Patents by Inventor Lance E. Steward

Lance E. Steward 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).

  • Publication number: 20080171348
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a SNAP-25 substrate which includes (i) a green fluorescent protein; (ii) a first partner of an affinity couple; and (iii) a portion of SNAP-25 that includes a BoNT/A, BoNT/C1 or BoNT/E recognition sequence containing a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the green fluorescent protein and the first partner of the affinity couple. Further provided herein is a nucleic acid molecule which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a tagged toxin substrate which includes (i) a fluorescent protein; (ii) a first partner of an affinity couple; and (iii) a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the fluorescent protein and the first partner of the affinity couple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Marcella A. Gilmore, Kei R. Aoki
  • Publication number: 20080166739
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a SNAP-25 substrate which includes (i) a green fluorescent protein; (ii) a first partner of an affinity couple; and (iii) a portion of SNAP-25 that includes a BoNT/A, BoNT/C1 or BoNT/E recognition sequence containing a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the green fluorescent protein and the first partner of the affinity couple. Further provided herein is a nucleic acid molecule which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a tagged toxin substrate which includes (i) a fluorescent protein; (ii) a first partner of an affinity couple; and (iii) a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the fluorescent protein and the first partner of the affinity couple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Marcella A. Gilmore, Kei R. Aoki
  • Publication number: 20080161226
    Abstract: Compositions comprising activatable recombinant neurotoxins and polypeptides derived therefrom. The invention also comprises nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, and methods of making such polypeptides and nucleic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Joseph Francis, Ester Fernandez-Salas, Marcella A. Gilmore, Shengwen Li, J. Oliver Dolly, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Publication number: 20080160561
    Abstract: Compositions useful for detecting Clostridial toxin activity comprising a cell that comprises a membrane-associated Clostridial toxin substrate comprising a first member of a fluorescence resonance energy transfer pair; and a Clostridial toxin recognition sequence including a cleavage site; and a membrane-associated second member of the FRET pair and methods useful for determining Clostridial toxin activity using such Clostridial toxin substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Allergan Inc.
    Inventors: Ester Fernandez-Salas, Lance E. Steward, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Publication number: 20080161543
    Abstract: The specification discloses modified Clostridial toxins comprising a Clostridial toxin enzymatic domain, a Clostridial toxin translocation domain and an enhanced Clostridial toxin binding domain; polynucleotide molecules encoding such modified Clostridial toxins; and method of producing such modified Clostridial toxins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Ester Fernandez-Salas, Joseph Francis, Shengwen Li, Marcella A. Gilmore, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Patent number: 7393925
    Abstract: Modified neurotoxin comprising neurotoxin including structural modification, wherein the structural modification alters the biological persistence, preferably the biological half-life, of the modified neurotoxin relative to an identical neurotoxin without the structural modification. The structural modification includes addition or deletion of a leucine-based motif or parts thereof. In one embodiment, methods of making the modified neurotoxin include using recombinant techniques. In another embodiment, methods of using the modified neurotoxin to treat biological disorders include treating autonomic disorders, neuromuscular disorders or pains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Todd M. Herrington, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Publication number: 20080146786
    Abstract: The present invention provides clostridial toxin substrates useful in assaying for the protease activity of any clostridial toxin, including botulinum toxins of all serotypes as well as tetanus toxins. A clostridial toxin substrate of the invention contains a donor fluorophore; an acceptor having an absorbance spectrum overlapping the emission spectrum of the donor fluorophore; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence that includes a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor and where, under the appropriate conditions, resonance energy transfer is exhibited between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Ester Fernandez-Salas, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Publication number: 20080138893
    Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules that comprise modified open reading frames providing increased expression of the encoded active BoNT/E in a heterologous cell, expression constructs and cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules and methods useful for expressing the encoding active BoNT/E from such nucleic acid molecules, expression constructs and cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Marcella A. Gilmore, Ester G. Fernandez-Salas, Shengwen Li, Ronald G. Miller, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Patent number: 7374896
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a SNAP-25 substrate which includes (i) a green fluorescent protein; (ii) a first partner of an affinity couple; and (iii) a portion of SNAP-25 that includes a BoNT/A, BoNT/C1 or BoNT/E recognition sequence containing a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the green fluorescent protein and the first partner of the affinity couple. Further provided herein is a nucleic acid molecule which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding a tagged toxin substrate which includes (i) a fluorescent protein; (ii) a first partner of an affinity couple; and (iii) a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the fluorescent protein and the first partner of the affinity couple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Marcella A. Gilmore, Kei R. Aoki
  • Publication number: 20080097219
    Abstract: The present specification relates to methods for assessing the physiological activity of a target site being evaluated for potential administration of a Clostridial toxin, methods for administering a Clostridial toxin to a particular target site, methods for assessing the effect of an administration of a Clostridial toxin in a mammal and methods assessing the extent of dispersal of a Clostridial toxin from a target area to a non-target area in a mammal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Allergan , Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Reser, Joseph A. Francis, Lance E. Steward
  • Patent number: 7332567
    Abstract: The present invention provides clostridial toxin substrates useful in assaying for the protease activity of any clostridial toxin, including botulinum toxins of all serotypes as well as tetanus toxins. A clostridial toxin substrate of the invention contains a donor fluorophore; an acceptor having an absorbance spectrum overlapping the emission spectrum of the donor fluorophore; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence that includes a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor and where, under the appropriate conditions, resonance energy transfer is exhibited between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Ester Fernandez-Salas, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Patent number: 7273722
    Abstract: Modified neurotoxins that contain protease cleavage sites susceptible uniquely to proteases present in certain tissues are described. The toxins can be selectively activated by proteases in muscle or selectively inactivated by proteases in blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Jen Lin, Kei Roger Aoki, Lance E. Steward
  • Patent number: 7223577
    Abstract: The present invention discloses modified neurotoxins with altered biological persistence. In one embodiment, the modified neurotoxins are derived from Clostridial botulinum toxins. Such modified neurotoxins may be employed in treating various conditions, including but not limited to muscular disorders, hyperhidrosis, and pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Ester Fernandez-Salas, Athena Spanoyannis, K. Roger Aoki, Wei-Jen Lin
  • Patent number: 7208285
    Abstract: The present invention provides clostridial toxin substrates useful in assaying for the protease activity of any clostridial toxin, including botulinum toxins of all serotypes as well as tetanus toxins. A clostridial toxin substrate of the invention contains a donor fluorophore; an acceptor having an absorbance spectrum overlapping the emission spectrum of the donor fluorophore; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence that includes a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor and where, under the appropriate conditions, resonance energy transfer is exhibited between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Ester Fernandez-Salas, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Patent number: 7183066
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining clostridial toxin activity by (a) contacting with a sample a cell containing a clostridial toxin substrate that includes a donor fluorophore; an acceptor having an absorbance spectrum overlapping the emission spectrum of the donor fluorophore; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site that intervenes between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor, where resonance energy transfer is exhibited between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor under the appropriate conditions; (b) exciting the donor fluorophore; and (c) determining resonance energy transfer of the contacted cell relative to a control cell, where a difference in resonance energy transfer of the contacted cell as compared to the control cell is indicative of clostridial toxin activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Ester Fernandez-Salas, Lance E. Steward, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Patent number: 7172764
    Abstract: The present invention relates to rescue agents for use in the treatments of toxin intoxication—for example botulinum intoxication, which can result from food poisoning, an act of bioterrorism, or from accidental overdose in the course of treatment. In some embodiments, the rescue agents comprise at least one of an inactive botulinum toxin and a modified nontoxic nonhemagglutinin. The present invention also provides for glycosylated active and inactive toxins and methods of using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengwen Li, Kei Roger Aoki, Lance E. Steward, Joseph Francis
  • Patent number: 6903187
    Abstract: Modified neurotoxin comprising neurotoxin including structural modification, wherein the structural modification alters the biological persistence, preferably the biological half-life, of the modified neurotoxin relative to an identical neurotoxin without the structural modification. The structural modification includes addition or deletion of a leucine-based motif or parts thereof. In one embodiment, methods of making the modified neurotoxin include using recombinant techniques. In another embodiment, methods of using the modified neurotoxin to treat biological disorders include treating autonomic disorders, neuromuscular disorders or pains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Todd M. Herrington, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Patent number: 6843998
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of acute pancreatitis in a mammal. Particular compositions comprise a binding element, a translocation element, and a therapeutic element able to prevent accumulation of digestive enzymes within the pancreas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, George Sachs, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Publication number: 20040219619
    Abstract: Methods of identifying compounds that inhibit the biological persistence of a Clostridial toxin are disclosed. Methods of identifying compounds that inhibit the enzymatic activity of Clostridial toxin are disclosed. Methods of identifying compounds that inhibit both the biological persistence and enzymatic activity of a Clostridial toxin are disclosed. Methods of identifying compounds that enhance the biological persistence of a Clostridial toxin are disclosed. Methods of identifying compounds that enhance the enzymatic activity of Clostridial toxin are disclosed. Methods of identifying compounds that enhance both the biological persistence and enzymatic activity of a Clostridial toxin are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Ester Fernandez-Salas, Lance E. Steward, Joseph Francis, Kei Roger Aoki
  • Publication number: 20040220386
    Abstract: Natural and modified neurotoxins and isolated neurotoxin compositions are described. The neurotoxins may include one or more structural modifications, wherein the structural modification(s) alters the biological persistence, such as the biological half-life and/or a biological activity of the modified neurotoxin relative to an identical neurotoxin without the structural modification(s). In one embodiment, methods of making the modified neurotoxin include using recombinant techniques. In some embodiments, methods of using the modified neurotoxin to treat conditions include treating various disorders, neuromuscular ailments and pain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Ester Fernandez-Salas, Todd M. Herrington, Kei Roger Aoki