Patents by Inventor Fred Hofmann

Fred Hofmann 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).

  • Patent number: 11952601
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting an increased duration of effect without a delayed onset of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise a domain consisting of proline, alanine, serine, threonine, glycine and glutamate residues, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting a nucleic acid sequence coding for said domain into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising said domain-coding sequence in a host cell. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins used in such methods, nucleic acid sequences encoding such recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant clostridial neurotoxin with an increased duration of effect without a delayed onset of effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Fred Hofmann, Marcel Jurk, Manuela López De La Paz, Daniel Scheps, Jürgen Frevert
  • Patent number: 11357821
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise a random coil domain, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting a nucleic acid sequence coding for a random coil domain into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising the random coil domain-coding sequence in a host cell. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins used in such methods, nucleic acid sequences encoding such recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant clostridial neurotoxin with increased duration of effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Juergen Frevert, Fred Hofmann, Michael Schmidt, Manuela López De La Paz, Daniel Scheps
  • Publication number: 20220010294
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant botulinum neurotoxins serotype A exhibiting both (i) an increased duration of effect and (ii) a high specific biological activity. These novel recombinant botulinum neurotoxins comprise at least two additional domains consisting of proline, alanine and an additional amino acid residue and at least one amino acid modification which is located at the alpha-exosite or at the beta-exosite of the light chain of the neurotoxin. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor botulinum neurotoxins and compositions comprising the recombinant botulinum neurotoxin with an increased duration of effect and a high specific biological activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Jürgen FREVERT, Fred HOFMANN, Marcel JURK, Manuela LÓPEZ DE LA PAZ, Daniel SCHEPS
  • Patent number: 11155802
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant botulinum neurotoxins serotype A exhibiting both (i) an increased duration of effect and (ii) a high specific biological activity. These novel recombinant botulinum neurotoxins comprise at least two additional domains consisting of proline, alanine and an additional amino acid residue and at least one amino acid modification which is located at the alpha-exosite or at the beta-exosite of the light chain of the neurotoxin. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor botulinum neurotoxins and compositions comprising the recombinant botulinum neurotoxin with an increased duration of effect and a high specific biological activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Jürgen Frevert, Fred Hofmann, Marcel Jurk, Manuela López De La Paz, Daniel Scheps
  • Patent number: 11078472
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise (i) at least two random coil domains, or (ii) at least two domains having a polyproline II helix conformation, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting at least two nucleic acid sequences each coding for (i) a random coil domain, or (ii) a domain having a polyproline II helix conformation, into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising (i) the random coil domain-coding sequences, or (ii) the sequences encoding the domains having a polyproline II helix conformation in a host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Merz Pharma GmbH & Co., KGaA
    Inventors: Fred Hofmann, Marcel Jurk, Manuela López De La Paz, Daniel Scheps, Jürgen Frevert
  • Publication number: 20210008156
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor botulinum neurotoxins serotype A comprising at least one additional domain and least one amino acid modification of the heavy chain of the neurotoxin. The novel recombinant single-chain precursor botulinum neurotoxins further comprises at least one cleavage site for a protease selected from the group consisting of thrombin, HRV3C, Tobacco Etch Vims protease, enterokinase and factor Xa. The invention further relates to novel recombinant botulinum neurotoxins serotype A exhibiting an increased duration of effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Jürgen FREVERT, Fred HOFMANN, Marcel JURK, Manuela LÓPEZ DE LA PAZ, Daniel SCHEPS
  • Publication number: 20200354706
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting an increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise at least one domain wherein said domain comprises an amino acid sequence consisting of at least 50 amino acid residues, wherein said amino acid sequence consists of at least one proline and at least one alanine residue. The invention relates also to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprising at least one domain wherein said domain comprises an amino acid sequence consisting of at least 50 amino acid residues, wherein said domain comprises a plurality of specific amino acid repeats consisting of proline, alanine and tyrosine residues, or proline, alanine and glutamine residues, or proline, alanine and threonine residues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Jürgen FREVERT, Fred HOFMANN, Marcel JURK, Manuela LÓPEZ DE LA PAZ, Daniel SCHEPS
  • Publication number: 20200129587
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise a random coil domain, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting a nucleic acid sequence coding for a random coil domain into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising the random coil domain-coding sequence in a host cell. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins used in such methods, nucleic acid sequences encoding such recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant clostridial neurotoxin with increased duration of effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Juergen FREVERT, Fred HOFMANN, Michael SCHMIDT, Manuela LÓPEZ DE LA PAZ, Daniel SCHEPS
  • Publication number: 20200131494
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant botulinum neurotoxins serotype A exhibiting both (i) an increased duration of effect and (ii) a high specific biological activity. These novel recombinant botulinum neurotoxins comprise at least two additional domains consisting of proline, alanine and an additional amino acid residue and at least one amino acid modification which is located at the alpha-exosite or at the beta-exosite of the light chain of the neurotoxin. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor botulinum neurotoxins and compositions comprising the recombinant botulinum neurotoxin with an increased duration of effect and a high specific biological activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Jürgen FREVERT, Fred HOFMANN, Marcel JURK, Manuela LÓPEZ DE LA PAZ, Daniel SCHEPS
  • Patent number: 10603353
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise a random coil domain, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting a nucleic acid sequence coding for a random coil domain into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising the random coil domain-coding sequence in a host cell. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins used in such methods, nucleic acid sequences encoding such recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant clostridial neurotoxin with increased duration of effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Jürgen Frevert, Fred Hofmann, Michael Schmidt, Manuela López De La Paz, Daniel Scheps
  • Publication number: 20200048624
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting an increased duration of effect without a delayed onset of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise a domain consisting of proline, alanine, serine, threonine, glycine and glutamate residues, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting a nucleic acid sequence coding for said domain into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising said domain-coding sequence in a host cell. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins used in such methods, nucleic acid sequences encoding such recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant clostridial neurotoxin with an increased duration of effect without a delayed onset of effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Fred HOFMANN, Marcel JURK, Manuela LÓPEZ DE LA PAZ, Daniel SCHEPS, Jürgen FREVERT
  • Publication number: 20180327730
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise (i) at least two random coil domains, or (ii) at least two domains having a polyproline II helix conformation, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting at least two nucleic acid sequences each coding for (i) a random coil domain, or (ii) a domain having a polyproline II helix conformation, into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising (i) the random coil domain-coding sequences, or (ii) the sequences encoding the domains having a polyproline II helix conformation in a host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Fred Hofmann, Marcel Jurk, Manuela López De La Paz, Daniel Scheps, Jürgen Frevert
  • Publication number: 20180169182
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise a random coil domain, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting a nucleic acid sequence coding for a random coil domain into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising the random coil domain-coding sequence in a host cell. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins used in such methods, nucleic acid sequences encoding such recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant clostridial neurotoxin with increased duration of effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Jürgen Frevert, Fred Hofmann, Michael Schmidt, Manuela López De La Paz, Daniel Scheps
  • Patent number: 9975929
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise a random coil domain, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting a nucleic acid sequence coding for a random coil domain into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising the random coil domain-coding sequence in a host cell. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins used in such methods, nucleic acid sequences encoding such recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant clostridial neurotoxin with increased duration of effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MERZ PHARMA GmbH & CO. KGaA
    Inventors: Jürgen Frevert, Fred Hofmann, Michael Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9827298
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical field. Specifically, it contemplates a polynucleotide encoding a Neurotoxin polypeptide exhibiting a reduced duration of biological effect in a subject, wherein the polypeptide comprises at feast one degradation signal in the light chain as well as vectors and host calls comprising the polynucleotide, polypeptides encoded thereby and antibodies specifically binding to the polypeptides. Moreover, the invention relates to medicaments comprising the polynucleotides and polypeptides as well as specific therapeutic applications thereof. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates methods for the manufacture of the polypeptides and medicaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: MERZ PHARMA GmbH & CO. KGaA
    Inventors: Fred Hofmann, Jürgen Frevert
  • Patent number: 9809809
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical field. Specifically, it contemplates a polynucleotide encoding a neurotoxin polypeptide exhibiting a reduced duration of the biological effect in a subject, wherein said polypeptide comprises at least one E3 ligase recognition motif in the light chain, wherein said E3 ligase recognition motif is preferably a binding motif for the E3 ligase MDM2. The invention further pertains to polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide of the invention as well as polypeptides comprising one or more amino acid substitutions. Further encompassed by the present invention are vectors and host cells comprising the said polynucleotide, polypeptides encoded thereby and antibodies specifically binding to the polypeptides. Moreover, the invention relates to medicaments comprising said polynucleotides and polypeptides, as well as specific therapeutic applications thereof. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates methods for the manufacture of the polypeptides and medicaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: MERZ PHARMA GmbH & CO. KGaA
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Jurgen Frevert, Fred Hofmann, Gerhard Groer
  • Patent number: 9688152
    Abstract: Advances in robot performance have been limited by a lack of advances in the mature field of battery technology. The focus of robotic power systems must expand from the use of single energy devices to the inclusion of multiple devices which can be optimized for a robotic platform. The challenge lies in the development of the hardware and control algorithms for a scalable power delivery architecture which satisfies the power and energy requirements of most unmanned ground vehicles. This invention is directed to an architecture which is easily scalable and facilitates the use of a wide variety of energy storage/generation devices, while focusing on the system control algorithm and its stability. The experimental results for an example system are presented demonstrating that the architecture functions properly when faced with real world robotic power demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Karl Martin Reichard, Christopher Mark Rogan, Elisha M. Hughes, Nathaniel John Hobbs, Heath Fred Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20170072030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical field. Specifically, it contemplates a polynucleotide encoding a Neurotoxin polypeptide exhibiting a reduced duration of biological effect in a subject, wherein the polypeptide comprises at feast one degradation signal in the light chain as well as vectors and host calls comprising the polynucleotide, polypeptides encoded thereby and antibodies specifically binding to the polypeptides. Moreover, the invention relates to medicaments comprising the polynucleotides and polypeptides as well as specific therapeutic applications thereof. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates methods for the manufacture of the polypeptides and medicaments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Fred HOFMANN, Jürgen Frevert
  • Publication number: 20170058006
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins exhibiting increased duration of effect and to methods for the manufacture of such recombinant clostridial neurotoxins. These novel recombinant clostridial neurotoxins comprise a random coil domain, and the methods comprise the steps of inserting a nucleic acid sequence coding for a random coil domain into a nucleic acid sequence coding for a parental clostridial neurotoxin and expression of the recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising the random coil domain-coding sequence in a host cell. The invention further relates to novel recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins used in such methods, nucleic acid sequences encoding such recombinant single-chain precursor clostridial neurotoxins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant clostridial neurotoxin with increased duration of effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Jürgen FREVERT, Fred HOFMANN, Michael SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 9511114
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical field. Specifically, it contemplates a polynucleotide encoding a Neurotoxin polypeptide exhibiting a reduced duration of biological effect in a subject, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least one degradation signal in the light chain as well as vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotide, polypeptides encoded thereby and antibodies specifically binding to the polypeptides. Moreover, the invention relates to medicaments comprising the polynucleotides and polypeptides as well as specific therapeutic applications thereof. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates methods for the manufacture of the polypeptides and medicaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MERZ PHARMA GmbH & CO. KGaA
    Inventors: Fred Hofmann, Jurgen Frevert