation of target genes in the CNS and the eye and methods for their identification
    Patent number: 8202845
    Abstract: Provided are methods for the treatment of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and the eye. In particular, use of compositions comprising a compound capable of modulating a target gene or gene product is described for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of disorders of the CNS and/or the eye, wherein the composition is designed to be administered outside the blood-CNS and the blood-retina barriers. Furthermore, methods are provided for identifying and obtaining nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides involved in CNS disorders or of the eye, methods for diagnosing said disorders as well as transgenic animal deficient in the expression of target genes identified in accordance with the described method. In addition, methods of identifying and isolating drugs that are particularly useful for the treatment of disorders related to the CNS and/or the eye are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Acuity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Karina Drumm, Stefan Hubert Schlör, Frank Göhring
  • Antisense oligonucleotides for treating allergy and neoplastic cell proliferation
    Patent number: 8202851
    Abstract: Antisense oligonucleotides for treating and/or preventing at least one of asthma, allergy, hypereosinophilia, general inflammation and cancer are provided. The oligonucleotides are directed against nucleic acid sequences coding for a receptor selected from the group consisting of a CCR3 receptor and a common sub-unit of IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Topigen Pharmaceuticals Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Renzi, Khalid Zemzoumi
  • Antisense antiviral compounds and methods for treating a filovirus infection
    Patent number: 8198429
    Abstract: The present invention provides antisense antiviral compounds, compositions, and methods of their use and production, mainly for inhibiting the replication of viruses of the Filoviridae family, including Ebola and Marburg viruses. The compounds, compositions, and methods also relate to the treatment of viral infections in mammals including primates by Ebola and Marburg viruses. The antisense antiviral compounds include phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMOplus) having a nuclease resistant backbone, about 15-40 nucleotide bases, at least two but typically no more than half piperazine-containing intersubunit linkages, and a targeting sequence that is targeted against the AUG start site region of Ebola virus VP35, Ebola virus VP24, Marburg virus VP24, or Marburg virus NP, including combinations and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: AVI BioPharma, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick L. Iversen, Dwight D. Weller
  • Treatment of neurological disorders by dsRNA administration
    Patent number: 8198259
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods to treat neurological disorders comprising intrathecal injection of an effective amount of a double-stranded (ds) RNA into a subject in need, wherein the dsRNA inhibits the expression of a target gene and to pharmaceutical compositions useful for such treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Gabriele Dorn, Pamposh Ganju, Jonathan Hall, Maria Wanda Hemmings, William Leonard Wishart
  • Compositions and methods for siRNA inhibition of ICAM-1
    Patent number: 8193163
    Abstract: RNA interference using small interfering RNAs which are specific for the ICAM-1 gene inhibits expression of this gene. Diseases which involve ICAM-1-mediated cell adhesion, such as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, diabetic retinopathy and other complications arising from type I diabetes, age related macular degeneration and many types of cancer, can be treated by administering the small interfering RNAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Samuel J. Reich, Michael J. Tolentino
  • Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding high-level expressor factor VIII polypeptides and methods of use
    Patent number: 8188246
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided that allow for high-level expression of a factor VIII polypeptide. More specifically, methods and compositions are provided comprising nucleic acid and amino acid sequences comprising a modified factor VIII that result in high-level expression of the polypeptide. The methods and compositions of the invention find use in the treatment of factor VIII deficiency including, for example, hemophilia A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Expression Therapeutics LLC
    Inventor: John S. Lollar
  • Delivery of DNA or RNA via gap junctions from host cells to target cells and a cell-based delivery system for antisense or siRNA
    Patent number: 8188062
    Abstract: A method of delivering an oligonucleotide or a plasmid expressing an oligonucleotide into a target cell comprises introducing an oligonucleotide into a donor cell, particularly a stem cell, and contacting the target cell with the donor cell under conditions permitting the donor cell to form a gap junction with the target cell, whereby the oligonucleotide or a product of the oligonucleotide is delivered into the target cell from the donor cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Peter R. Brink, Michael R. Rosen, Richard B. Robinson, Ira S. Cohen, Arthur Grollman
  • Therapeuting compositions comprising an RNAi agent and a neurotrophic factor and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 8183219
    Abstract: The invention provides novel combination therapies for treating neurodegenerative disease which comprise a) neurotrophic factors or suitable fragments thereof and b) agents capable of causing inhibition of a gene responsible for the neurodegenerative disease. The invention provides novel nucleic acid sequences, methods, and systems suitable for applications of these combination therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric N. Burright
  • RNA-induced translational silencing and cellular apoptosis
    Patent number: 8173616
    Abstract: The invention is directed to RNA molecules that can be used to inhibit protein synthesis and to induce cells to undergo apoptosis. It also includes pharmaceutical compositions containing the RNAs that can be used in treating or preventing tumors; abnormal dermatological growths and viral infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Anderson, Satoshi Yamasaki
  • Therapeuting compositions comprising an RNAi agent and a neurotrophic factor and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 8173614
    Abstract: The invention provides novel combination therapies for treating Huntington's disease which comprise a) BDNF or suitable fragments thereof and b) agents capable of causing inhibition of a gene responsible for the neurodegenerative disease. The invention provides nucleic acid sequences, methods, and systems suitable for applications of these combination therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Neal Burright, William F. Kaemmerer, Deepak Ramesh Thakker, Jennifer Heisel