Patents by Inventor Lori A. Hoerrner

Lori A. Hoerrner 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).

  • Monospecific antibodies and assay system for detecting stromelysin cleavage products
    Patent number: 5387504
    Abstract: Monospecific antibodies are produced which are specific for fragments of the connective tissue protein aggrecan, generated by specific stromelysin cleavage. These monospecific antibodies are used in an assay system to detect polypeptide fragments of aggrecan, produced by the specific cleavage of aggrecan by stromelysin. The presence of aggrecan polypeptide fragments demonstrates stromelysin activity. Elevations of stromelysin occur in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerotic lesions, gout, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), certain cancers, joint injuries, and numerous inflammatory diseases. The monospecific antibodies and the assay system are used to quantitate aggrecan polypeptide fragments as a readout of stromelysin activity and to evaluate potential stromelysin inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Mumford, Michael W. Lark, Ellen B. K. Bayne, Lori A. Hoerrner