Patents by Inventor Marco A. Ciufolini

Marco A. Ciufolini 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: 20250188028
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for a method for producing an ionizable amino lipid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, the method comprising a nucleophilic displacement of a leaving group L in a compound of Formula II, wherein G1 is (CH2)n, wherein n is 2 to 10, and wherein R1 and R2 are independently substituted, unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C1-C20 alkyl having 0 to 3 double bonds, with an amino alcohol, resulting in an N-double alkylation of the amino alcohol by the compound of Formula II to form the ionizable amino lipid. Further provided are intermediates of Formula II and methods for preparing the intermediates by an esterification step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Applicant: NanoVation Therapeutics Inc.
    Inventors: Fariba Saadati, N. D. Prasad Atmuri, Marco A. Ciufolini
  • Publication number: 20240398977
    Abstract: Provided herein is an ionizable, cationic amino lipid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The ionizable, cationic amino lipid has: a protonatable amino head group; two lipophilic chains, wherein the protonatable amino head group has a central carbon atom to which each of the two lipophilic chains are directly bonded; at least one of the two lipophilic chains has a structure of Formula C: wherein E is an ester in either orientation. The compounds may be formulated in a lipid nanoparticle for use in the delivery of charged cargo such as nucleic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Deaglan Arnold, Nagavenkata Durga Prasad Atmuri, Fariba Saadati, Huy Tran, Marco A. Ciufolini
  • Publication number: 20240383843
    Abstract: Provided is lipid and methods of making such lipid, the lipid having the structure of: each R is independently an alkyl of C12 to C16, each alkyl having 1 to 3 C?C double bonds, wherein at least one of the double bonds is of Z geometry; R? is an optional alkyl; W is O, NH or NR?, wherein R? is a C1 to C3 alkyl group, such as a methyl; X is either absent or present, and if present, X is O, NH, or the NR?; and Z is an alkylamino chain as defined by [—(CH2)m—NG1G2G3], wherein m is 1-5 and G1 and G2 are, independently, the C1 to C3 alkyl group, G3 is absent, a hydrogen or the C1 to C3 alkyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: NanoVation Therapeutics Inc.
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Fariba Saadati, Anthony C. Y. Tam, Daniel Kurek, Dominik Witzigmann, Jayesh Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20240374754
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lipid nanoparticle comprising encapsulated mRNA and at least 30 mol % of a sphingolipid (e.g. sphingomyelin (SM)), and at least one of a sterol and a hydrophilic polymer-lipid conjugate, the lipid nanoparticle comprising a core comprising an electron dense region and an aqueous portion surrounded at least partially by a lipid layer comprising a bilayer and the lipid nanoparticle exhibiting at least a 2-fold increase in gene expression in the liver, spleen and/or bone marrow at 4 or 24 hours post-injection as compared to a lipid nanoparticle encapsulating mRNA with an Onpattro™-type formulation of cationic, ionizable lipid/DSPC or ESM/cholesterol/PEG-lipid at 50/10/38.5/1.5, mol:mol, wherein the gene expression is measured in an animal model by detection of green fluorescent protein (GFP). Further provided are methods of medical treatment and uses of such lipid nanoparticles to treat or prevent a disease condition in a hepatic or non-hepatic tissue or organ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Jayesh A. KULKARNI, Nisha CHANDER, Genc BASHA, Marco A. CIUFOLINI, Dominik WITZIGMANN, Pieter R. CULLIS
  • Patent number: 12121591
    Abstract: Provided herein is an ionizable, cationic amino lipid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The ionizable, cationic amino lipid has: a protonatable amino head group; two lipophilic chains, wherein the protonatable amino head group has a central carbon atom to which each of the two lipophilic chains are directly bonded; at least one of the two lipophilic chains has a structure of Formula C: wherein E is an ester in either orientation. The compounds may be formulated in a lipid nanoparticle for use in the delivery of charged cargo such as nucleic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: NanoVation Therapeutics Inc.
    Inventors: Deaglan Arnold, Nagavenkata Durga Prasad Atmuri, Fariba Saadati, Huy Tran, Marco A. Ciufolini
  • Publication number: 20240300914
    Abstract: Provided is lipid and methods of making such lipid having the structure of Formula A: each R is an alkyl having a carbon backbone of C12 to C16 having 1 to 3 C?C double bonds, at least one having Z-geometry; R? is an optional alkyl of C2 to C24 having 0 to 3 C?C double bonds; each R, and the R? alkyl group if present, is optionally substituted at one or more positions with a C1 to C3 alkyl; W and X are O or S; Y is absent and C1 and C2 are bonded, or Y is present and is a metheno, etheno or ethyno bridge optionally substituted with an alkylamino chain [—(CH2)m—NG1G2G3], wherein m is 1-5 and G1, G2 are, independently, C1 to C3 alkyl, G3 is absent, hydrogen or C1 to C3 alkyl, or wherein NG1G2G3 is a heterocycle; and Z and Z? are H or alkylamino.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: NanoVation Therapeutics Inc.
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Fariba Saadati, Anthony C. Y. Tam, Daniel Kurek, Dominik Witzigmann, Jayesh Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20240287015
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for producing an ionizable lipid that comprises: (i) reacting fatty esters in a Claisen condensation reaction in the presence of a catalyst, the Claisen condensation employing a weak base and carried out at a temperature of between ?10 and 60 degrees Celsius to produce a ketoester; (ii) reacting the ketoester produced in step (i) under conditions to produce a ketone from the ketoester in one or more steps via a hydrolysis and decarboxylation of the ketoester; and (iii) preparing the ionizable lipid from the ketone thereof using one or more synthesis steps resulting in an addition of an ionizable head group moiety to (a) the ketone; or (b) an alcohol produced from an optional reduction of the ketone to produce the alcohol, thereby producing the ionizable lipid. The ionizable lipid produced in step (iii) may be formulated in a drug delivery vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: NanoVation Therapeutics Inc.
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Fariba Saadati, Anthony C. Y. Tam, Daniel Kurek, Dominik Witzigmann, Jayesh Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20240261430
    Abstract: Provided herein is an ionizable, cationic amino lipid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The ionizable, cationic amino lipid has: a protonatable amino head group; two lipophilic chains, wherein the protonatable amino head group has a central carbon atom to which each of the two lipophilic chains are directly bonded; at least one of the two lipophilic chains has a structure of Formula C: wherein E is an ester in either orientation. The compounds may be formulated in a lipid nanoparticle for use in the delivery of charged cargo such as nucleic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Deaglan Arnold, Nagavenkata Durga Prasad Atmuri, Fariba Saadati, Huy Tran, Marco A. Ciufolini
  • Publication number: 20220304929
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lipid having a net charge at physiological pH, and being covalently attached to a lipid moiety. The lipid moiety comprises a hydrocarbon structure having two or more linked hydrocarbon chains, optionally having cis or trans C?C, at least one of said chains being covalently attached to the head group optionally via the linker region. The hydrocarbon chains are bonded to one another at a branch point at an internal carbon of the chain attached to the linker region, which branch point comprises a functional group having an electronegative atom. The hydrocarbon chains each have between 1 and 40 carbon atoms, wherein the hydrocarbon structure in total comprises between 10 and 150 carbon atoms. Advantageously, the hydrocarbon structure may assume a generally flared shape for enhanced delivery of cargo molecules. Further provided are delivery vehicles comprising the lipids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua Zaifman, Sam Chen, Yuen Yi Tam, Marco A. Ciufolini
  • Publication number: 20220074925
    Abstract: The invention features a method of identifying therapeutically relevant compositions which include a therapeutic agent and 2,2-dimethylaminomethyl-[1-3]-dioxolane by screening for an effect of the agent on the liver of a model subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Thomas D. Madden, Michael J. Hope, Barbara Mui, Antonin de Fougerolles, Tatiana Novobrantseva, Anna Borodovsky, Akin Akinc, Mark Tracy, Pieter Rutter Cullis
  • Patent number: 10780174
    Abstract: This invention provides lipid-linked prodrugs having structures as set out herein. Uses of such lipid-linked prodrug compounds for treatment of various indications, and methods for making and using lipid-linked prodrugs are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Pieter R. Cullis, Yuen Yi Tam, Joshua Zaifman
  • Publication number: 20200225215
    Abstract: The invention features a method of identifying therapeutically relevant compositions which include a therapeutic agent and 2,2-dimethylaminomethyl-[1-3]-dioxolane by screening for an effect of the agent on the liver of a model subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Thomas D. Madden, Michael J. Hope, Barbara Mui, Antonin de Fougerolles, Tatiana Novobrantseva, Anna Borodovsky, Akin Akinc, Mark Tracy, Pieter Rutter Cullis
  • Patent number: 10653780
    Abstract: The present invention provides superior compositions and methods for the delivery of therapeutic agents to cells. In particular, these include novel lipids and nucleic acid-lipid particles that provide efficient encapsulation of nucleic acids and efficient delivery of the encapsulated nucleic acid to cells in vivo. The compositions of the present invention are highly potent, thereby allowing effective knock-down of specific target proteins at relatively low doses. In addition, the compositions and methods of the present invention are less toxic and provide a greater therapeutic index compared to compositions and methods previously known in the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Hope, Sean C. Semple, Jianxin Chen, Thomas D. Madden, Pieter R. Cullis, Marco A. Ciufolini, Barbara Low Shoud Mui
  • Publication number: 20190151458
    Abstract: This invention provides lipid-linked prodrugs having structures as set out herein. Uses of such lipid-linked prodrug compounds for treatment of various indications, and methods for making and using lipid-linked prodrugs are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Pieter R. Cullis, Yuen Yi Tam, Joshua Zaifman
  • Publication number: 20180209963
    Abstract: The invention features a method of identifying therapeutically relevant compositions which include a therapeutic agent and 2,2-dimethylaminomethyl-[1-3]-dioxolane by screening for an effect of the agent on the liver of a model subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Thomas D. Madden, Michael J. Hope, Barbara Mui, Antonin de Fougerolles, Tatiana Novobrantseva, Anna Borodovsky, Akin Akinc, Mark Tracy, Pieter Rutter Cullis
  • Patent number: 9908858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a hydrazine of general formula (I) and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof from an amine of formula (II), characterised in that said method uses a urea of formula (III) as a synthesis intermediate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: AVIRAGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Marta Blumenfeld, Delphine Compere, Marco A. Ciufolini
  • Patent number: 9481709
    Abstract: Novel compounds, particularly derivatives of boroarginine, boroornithine and borolysine that selectively modulate, regulate, and/or inhibit enteropeptidase. Compositions, particularly pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods to treat excess weight, obesity and diseases associated with an abnormal fat metabolism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: OBE THERAPY BIOTECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Itzik Harosh, Sandrine Braud, Marco A. Ciufolini
  • Publication number: 20160274089
    Abstract: The invention features a method of identifying therapeutically relevant compositions which include a therapeutic agent and 2,2-dimethylaminomethyl-[1-3]-dioxolane by screening for an effect of the agent on the liver of a model subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Marco A. Ciufolini, Thomas D. Madden, Michael J. Hope, Barbara Mui, Antonin de Fougerolles, Tatiana Novobrantseva, Anna Borodovsky, Akin Akinc, Mark Tracy, Pieter Rutter Cullis
  • Publication number: 20160095924
    Abstract: The present invention provides superior compositions and methods for the delivery of therapeutic agents to cells. In particular, these include novel lipids and nucleic acid-lipid particles that provide efficient encapsulation of nucleic acids and efficient delivery of the encapsulated nucleic acid to cells in vivo. The compositions of the present invention are highly potent, thereby allowing effective knock-down of specific target proteins at relatively low doses. In addition, the compositions and methods of the present invention are less toxic and provide a greater therapeutic index compared to compositions and methods previously known in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicants: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, TEKMIRA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Hope, Sean C. Semple, Jianxin Chen, Thomas D. Madden, Pieter R. Cullis, Marco A. Ciufolini, Barbara Low Shoud Mui
  • Publication number: 20150353517
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a hydrazine of general formula (I) and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof from an amine of formula (II), characterised in that said method uses a urea of formula (III) as a synthesis intermediate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: Villejuif Biopark
    Inventors: Marta BLUMENFELD, Delphine COMPERE, Marco A. Ciufolini