Patents by Inventor John W. Shiver

John W. Shiver 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: 8142794
    Abstract: The present invention features Ad6 vectors and a nucleic acid encoding a Met-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B polypeptide containing an inactive NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region. The nucleic acid is particularly useful as a component of an adenovector or DNA plasmid vaccine providing a broad range of antigens for generating an HCV specific cell mediated immune (CMI) response against HCV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventors: Emilio A. Emini, David C. Kaslow, Andrew J. Bett, John W. Shiver, Alfredo Nicosia, Armin Lahm, Alessandra Luzzago, Riccardo Cortese, Stefano Colloca
  • Publication number: 20110052611
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of A? in the brain of a patient, such as Alzheimer's disease. Such methods entail administering an immunogenic fragment of A?, lacking a T-cell epitope, capable of inducing a beneficial immune response in the form of antibodies to A?. In another aspect, the immunogenic fragment of A? is capable of elevating plasma A? levels. The immunogenic fragments comprise linear or multivalent peptides of A?. Pharmaceutical compositions comprise the immunogenic fragment chemically linked to a carrier molecule which may be administered with an adjuvant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: VICTOR M. GARSKY, JOSEPH G. JOYCE, PAUL M. KELLER, GENE KINNEY, XIAOPING LIANG, JOHN W. SHIVER
  • Patent number: 7850973
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of A? in the brain of a patient, such as Alzheimer's disease. Such methods entail administering an immunogenic fragment of A?, lacking a T-cell epitope, capable of inducing a beneficial immune response in the form of antibodies to A?. In another aspect, the immunogenic fragment of A? is capable of elevating plasma A? levels. The immunogenic fragments comprise linear or multivalent peptides of A?. Pharmaceutical compositions comprise the immunogenic fragment chemically linked to a carrier molecule which may be administered with an adjuvant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventors: Victor M. Garsky, Joseph G. Joyce, Paul M. Keller, Gene Kinney, Xiaoping Liang, John W. Shiver
  • Publication number: 20100183651
    Abstract: A novel method for generating vaccine sequences is disclosed herein that preserves contiguous epitope length stretches of amino acids or nucleotides from an input pool of sequences. The method generates continuous, stepwise epitope consensus that together provides for a single globally optimized sequence. The end sequences are designed to maximize overlap between any potential epitope length sequence extract from a natural antigen sequence. The disclosed method, thus, allows one to maximize the number of potential natural epitopes that are mimicked in a resultant vaccine sequence. Various representative HIV vaccine sequences have been generated and are disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Adam C. Finnefrock, Danilo R. Casimiro, Jon H. Condra, John W. Shiver, Andrew J. Bett
  • Patent number: 7744887
    Abstract: Human scFvs are disclosed which interact with a conformational epitope along the pre-hairpin, N-helix coiled coil structure within the heptad repeat 1 (HR1) region of gp41 of HIV. These antibodies, as well as IgG conversions, are shown to neutralize diverse HIV isolates. Isolated nucleic acid molecules are also disclosed which encode relevant portions of these antibodies, as well as the purified forms of the expressed antibodies or relevant antibody fragments, such as VH and VL chains. The antibody compositions disclosed within this specification may provide for a therapeutic treatment against HIV infection by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection. These antibodies will also be useful in assays to identify HIV antiviral compounds as well as allowing for the identification of candidate HIV vaccines, such as HIV peptide vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehead Insitute of Biomedical Research, MedImmune Limited, Istitute di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti S.p.A.
    Inventors: John W. Shiver, Michael D. Miller, Romas Geleziunas, Daria J. Hazuda, Peter S. Kim, Debra M. Eckert, Michael J. Root, Simon N. Lennard, Elisabetta Bianchi
  • Patent number: 7598362
    Abstract: The present invention features Ad6 vectors and a nucleic acid encoding a Met-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B polypeptide containing an inactive NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region. The nucleic acid is particularly useful as a component of an adenovector or DNA plasmid vaccine providing a broad range of antigens for generating an HCV specific cell mediated immune (CMI) response against HCV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignees: Merck & Co., Inc., Istituto Di Ricerche Di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti S.p.A.
    Inventors: Emilio A. Emini, David C. Kaslow, Andrew J. Bett, John W. Shiver, Alfredo Nicosia, Armin Lahm, Alessandra Luzzago, Riccardo Cortese, Stefano Colloca
  • Publication number: 20090233992
    Abstract: The present invention features Ad6 vectors and a nucleic acid encoding a Met-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B polypeptide containing an inactive NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region. The nucleic acid is particularly useful as a component of an adenovector or DNA plasmid vaccine providing a broad range of antigens for generating an HCV specific cell mediated immune (CMI) response against HCV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Emilio A. Emini, David C. Kaslow, Andrew J. Bett, John W. Shiver, Alfredo Nicosia, Armin Lahm, Alessandra Luzzago, Riccardo Cortese, Stefano Colloen
  • Publication number: 20090098155
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of A? in the brain of a patient, such as Alzheimer's disease. Such methods entail administering an immunogenic fragment of A?, lacking a T-cell epitope, capable of inducing a beneficial immune response in the form of antibodies to A?. In another aspect, the immunogenic fragment of A? is capable of elevating plasma A? levels. The immunogenic fragments comprise linear or multivalent peptides of A?. Pharmaceutical compositions comprise the immunogenic fragment chemically linked to a carrier molecule which may be administered with an adjuvant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Victor M. Garsky, Joseph G. Joyce, Paul M. Keller, Gene Kinney, Xiaoping Liang, John W. Shiver
  • Publication number: 20080254059
    Abstract: Adenoviral serotypes differ in their natural tropism. The various serotypes of adenovirus have been found to differ in at least their capsid proteins (e.g., penton-base and hexon proteins), proteins responsible for cell binding (e.g., fiber proteins), and proteins involved in adenovirus replication. This difference in tropism and capsid proteins among serotypes has led to many research efforts aimed at redirecting the adenovirus tropism by modification of the capsid proteins. The present invention bypasses such requirement for capsid protein modification as it presents a recombinant, replication-defective adenovirus of serotype 26, a rare adenoviral serotype, and methods for generating the alternative, recombinant adenovirus. Additionally, means of employing the recombinant adenovirus for delivery and expression of heterologous genes are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew J. Bett, Danilo R. Casimiro, John W. Shiver, Emilio A. Emini, Michael Chastain, David C. Kaslow
  • Patent number: 6995008
    Abstract: Nucleic acids, including DNA constructs and RNA transcripts, capable of inducing coordinate expression of two to three cistrons upon direct introduction into animal tissues, are bi- or tri-cistronic polynucleotides of this invention include those encoding and co-expressing HIV gene products, genes encoding antigens unrelated to HIV, and immunostimulatory gene products, including but not limited to GM-CSF, interleukins, interferon and members of the B7 family of proteins which act as T-cell costimulatory elements. The methods and polynucleotides of this invention are generally applicable to co-ordinate expression in vivo of any two or more genes in a single cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret A. Liu, John W. Shiver, Helen C. Perry
  • Publication number: 20040247615
    Abstract: The present invention features Ad6 vectors and a nucleic acid encoding a Met-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B polypeptide containing an inactive NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region. The nucleic acid is particularly useful as a component of an adenovector or DNA plasmid vaccine providing a broad range of antigens for generating an HCV specific cell mediated immune (CMI) response against HCV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Emilio A Emini, David C Kaslow, Andrew J Bett, John W Shiver, Alfredo Nicosia, Armin Lahm, Alessandra Luzzago, Riccardo Cortese, Stefano Colloca
  • Publication number: 20040223976
    Abstract: The present invention provides vaccines against disease caused by infection with influenza virus, and methods of vaccination. The vaccines comprise peptides derived from the M2 and/or HA proteins of influenza virus conjugated to a carrier protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Elisabetta Bianchi, Victor M. Garsky, Paolo Ingallinella, Roxana Ionescu, Xiaoping Liang, Antonello Pessi, Craig T. Przysiecki, Li Shi, John W. Shiver
  • Publication number: 20040191222
    Abstract: Adenoviral serotypes differ in their natural tropism. The various serotypes of adenovirus have been found to differ in at least their capsid proteins (e.g., penton-base and hexon proteins), proteins responsible for cell binding (e.g, fiber proteins), and proteins involved in adenovirus replication. This difference in tropism and capsid proteins among serotypes has led to the many research efforts aimed at redirecting the adenovirus tropism by modification of the capsid proteins. The present invention bypasses such requirement for capsid protein modification as it presents a recombinant, replication-defective adenovirus of serotype 34, a rare adenoviral serotype, and methods for generating the alternative, recombinant adenovirus. Additionally, means of employing the recombinant adenovirus for the delivery and expression of exogenous genes are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Emilio A. Emini, John W. Shiver, Andrew J. Bett, Danilo R. Casimiro, David C. Kaslow, Michael Chastain
  • Publication number: 20040185555
    Abstract: Adenoviral serotypes differ in their natural tropism. The various serotypes of adenovirus have been found to differ in at least their capsid proteins (e.g., penton-base and hexon proteins), proteins responsible for cell binding (e.g, fiber proteins), and proteins involved in adenovirus replication. This difference in tropism and capsid proteins among serotypes has led to the many research efforts aimed at redirecting the adenovirus tropism by modification of the capsid proteins. The present invention bypasses such requirement for capsid protein modification as it presents a recombinant, replication-defective adenovirus of serotype 24, a rare adenoviral serotype, and methods for generating the alternative, recombinant adenovirus. Additionally, means of employing the recombinant adenovirus for the delivery and expression of exogenous genes are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Emilio A. Emini, John W. Shiver, Andrew J. Bett, Danilo R. Casimiro, Michael Chastain, David C. Kaslow, Manal Morsy
  • Publication number: 20040180329
    Abstract: Synthetic DNA molecules encoding HIV gag and modifications of HIV gag are provided. The codons of the synthetic molecules are codons preferred by the projected host cell. The synthetic molecules may be used as a polynucleotide vaccine which provides effective immunoprophylaxis against HIV infection through stimulation of neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: John W. Shiver, Mary Ellen Davies, Daniel C. Freed, Margaret A. Liu, Helen C. Perry
  • Patent number: 6787351
    Abstract: An adenoviral vector is described which carries a codon-optimized gag gene, along with a heterologous promoter and transcription terminator. This viral vaccine can effectively prevent HIV infection when administered to humans either alone or as part of a prime and boost regime also with a vaccine plasmid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ling Chen, John W. Shiver, Andrew J. Bett, Danilo R. Casimiro, Michael J. Caulfield, Michael A. Chastain, Emilio A. Emini
  • Publication number: 20040106194
    Abstract: Various methods for propagating and rescuing multiple serotypes of replication-defective adenovirus in a single adenoviral E1-complementing cell line are disclosed. Typically, replication-defective adenovirus vectors propagate only in cell lines which express E1 proteins of the same serotype or subgroup as the vector. The disclosed methods offer the ability to propagate vectors derived from multiple adenoviral serotypes in a single production cell line which expresses E1 proteins from a single serotype. Propagation in this manner is accomplished by providing all or a portion of an E4 region in cis within the genome of the replication-defective adenovirus. The added E4 region or portion thereof is cloned from a virus of the same or highly similar serotype as that of the E1 gene product(s) of the complementing cell line. Interaction between the expressed E1 of the cell line and the heterologous E4 of the replication-defective adenoviral vectors enables their propagation and rescue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Andrew J. Bett, Michael Chastain, Volker Sandig, Emilio A. Emini, John W. Shiver, Danilo R. Casimiro, David C. Kaslow, Manal Morsy
  • Publication number: 20040101957
    Abstract: First generation adenoviral vectors and associated recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which show enhanced stability and growth properties and greater cellular-mediated immunity are described within this specification. These adenoviral vectors are utilized to generate and produce through cell culture various adenoviral-based HIV-1 vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof. These adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV-1 Gag, Pol and/or Nef protein or biologically modification thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Emilio A. Emini, Rima Youil, Andrew J. Bett, Ling Chen, David C. Kaslow, John W. Shiver, Timothy J. Toner, Danilo R. Casimiro
  • Patent number: 6733993
    Abstract: First generation adenoviral vectors and associated recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which show enhanced stability and growth properties and greater cellular-mediated immunity are described within this specification. These adenoviral vectors are utilized to generate and produce through cell culture various adenoviral-based HIV-1 vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof. These adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV1-Gag, Pol and/or Nef protein or biologically modification thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Emilio A. Emini, Rima Youil, Andrew J. Bett, Ling Chen, David C. Kaslow, John W. Shiver, Timothy J. Toner, Danilo R. Casimiro
  • Publication number: 20040087521
    Abstract: DNA constructs encoding influenza virus gene products, capable of being expressed upon direct introduction, via injection or otherwise, into animal tissues, are novel prophylactic pharmaceuticals which can provide immune protection against infection by homologous and heterologous strains of influenza virus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Donnelly, Varavani J. Dwarki, Margaret A. Liu, Donna L. Montgomery, Suezanne E. Parker, John W. Shiver, Jeffrey B. Ulmer