Patents by Inventor Nicola La Monica
Nicola La Monica 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).
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Patent number: 8492522Abstract: Compositions comprising matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) or stromelysin-3 (ST-3) or the nucleic acid encoding the MMP-11 for use in vaccines for treating tumors and cancers, which overexpress MMP-11, are described. In particular embodiments, the compositions comprise a nucleic acid encoding a fusion polypeptide that includes the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element wherein the codons encoding the MMP-11 and the immunoenhancing element have been optimized for enhanced expression of the fusion polypeptide in human cells. In other embodiments, the compositions comprise the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element. The compositions can be used alone or in synergy with vaccines against other tumor associated antigens as well as with conventional therapies such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti SpAInventors: Luigi Aurisicchio, Daniela Peruzzi, Nicola La Monica, Gennaro Ciliberto, Domenico Lazzaro, Federica Mori
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Publication number: 20120177679Abstract: Compositions comprising matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) or stromelysin-3 (ST-3) or the nucleic acid encoding the MMP-11 for use in vaccines for treating tumors and cancers, which overexpress MMP-11, are described. In particular embodiments, the compositions comprise a nucleic acid encoding a fusion polypeptide that includes the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element wherein the codons encoding the MMP-11 and the immunoenhancing element have been optimized for enhanced expression of the fusion polypeptide in human cells. In other embodiments, the compositions comprise the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element. The compositions can be used alone or in synergy with vaccines against other tumor associated antigens as well as with conventional therapies such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: ISTITUTO DI RICERCHE DI BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE P. ANGELETTI SPAInventors: LUIGI AURISICCHIO, DANIELA PERUZZI, NICOLA LA MONICA, GENNARO CILIBERTO, DOMENICO LAZZARO, FEDERICA MORI
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Patent number: 8188244Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) fusion proteins are provided, the CEA fusion proteins comprising a CEA protein, or functional variant thereof, fused to a substantial portion of an immunoenhancing element. The polynucleotides of the present invention can elicit an immune response in a mammal, which, in preferred embodiments, is stronger than the immune response elicited by a wild-type CEA. The gene encoding CEA is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the CEA tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant CEA expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector and plasmid constructs carrying polynucleotides encoding CEA fusion proteins and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti SpAInventors: Nicola La Monica, Andrea Facciabene, Luigi Aurisicchio, Gennaro Ciliberto
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Patent number: 8106176Abstract: Compositions comprising matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) or stromelysin-3 (ST-3) or the nucleic acid encoding the MMP-11 for use in vaccines for treating tumors and cancers, which overexpress MMP-11, are described. In particular embodiments, the compositions comprise a nucleic acid encoding a fusion polypeptide that includes the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element wherein the codons encoding the MMP-11 and the immunoenhancing element have been optimized for enhanced expression of the fusion polypeptide in human cells. In other embodiments, the compositions comprise the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element. The compositions can be used alone or in synergy with vaccines against other tumor associated antigens as well as with conventional therapies such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2006Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Instituto di Richerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti SpAInventors: Luigi Aurisicchio, Daniela Peruzzi, Nicola La Monica, Gennaro Ciliberto, Domenico Lazzaro, Federica Mori
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Patent number: 8017387Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) fusion proteins are provided, the TERT fusion proteins comprising a TERT protein, or functional variant thereof, fused to a substantial portion of the B subunit of heat labile enterotoxin (LTB). TERT variants useful in TERT-LTB fusion proteins of the invention comprise mutations that function to eliminate telomerase catalytic activity. The polynucleotides of the present invention can elicit an immune response in a mammal, which, in preferred embodiments, is stronger than the immune response elicited by a wild-type TERT. TERT expression is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the TERT tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant TERT expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti SpAInventors: Elisa Scarselli, Carmela Mennuni, Nicola La Monica, Gennaro Ciliberto
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Publication number: 20110182926Abstract: The present invention provides minigenes suitable as a prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine against conditions such as cancer, infectious diseases or autoimmune diseases, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the minigene. The minigenes of the present invention comprise (a) a human tissue plasminogen signal peptide; (b) at least one T-cell epitope; and (c) an E. coli heat labile enterotoxin B subunit; wherein the at least one T-cell epitope is linked to the rest of the minigene, and to any other epitopes, by furin sensitive linkers. In some embodiments of the invention, the minigene comprises T-cell epitopes from one or more of CEA, her-2/neu and hTERT. Also provided herein are immunogenic peptide epitopes of CEA, her-2/neu and hTERT, as well as immunogenic peptide analogs, and pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines comprising one or more of said peptides and analogs for prophylaxis and/or treatment of cancer or other disorder.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2009Publication date: July 28, 2011Inventors: Nicola La Monica, Elisa Scarselli, Gennaro Ciliberto, Luigi Aurisicchio, Arthur Fridman, Ansuman Bagchi
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Publication number: 20090155298Abstract: Compositions comprising matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) or stromelysin-3 (ST-3) or the nucleic acid en->coding the MMP-11 for use in vaccines for treating tumors and cancers, which overexpress MMP-11, are described. In particular embodiments, the compositions comprise a nucleic acid encoding a fusion polypeptide that includes the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element wherein the codons encoding the MMP-11 and the immunoenhancing element have been optimized for enhanced expression of the fusion polypeptide in human cells. In other embodiments, the compositions comprise the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element. The compositions can be used alone or in synergy with vaccines against other tumor associated antigens as well as with conventional therapies such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2006Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventors: Luigi Aurisicchio, Daniela Peruzzi, Nicola La Monica, Gennaro Ciliberto, Domenico Lazzaro, Federica Mori
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Publication number: 20080311137Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) fusion proteins are provided, the CEA fusion proteins comprising a CEA protein, or functional variant thereof, fused to a substantial portion of an immunoenhancing element. The polynucleotides of the present invention can elicit an immune response in a mammal, which, in preferred embodiments, is stronger than the immune response elicited by a wild-type CEA. The gene encoding CEA is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the CEA tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant CEA expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector and plasmid constructs carrying polynucleotides encoding CEA fusion proteins and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2005Publication date: December 18, 2008Inventors: Nicola La Monica, Andrea Facciabene, Luigi Aurisicchio, Gennaro Ciliberto
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Publication number: 20080090778Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) fusion proteins are provided, the TERT fusion proteins comprising a TERT protein, or functional variant thereof, fused to a substantial portion of the B subunit of heat labile enterotoxin (LTB). TERT variants useful in TERT-LTB fusion proteins of the invention comprise mutations that function to eliminate telomerase catalytic activity. The polynucleotides of the present invention can elicit an immune response in a mammal, which, in preferred embodiments, is stronger than the immune response elicited by a wild-type TERT. TERT expression is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the TERT tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant TERT expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Inventors: Elisa Scarselli, Carmela Mennuni, Nicola La Monica, Gennaro Ciliberto
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Patent number: 7282365Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding rhesus monkey HER2/neu have been isolated, cloned and sequenced. The gene encoding the HER2/neu is commonly associated with the development of epithelial-derived human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the HER2/neu tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant HER2/neu expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector constructs carrying rhHER2/neu and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2003Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti S.p.A.Inventors: Paolo Monaci, Maurizio Nuzzo, Nicola La Monica, Gennaro Ciliberto, Armin Lahm
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Publication number: 20070104685Abstract: Synthetic polynucleotides encoding human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are provided, the synthetic polynucleotides being codon-optimized for expression in a human cellular environment. The gene encoding CEA is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the CEA tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant CEA expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector and plasmid constructs carrying codon-optimed human CEA and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2004Publication date: May 10, 2007Inventors: Nicola La Monica, Armin Lahm, Carmela Mennuni, Rocco Savino
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Publication number: 20060286114Abstract: Synthetic polynucleotides encoding rhesus monkey carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are provided, the synthetic polynucleotides being condon-optimized for expression in a human cellular environment. The gene encoding CEA is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the CEA tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant CEA expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenovial vector and plasmid constructs carrying codon-optimed rhesus monkey CEA and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2004Publication date: December 21, 2006Inventors: Luigi Aurisicchio, Nicola La Monica, Patrizia Giannetti, Gennaro Ciliberto
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Publication number: 20060239969Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding rhesus monkey HER2/neu have been isolated, cloned and sequenced. The gene encoding the HER2/neu is commonly associated with the development of epithelial-derived human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the HER2/neu tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant HER2/neu expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector constructs carrying rhHER2/neu and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2003Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Paolo Monaci, Maurizio Nuzzo, Nicola La Monica, Gennaro Ciliberto, Armin Lahm
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Publication number: 20060228335Abstract: DNAs encoding rhesus monkey carcinoembryonic antigen (rhCEA) have been isolated, cloned and sequenced. The gene encoding CEA is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the CEA tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant CEA expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector constructs carrying rhCEA and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2004Publication date: October 12, 2006Inventors: Luigi Aurisicchio, Fabio Palombo, Paolo Monaci, Nicola La Monica, Gennaro Ciliberto, Armin Lahm
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Publication number: 20050004055Abstract: A method of delivering a pharmaceutical agent, such as a nucleic acid molecule, to a vertebrate host is disclosed which comprises combining the synergistic steps of electrical stimulation with administration of a biologically active amount of hyaluronidase. Additionally, formulations which comprise hyaluronidase and a pharmaceutical agent, such as a nucleic acid molecule, are disclosed. The hyaluronidase preparation is preferably administered prior to or simultaneous with the pharmaceutical agent and in conjunction with an applied electrical stimulation, thus affecting increased transfer of the population of a pharmaceutical agent into the target tissue when compared to the affect of electrical stimulation alone. The combination of hyaluronidase administration and electrostimulation results in a substantial increase in the transfer of the pharmaceutical agent, such as a nucleic acid molecule, to the target vertebrate host tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2002Publication date: January 6, 2005Inventors: Elena Fattori, Nicola La Monica, Carmela Mennuni
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Patent number: 6641807Abstract: Helper dependent adenoviral vectors encoding erythropoietin (epo) provide high levels of epo to achieve a long-term therapeutically effective dosage, and allow for repeat administration to patients with disorders such as anaemia of Chronic Renal Failure (CFR), anaemias due to beta-thalassaemia, and sickle cell anaemia (SCA).Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.Inventors: Rocco Savino, Gennaro Ciliberto, Nicola La Monica
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Patent number: 6521426Abstract: Adenoviral particles are produced by incubating cells containing a helper adenovirus vector and a helper-dependent adenoviral vector including an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) rep gene, such as rep 78. Cells are provided containing a helper adenovirus vector. A helper-dependent adenoviral vector including an AAV rep gene is introduced into the cells, for instance by infection with infective viral particles. The cells are incubated to produce adenoviral particles containing nucleic acid including the AAV rep gene. Advantageously, cells containing helper adenovirus vector are pre-incubated for 0.5-12 hours, preferably about 4 hours, to allow expression of viral proteins required for adenoviral genome replication before introducing the helper-dependent adenovirus vector including an AAV rep gene.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Istituto Di Ricerche Di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti S.p.A.Inventors: Gennaro Ciliberto, Stefano Colloca, Nicola La Monica