Patents by Inventor Neil Senzer

Neil Senzer 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: 10253331
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for cancer treatment are disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention describes an autologous cancer vaccine genetically modified for Furin knockdown and GM-CSF expression. The vaccine described herein attenuates the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-? through the use of bi-functional shRNAs to knock down the expression of furin in cancer cells, and to augment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: GRADALIS, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Publication number: 20180073038
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for cancer treatment are disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention describes an autologous cancer vaccine genetically modified for Furin knockdown and GM-CSF expression. The vaccine described herein attenuates the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-? through the use of bi-functional shRNAs to knock down the expression of furin in cancer cells, and to augment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: John J. NEMUNAITIS, Neil SENZER, Phillip B. MAPLES, Donald RAO
  • Patent number: 9914977
    Abstract: In certain preferred embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, which comprise (a) obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue from a patient; (b) obtaining a specimen of normal tissue in the proximity of the cancer tissue from such patient; (c) extracting total protein and RNA from the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (d) obtaining a protein expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using 2D DIGE and mass spectrometry; (e) identifying proteins that are expressed in such cancer tissue at significantly different levels than in the normal tissue; (f) obtaining a gene expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using microarray technology and comparing the results thereof to the protein expression profile; (g) prioritizing over-expressed proteins by assessing the connectivity thereof to other cancer-related or stimulatory proteins; (h) designing an appropriate RNA interference expression cassette to, directly or indirectly, modulate the expression of genes encoding s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GRADALIS, INC.
    Inventors: David M. Shanahan, John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Patent number: 9790518
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for cancer treatment are disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention describes an autologous cancer vaccine genetically modified for Furin knockdown and GM-CSF expression. The vaccine described herein attenuates the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-? through the use of bi-functional shRNAs to knock down the expression of furin in cancer cells, and to segment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: GRADALIS, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Patent number: 9695422
    Abstract: Compositions and methods to attenuate the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-? through the use of bi-functional shRNAs is described herein. The bi-functional shRNAs of the present invention knocks down the expression of furin in cancer cells to augment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GRADALIS, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Publication number: 20170175124
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, comprising: obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue and normal tissue from a patient; extracting total protein; obtaining a protein expression profile; identifying over-expressed proteins; comparing the protein expression profile to a gene expression profile; identifying at least one prioritized protein target; designing a first RNA interference expression cassette; designing a first RNA interference expression cassette to modulate the expression of at least one gene encoding; incorporating the first cassette into a delivery vehicle; and providing a patient with an effective amount of the first delivery vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: David M. Shanahan, John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Publication number: 20170073768
    Abstract: In certain preferred embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, which comprise (a) obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue from a patient; (b) obtaining a specimen of normal tissue in the proximity of the cancer tissue from such patient; (c) extracting total protein and RNA from the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (d) obtaining a protein expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using 2D DIGE and mass spectrometry; (e) identifying proteins that are expressed in such cancer tissue at significantly different levels than in the normal tissue; (f) obtaining a gene expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using microarray technology and comparing the results thereof to the protein expression profile; (g) prioritizing over-expressed proteins by assessing the connectivity thereof to other cancer-related or stimulatory proteins; (h) designing an appropriate RNA interference expression cassette to, directly or indirectly, modulate the expression of genes encoding s
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David M. Shanahan, John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Patent number: 9528991
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, comprising: obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue and normal tissue from a patient; extracting total protein; obtaining a protein expression profile; identifying over-expressed proteins; comparing the protein expression profile to a gene expression profile; identifying at least one prioritized protein target; designing a first RNA interference expression cassette; designing a first RNA interference expression cassette to modulate the expression of at least one gene encoding; incorporating the first cassette into a delivery vehicle; and providing a patient with an effective amount of the first delivery vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GRADALIS, INC.
    Inventors: David M. Shanahan, John J. Nemunaitis, I, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Publication number: 20160333351
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using a bifunctional shRNAs capable of reducing an expression of a K-ras gene, e.g., a mutated K-ras gene, wherein at least one target site sequence of the bifunctional RNA molecule is located within the K-ras gene and wherein the bifunctional RNA molecule is capable of activating a cleavage-dependent and a cleavage-independent RNA-induced silencing complex for reducing the expression level of K-ras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Rao, Zhaohui Wang, John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer
  • Patent number: 9382589
    Abstract: In certain preferred embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, which comprise (a) obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue from a patient; (b) obtaining a specimen of normal tissue in the proximity of the cancer tissue from such patient; (c) extracting total protein and RNA from the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (d) obtaining a protein expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using 2D DIGE and mass spectrometry; (e) identifying proteins that are expressed in such cancer tissue at significantly different levels than in the normal tissue; (f) obtaining a gene expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using microarray technology and comparing the results thereof to the protein expression profile; (g) prioritizing over-expressed proteins by assessing the connectivity thereof to other cancer-related or stimulatory proteins; (h) designing an appropriate RNA interference expression cassette to, directly or indirectly, modulate the expression of genes encoding s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GRADALIS, INC.
    Inventors: David Shanahan, John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Publication number: 20150368651
    Abstract: Compositions and methods to attenuate the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-? through the use of bi-functional shRNAs is described herein. The bi-functional shRNAs of the present invention knocks down the expression of furin in cancer cells to augment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Publication number: 20150329873
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for cancer treatment are disclosed herein. More specifically the present invention describes an autologous cancer vaccine genetically modified for Furin knockdown and GM-CSF expression. The vaccine described herein attenuates the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-? through the use of bi-functional shRNAs to knock down the expression of furin in cancer cells, and to augment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Patent number: 9157084
    Abstract: Compositions and methods to attenuate the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-? through the use of bi-functional shRNAs was substituted therefor described herein. The bi-functional shRNAs of the present invention knocks down the expression of furin in cancer cells to augment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: GRADALIS, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Patent number: 9132146
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for cancer treatment are discloses herein. More specifically the present invention describes an autologous cancer vaccine genetically modified for Furin knockdown and GM-CSF expression. The vaccine described herein attenuates the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-? through the use of bi-functional shRNAs to knock down the expression of furin in cancer cells, and to augment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: GRADALIS, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Publication number: 20150086619
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, comprising: obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue and normal tissue from a patient; extracting total protein; obtaining a protein expression profile; identifying over-expressed proteins; comparing the protein expression profile to a gene expression profile; identifying at least one prioritized protein target; designing a first RNA interference expression cassette; designing a first RNA interference expression cassette to modulate the expression of at least one gene encoding; incorporating the first cassette into a delivery vehicle; and providing a patient with an effective amount of the first delivery vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: David M. Shanahan, John J. Nemunaitis, I, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Patent number: 8916530
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, comprising: (a) obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue and normal tissue from a patient; (b) extracting total protein and RNA from the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (c) obtaining a protein expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (d) identifying over-expressed proteins in the cancer tissue; (e) comparing the protein expression profile to a gene expression profile; (f) identifying at least one prioritized protein target by assessing connectivity of each said over-expressed protein to other cancer-related or stimulatory proteins; (g) designing a first RNA interference expression cassette to modulate the expression of at least one gene encoding the prioritized target protein; (h): designing a first RNA interference expression cassette to modulate the expression of at least one gene encoding a protein of higher priority in the signaling pathway in which the first protein is a component; (i) incorporating the first cass
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Gradalis, Inc.
    Inventors: David Shanahan, John Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip Maples, Donald Rao
  • Patent number: 8906874
    Abstract: The present invention includes bifunctional shRNAs capable of reducing an expression of a Stathmin 1 gene; wherein at least one target site sequence of the bifunctional RNA molecule is located within the Stathmin 1 gene, wherein the bifunctional RNA molecule is capable of activating a cleavage-dependent and a cleavage-independent RNA-induced silencing complex for reducing the expression level of Stathmin 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Gradalis, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Rao, John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer
  • Publication number: 20140134236
    Abstract: In certain preferred embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, which comprise (a) obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue from a patient; (b) obtaining a specimen of normal tissue in the proximity of the cancer tissue from such patient; (c) extracting total protein and RNA from the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (d) obtaining a protein expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using 2D DIGE and mass spectrometry; (e) identifying proteins that are expressed in such cancer tissue at significantly different levels than in the normal tissue; (f) obtaining a gene expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using microarray technology and comparing the results thereof to the protein expression profile; (g) prioritizing over-expressed proteins by assessing the connectivity thereof to other cancer-related or stimulatory proteins; (h) designing an appropriate RNA interference expression cassette to, directly or indirectly, modulate the expression of genes encoding s
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Gradalis, Inc.
    Inventors: David Shanahan, John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip B. Maples, Donald Rao
  • Patent number: 8603991
    Abstract: Methods for treating cancer that include (a) obtaining a specimen of cancer issue from a patient; (b) obtaining a specimen of normal tissue in the proximity of the cancer tissue; (c) extracting total protein from the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (d) obtaining a protein expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (e) identifying a group of proteins that are expressed in the cancer tissue at significantly different levels than in the normal tissue; (f) identifying one or more prioritized proteins from the group of proteins, which will serve as the target for an RNA interference molecule (RNAi), which, when provided to a patient, will reduce the expression level of the one or more prioritized proteins using both cleavage-dependent and cleavage-independent pathways of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Gradalis, Inc.
    Inventors: David Shanahan, John Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Phillip Maples, Donald Rao
  • Publication number: 20130266639
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods treating triple negative breast cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a formulation that includes vector that expresses an SRC-1-specific bifunctional shRNA, an SRC-3-specific bifunctional shRNA, or both, to impair triple negative breast cancer cell growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Donald Rao, Zhaohui Wang, John J. Nemunaitis, Neil Senzer, Bert W. O'Malley, David Lonard