Patents by Inventor Donald W. Nicholson

Donald W. Nicholson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Autoantigenic fragments, methods and assays
    Patent number: 6855515
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing autoantigens, compositions comprising autoantigenic fragments and methods of using autoantigenic fragments in the treatment of a condition associated with an autoimmune response. Also provided are assays for the detection or assessment of an autoimmune response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignees: Merck & Co., Inc., Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Anthony Rosen, Livia Casciola-Rosen, Donald W. Nicholson, Felipe A. Andrade, Sophie Roy, Nancy A. Thornberry
  • Leukotriene C4 synthase
    Patent number: 6204034
    Abstract: Leukotriene C4 synthase polypeptide identified by photoaffinity labelling, and purification of leukotriene C4 synthase to homogeneity is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Merck Frosst Canada & Co.
    Inventor: Donald W. Nicholson
  • DNA encoding precursor of interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme--related cysteine proteinase II (ICE.sub.rel -II)
    Patent number: 6110701
    Abstract: A complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding full length form of ICE.sub.rel -II is identified, sequenced and isolated. The cDNA is cloned into expression vectors for expression in recombinant hosts. The cDNA is useful to produce recombinant full length ICE.sub.rel -II. The cDNA and the recombinant ICE.sub.rel -II protein derived therefrom are useful in diagnostic kits, laboratory reagents and assays. The cDNA and the recombinant ICE.sub.rel -II protein may be used to identify compounds that affect ICE.sub.rel -II function, inflammation and cell apoptosis. ICE.sub.rel -II function, inflammation and cell apoptosis may also be modulated by ICE.sub.rel -II antisense or gene therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Merck Frosst Canada & Co.
    Inventors: Donald W. Nicholson, Ambereen Ali, Neil A. Munday, John P. Vaillancourt
  • Interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme-related cysteine proteinase II (ICE.sub.rel -II)
    Patent number: 6103513
    Abstract: A complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding full length form of ICE.sub.rel -II is identified, sequenced and isolated. The cDNA is cloned into expression vectors for expression in recombinant hosts. The cDNA is useful to produce recombinant full length ICE.sub.rel -II. The cDNA and the recombinant ICE.sub.rel -II protein derived therefrom are useful in diagnostic kits, laboratory reagents and assays. The cDNA and the recombinant ICE.sub.rel -II protein may be used to identify compounds that affect ICE.sub.rel -II function, inflammation and cell apoptosis. ICE.sub.rel -II function, inflammation and cell apoptosis may also be modulated by ICE.sub.rel -II antisense or gene therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Merck Frosst Canada & Co.
    Inventors: Donald W. Nicholson, Ambereen Ali, Neil A. Munday, John P. Vaillancourt
  • Method for identifying inhibitors for apopain based upon the crystal structure of the apopain: Ac-DEVD-CHO complex
    Patent number: 5834228
    Abstract: The apopain:Ac-DEVD-CHO complex has been crystallized and its structure determined by x-ray crystallography. Based upon this crystal structure of the complex, a method for identifying inhibitors of apopain is presented which comprises designing putative inhibitors having specific contacts with apopain, making the putative inhibitors, and testing the putative inhibitors for their ability to inhibit apopain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignees: Merck & Co., Inc., Merck Frosst Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Becker, Donald W. Nicholson, Jennifer Rotonda, Nancy A. Thornberry, Kimberly M. Fazil, Michel Gallant, Yves Gareau, Marc Labelle, Erin P. Peterson, Dita M. Rasper, Rejean Ruel, John P. Vaillancourt
  • Peptidyl derivatives as inhibitors of pro-apoptotic cysteine proteinases
    Patent number: 5798442
    Abstract: Compounds having the formula I:R.sup.1 COAA.sup.1 AA.sup.2 AA.sup.3 NHYare inhibitors of apopain, an enzyme involved in the process of apoptosis. These compounds are useful as research tools as well as in the treatment of any condition in which reduced apoptosis would be beneficial, including immune deficiency syndromes (including AIDS), type I diabetes, pathogenic infections, cardiovascular and neurological injury, alopecia, aging, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Merck Frosst Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Gallant, Marc Labelle, Yves Gareau, Donald W. Nicholson
  • DNA encoding precursor of interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme-related cysteine proteinase III (ICE.sub.rel -III)
    Patent number: 5760180
    Abstract: A complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding full length form of ICE.sub.rel -III is identified, sequenced and isolated. The cDNA is cloned into expression vectors for expression in recombinant hosts. The cDNA is useful to produce recombinant full length ICE.sub.rel -III. The cDNA and the recombinant ICE.sub.rel -III protein derived therefrom are useful in diagnostic kits, laboratory reagents and assays. The cDNA and the recombinant ICE.sub.rel -III protein may be used to identify compounds that affect ICE.sub.rel -III function, inflammation and cell apoptosis. ICE.sub.rel -III function, inflammation and cell apoptosis may also be modulated by ICE.sub.rel -III antisense or gene therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Merck Frosst Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald W. Nicholson, Ambereen Ali, Neil A. Munday, John P. Vaillancourt
  • DNA encoding precursor of interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme - related cysteine proteinase III (ice rel-III)
    Patent number: 5552536
    Abstract: A complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding full length form of ICE.sub.rel -III is identified, sequenced and isolated. The cDNA is cloned into expression vectors for expression in recombinant hosts. The cDNA is useful to produce recombinant full length ICE.sub.rel -III. The cDNA and the recombinant ICE.sub.rel -III protein derived therefrom are useful in diagnostic kits, laboratory reagents and assays. The cDNA and the recombinant ICE.sub.rel -III protein may be used to identify compounds that affect ICE.sub.rel -III function, inflammation and cell apoptosis. ICE.sub.rel -III function, inflammation and cell apoptosis may also be modulated by ICE.sub.rel -III antisense or gene therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Merck Frosst Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald W. Nicholson, Ambereen Ali, Neil A. Munday, John P. Vaillancourt