Patents by Inventor Ruxandra Draghia-Akli
Ruxandra Draghia-Akli 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: 8188056Abstract: One aspect of the current invention is a method of preventing and/or treating arthritis and/or preventing or treating lameness in a subject. Additionally, subject quality of life and welfare, and body condition scores are improved by utilizing methodology that administers the nucleic acid expression construct encoding a GHRH or functional biological equivalent to a subject through a parenteral route of administration. Following a single dose of nucleic acid expression vector, subjects are healthier and effects are demonstrated long term without additional administration(s) of the expression construct.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Patricia A. Brown, David Hood
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Patent number: 8178504Abstract: The present invention pertains to compositions and methods useful for treating anemia and other effects that are commonly associated in cancer bearing animals. The invention is accomplished by delivering an effective amount of a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into a tissue of an animal and allowing expression of the encoded gene in the animal.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert H. Carpenter, Douglas R. Kern, Robert J. Schwartz, Glen King, Kevin Hahn, Malcolm K. Brenner
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Publication number: 20120093863Abstract: Improved anti-HCV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed. Immunogens disclosed include those having consensus HCV genotype 1a, including for example, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B. Pharmaceutical composition, recombinant vaccines comprising and live attenuated vaccines are disclosed as well methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against HCV are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: David B. WEINER, Krystle LANG, Jian YAN, Ruxandra DRAGHIA-AKLI, Amir S. KHAN
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Patent number: 8133723Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is directed towards DNA plasmid vaccines capable of generating in a mammal an immune response against a plurality of influenza virus subtypes, comprising a DNA plasmid and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The DNA plasmid is capable of expressing a consensus influenza antigen in a cell of the mammal in a quantity effective to elicit an immune response in the mammal, wherein the consensus influenza antigen comprises consensus hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix protein, nucleoprotein, M2 ectodomain-nucleo-protein (M2e-NP), or a combination thereof. Preferably the consensus influenza antigen comprises HA, NA, M2e-NP, or a combination thereof. The DNA plasmid comprises a promoter operably linked to a coding sequence that encodes the consensus influenza antigen. Additionally, an aspect of the present invention includes methods of eliciting an immune response against a plurality of influenza virus subtypes in a mammal using the DNA plasmid vaccines provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: The Trustees of The University of PennsylvaniaInventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, David B Weiner, Jian Yan, Dominick J Laddy
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Publication number: 20120034256Abstract: Improved anti-HCV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed. Immunogens disclosed include those having consensus HCV genotype 1 a/1 b NS3 and NS4A. Pharmaceutical composition, recombinant vaccines comprising and live attenuated vaccines are disclosed as well methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against HCV are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2008Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventors: David B. Weiner, Krystle A. Lang, Jian Yan, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir Khan
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Publication number: 20110305664Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is directed towards DNA plasmid vaccines capable of generating in a mammal an immune response against a plurality of influenza virus subtypes, comprising a DNA plasmid and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The DNA plasmid is capable of expressing a consensus influenza antigen in a cell of the mammal in a quantity effective to elicit an immune response in the mammal, wherein the consensus influenza antigen comprises consensus hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix protein, nucleoprotein, M2 ectodomain-nucleo-protein (M2e-NP), or a combination thereof. Preferably the consensus influenza antigen comprises HA, NA, M2e-NP, or a combination thereof. The DNA plasmid comprises a promoter operably linked to a coding sequence that encodes the consensus influenza antigen. Additionally, an aspect of the present invention includes methods of eliciting an immune response against a plurality of influenza virus subtypes in a mammal using the DNA plasmid vaccines provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, David B. Weiner, Jian Yan, Dominick Laddy
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Patent number: 8058253Abstract: This invention is related to compositions and methods for decreasing cholesterol levels in a subject. The method utilizes a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (“GHRH”) that is delivered into a tissue of the subject, wherein, GHRH is expressed in vivo in the subject.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir S. Khan, Marta L. Fiorroto
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Publication number: 20110070640Abstract: One aspect of the current invention is an optimized synthetic mammalian expression plasmid with a mutated origin of replication (e.g. “mut” family of plasmids) comprising a therapeutic element, and a replication element. The therapeutic elements of this plasmid are operatively linked and located in a first operatively-linked arrangement. Additionally, the optimized synthetic mammalian expression plasmid comprises replication elements, wherein the replication elements are operatively linked and located in a second operatively-linked arrangement. The first-operatively-linked arrangement and the second-operatively-linked arrangement comprise a circular structure of the codon optimized synthetic mammalian expression plasmid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLCInventors: Ruxandra DRAGHIA-AKLI, Melissa POPE
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Publication number: 20110034544Abstract: Compositions and kits comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes GHRH and a nucleotide sequence that encodes GnRH and compositions and kits comprising a GHRH protein and GnRH protein are disclosed. Use of such compositions and kits in methods of enhancing fertility in mammals comprising the step of administering said compositions to the mammal are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLCInventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir Khan, Patricia Brown
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Patent number: 7846720Abstract: One aspect of the current invention is an optimized synthetic mammalian expression plasmid with a mutated origin of replication (e.g. “mut” family of plasmids). This new plasmid comprises a therapeutic element, and a replication element. The therapeutic element of the new plasmid comprises a eukaryotic promoter; a 5? untranslated region (“UTR”); a codon-optimized-eukaryotic therapeutic gene sequence; and a poly adenylation signal. The therapeutic elements of this plasmid are operatively linked and located in a first operatively-linked arrangement. Additionally, the optimized synthetic mammalian expression plasmid comprises replication elements, wherein the replication elements are operatively linked and located in a second operatively-linked arrangement. The replication elements comprise a selectable marker gene promoter, a ribosomal binding site, a selectable marker gene sequence, and an improved origin of replication.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Melissa Pope
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Publication number: 20100247437Abstract: The present invention is directed towards materials and methods of delivering biomolecules to cells that define an organ, and the organ being in situ, and electroporating cells defining the organ by delivering to the cells an amount of energy effective to electroporate the cells. The present invention is also directed towards materials and methods of expressing heterologous polypeptides in organs of a subject and electroporating cells defining the organ by delivering to the cells an amount of energy effective to electroporate the cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLCInventor: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli
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Patent number: 7664545Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular electrode system, and its use, for facilitating the introduction of a macromolecule into cells of a selected tissue in a body or plant. The modular electrode system comprises a non-symmetrically arranged plurality of needle electrodes; a hypodermic needle; an electrical connector that provides a conductive link from a programmable constant-current pulse controller to the plurality of needle electrodes; and a power source. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an operator can grasp the plurality of needle electrodes that are mounted on a support structure and firmly insert the them into the selected tissue in a body or plant. The macromolecules are then delivered via the hypodermic needle into the selected tissue. The programmable constant-current pulse controller is activated and constant-current electrical pulse is applied to the plurality of needle electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Allan Westersten, William R. Wilkinson, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert H. Carpenter, Douglas R. Kern
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Publication number: 20100010467Abstract: This invention is related to compositions and methods for decreasing cholesterol levels in a subject. The method utilizes a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (“GHRH”) that is delivered into a tissue of the subject, wherein, GHRH is expressed in vivo in the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2007Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICLAS, INC.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir S. Khan, Marta L. Fiorroto
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Publication number: 20090304627Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA vaccines that are capable of generating a protective immune response in mammals against a pox virus, and comprises at least one DNA plasmid capable of expressing a plurality of VACV MV antigens, and at least one DNA plasmid capable of expressing a plurality of VACV EV antigens. Also, the present invention relates to methods of inducing a protective immune response in a mammal to pox virus, including a neutralizing antibody response, comprising: injecting into tissue of said mammal said DNA vaccine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: December 10, 2009Applicants: VGX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAInventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Jon Prigge, Niranjan Y. Sardesai, David B. Weiner, Lauren A. Hirao
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Publication number: 20090292107Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for decreasing the body fat proportion, increasing lean body mass (“LBM”), increasing bone density, or improving the rate of bone healing, or all, of a subject. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into the cells of the subject and allowing expression of the encoded gene to occur while the modified cells are within the subject. For instance, when such a nucleic acid sequence is delivered into the specific cells of the subject tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved. Furthermore, external regulation of the GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof gene can be accomplished by utilizing inducible promoters that are regulated by molecular switch molecules, which are given to the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2008Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICLAS, INC.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert J. Schwartz
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Publication number: 20090169505Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is directed towards DNA plasmid vaccines capable of generating in a mammal an immune response against a plurality of influenza virus subtypes, comprising a DNA plasmid and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The DNA plasmid is capable of expressing a consensus influenza antigen in a cell of the mammal in a quantity effective to elicit an immune response in the mammal, wherein the consensus influenza antigen comprises consensus hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix protein, nucleoprotein, M2 ectodomain-nucleo-protein (M2e-NP), or a combination thereof. Preferably the consensus influenza antigen comprises HA, NA, M2e-NP, or a combination thereof. The DNA plasmid comprises a promoter operably linked to a coding sequence that encodes the consensus influenza antigen. Additionally, an aspect of the present invention includes methods of eliciting an immune response against a plurality of influenza virus subtypes in a mammal using the DNA plasmid vaccines provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, David B. Weiner, Jian Yan, Dominick Laddy
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Publication number: 20090170748Abstract: The present invention pertains to compositions and methods for plasmid-mediated supplementation. The compositions and methods are useful for treating anemia and other effects that are commonly associated in cancer bearing animals. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering an effective amount of a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into a tissue of an animal and allowing expression of the encoded gene in the animal. For example, when such a nucleic acid sequence is delivered into the specific cells of the animal tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2007Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicants: Advisys, Inc., Baylor College of MedicineInventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert H. Carpenter, Douglas R. Kern, Robert J. Schwartz, Glen King, Kevin Hahn, Malcolm K. Brenner
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Publication number: 20090156787Abstract: There are provided methods of generating antibodies in a mammal against recombinant antigens using DNA plasmids capable of expressing said antigens in cells of said mammal, comprising: injecting into tissue of said mammal a DNA plasmid comprising an encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter, electroporating said tissue with an electroporation device capable of delivering an electrical pulse effective to electroporate cells of said tissue to allow entry of said DNA plasmid and expression of said antigen, and allowing said mammal to respond to said expressed antigen in order to generate antibodies to said antigen. Furthermore, there are provided methods of isolating antibodies specific against desired antigens wherein said antibodies are generated in a mammal using DNA plasmids capable of expressing said antigens.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir S. Khan
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Patent number: 7517863Abstract: One aspect of the current invention is a method designing and using species-specific or synthetic signal peptides and GHRH sequences for the purpose of preventing and/or treating chronic illness in a subject by utilizing methodology that administers a single dose of nucleic acid expression vector or nucleic acid expression construct encoding a GHRH or functional biological equivalent to a subject through a parenteral route of administration.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Melissa Pope
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Publication number: 20090004716Abstract: Large scale processes for producing high purity samples of biologically active molecules of interest from bacterial cells are disclosed. The methods comprise the steps of producing a lysate solution by contacting a cell suspension of said plurality of cells with lysis solution; neutralizing said lysate solution with a neutralizing solution to produce a dispersion that comprises neutralized lysate solution and debris; filtering the dispersion through at least one filter; performing ion exchange separation on said neutralized lysate solution to produce an ion exchange eluate; and performing hydrophobic interaction separation on said ion exchange eluate to produce a hydrophobic interaction solution. Further, provided are compositions comprising large scale amounts of plasmid DNA produced by the disclosed large scale processes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICLAS, INC.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Henry Hebel, Ying Cai