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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Publication number: 20090005333Abstract: One aspect of the current invention is a method of decreasing an involuntary cull rate in farm animals, wherein the involuntary cull results from infection, disease, morbidity, or mortality. Additionally, milk production, animal welfare, and body condition scores are improved by utilizing methodology that administers the isolated nucleic acid expression construct encoding a GHRH or functional biological equivalent to an animal through a parenteral route of administration. Following a single dose of nucleic acid expression vector, animals are healthier and effects are demonstrated long term without additional administration(s) of the expression construct.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICLAS, INC.Inventors: Patricia A. Brown, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert H. Carpenter
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Publication number: 20080269153Abstract: Aspects of the present invention is related to DNA vaccine formulations having enhanced stability comprising at least one DNA plasmid capable of expressing an antigen in cells of mammal and poly-L-glutamate; wherein the DNA plasmid is present in the vaccine formulation at a concentration of at least 1 mg/ml, and the poly-L-glutamate is present in the amount of weight that is 1% of the amount of DNA plasmid. Some aspects of the present invention is related to methods of stabilizing DNA plasmid in a DNA vaccine formulation. Additionally, the present invention is related to methods for introducing a DNA vaccine formulation having enhanced stability into a cell of a selected tissue in a recipient.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Melissa Pope
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Publication number: 20080221034Abstract: A composition and a method of increasing growth hormone (“GH”) values in a canine or dog, and more specifically, a canine- or dog-specific growth hormone releasing hormone (“dGHRH”), or functional biological equivalent thereof. The dGHRH is an isolated composition or a nucleic acid molecule that encodes the dGHRH or functional biological equivalent. Also, a method for delivering the composition of this invention to a subject, wherein the dGHRH increases the level of growth hormone (“GH”) secretion in a recipient subject, such as a canine or dog.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.Inventor: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli
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Publication number: 20080207543Abstract: The intramuscular electroporated injection of a protease-resistant growth hormone-releasing hormone (“GHRH”) cDNA into rat dams at 16 days of gestation resulted in the enhanced long-term growth of the FI offspring. The offspring were significantly heavier by one week of age and the difference was sustained to 10 weeks of age. Consistent with their augmented growth, plasma IGF-I concentration of the FI progeny was increased significantly. The pituitary gland of the offspring was significantly heavier, and contained an increased number of somatotropes (cells producing GH) and lactotrophs (prolactin-secreting cells), and is indicative of an alteration in cell lineages. These unique findings demonstrate that enhanced GHRH expression in pregnant dams can result in intergenerational growth promotion, by altering development of the pituitary gland in the offspring.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: Baylor College of MedicineInventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir Khan
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Publication number: 20080194511Abstract: One aspect of the current invention is an optimized synthetic mammalian expression plasmid (e.g. pAV0201). This new plasmid comprise 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, and an origin of replication. 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 16, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: VGX PHARMACEUTICLAS, INC.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Ronald V. Abruzzese, Douglas R. Kern
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Patent number: 7361642Abstract: A composition and a method of increasing growth hormone (“GH”) values in a canine or dog, and more specifically, a canine- or dog-specific growth hormone releasing hormone (“dGHRH”), or functional biological equivalent thereof. The dGHRH is an isolated composition or a nucleic acid molecule that encodes the dGHRH or functional biological equivalent. Also, a method for delivering the composition of this invention to a subject, wherein the dGHRH increases the level of growth hormone (“GH”) secretion in a recipient subject, such as a canine or dog.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventor: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli
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Publication number: 20080091135Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to electroporation devices and methods of using same to effectively facilitate the introduction of a biomolecule into cells of a selected tissue in a body, in particular skin such as intradermic or subcutaneous tissue. In some aspects, the present invention is a skin EP device, which produces a pulse of energy and delivers same to the skin tissue using a skin electrode array and maintains a constant current in the same skin tissue based on user input, including a preset current, and allows the storage and acquisition of current waveform data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir Khan
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Patent number: 7338656Abstract: A method for decreasing the body fat proportion, increasing lean body mass, increasing bone density, or improving the rate of bone healing, or all, of a subject. Embodiments of the invention include 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Baylor College of MedicineInventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert J. Schwartz
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Patent number: 7316925Abstract: One aspect of the current invention is an optimized synthetic mammalian expression plasmid (e.g. pAV0201). This new plasmid comprise 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, and an origin of replication. The first-operatively-linked arrangement and the second-operatively-linked arrangement comprise a circular structure of the codon optimized synthetic mammalian expression plasmid.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2003Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Ronald V. Abruzzese, Douglas R. Kern
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Patent number: 7250405Abstract: The intramuscular electroporated injection of a protease-resistant growth hormone-releasing hormone (“GHRH”) cDNA into rat dams at 16 days of gestation resulted in the enhanced long-term growth of the F1 offspring. The offspring were significantly heavier by one week of age and the difference was sustained to 10 weeks of age. Consistent with their augmented growth, plasma IGF-I concentration of the F1 progeny was increased significantly. The pituitary gland of the offspring was significantly heavier, and contained an increased number of somatotropes (cells producing GH) and lactotrophs (prolactin-secreting cells), and is indicative of an alteration in cell lineages. These unique findings demonstrate that enhanced GHRH expression in pregnant dams can result in intergenerational growth promotion, by altering development of the pituitary gland in the offspring.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Baylor College of MedicineInventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir Khan
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Patent number: 7245963Abstract: 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 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: March 7, 2002Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: ADViSYS, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert H. Carpenter, Douglas R. Kern, Allan Westersten, William R. Wilkinson
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Patent number: 7241744Abstract: The present invention pertains to compositions and methods for plasmid-mediated supplementation. The compositions and method are useful for retarding the growth of the tumor, and retarding cachexia, wasting, 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 tissue specific constitutive expression is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignees: Baylor College of Medicine, ADViSYS, 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: 20060264807Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2006Publication date: November 23, 2006Applicant: ADVISYS, Inc.Inventors: Allan Westersten, William Wilkinson, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Robert Carpenter, Douglas Kern
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Publication number: 20060188988Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2006Publication date: August 24, 2006Applicant: ADVISYS, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Melissa Pope
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Publication number: 20060025368Abstract: This invention discloses compositions and methods of: vaccinating a subject; enhancing the vaccination efficiency; preparing a subject prior to vaccination response; and improving the clinical outcome after infectious challenge in a subject that has been vaccinated. More specifically, the invention pertains to delivering into a tissue of the subject a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (“GHRH”) before or concomitantly with delivering a vaccine to the subject, wherein, GHRH is expressed in vivo in the subject, wherein the subject comprises a human, pig, cow, bird, horse or any other animal species receiving a vaccine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Applicant: ADViSYS, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Patricia Brown, Amir Khan, William Davis
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Publication number: 20050238624Abstract: Composition and method for stimulating angiogenesis, stimulating myogenesis, upregulating angiogenic factors and angiopoietins, and treating the muscular and vascular complications of diabetes. Overall, the embodiments of the invention can be accomplished by delivering a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding insulin-like growth factor I (“IGF-I”) or a 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. The nucleic acid sequence maybe delivered by a vector system including a synthetic myogenic promoter and a 3? untranslated region. The preferred method to deliver the constitutive or inducible nucleic acid encoding sequences of IGF-I or the functional biological equivalents thereof is directly into the cells of the subject by the process of in vivo electroporation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2004Publication date: October 27, 2005Applicants: ADVISYS, Inc., Baylor College of MedicineInventors: Eric Rabinovsky, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli
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Publication number: 20050182014Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2004Publication date: August 18, 2005Applicant: ADViSYS, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Patricia Brown, David Hood
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Publication number: 20050171046Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2005Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: ADViSYS, Inc.Inventors: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Melissa Pope
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Publication number: 20050052630Abstract: An electroporation device which may be used to effectively facilitate the introduction of a macromolecule into cells of a selected tissue in a body or plant. The electroporation device comprises an electro-kinetic device (“EKD”) whose operation is specified by software or firmware. The EKD produces a series of programmable constant-current pulse patterns between electrodes in an array based on user control and input of the pulse parameters and allows the storage and acquisition of current waveform data. The electroporation device also comprises a replaceable electrode disk having an array of needle electrodes, a central injection channel for an injection needle, and a removable guide disk.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2003Publication date: March 10, 2005Applicant: ADVISYS, Inc.Inventors: Louis Smith, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Amir Khan, Robert Carpenter, Jeff Darnell
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Publication number: 20050032737Abstract: A composition and a method of increasing growth hormone (“GH”) values in a canine or dog, and more specifically, a canine- or dog-specific growth hormone releasing hormone (“dGHRH”), or functional biological equivalent thereof. The dGHRH is an isolated composition or a nucleic acid molecule that encodes the dGHRH or functional biological equivalent. Also, a method for delivering the composition of this invention to a subject, wherein the dGHRH increases the level of growth hormone (“GH”) secretion in a recipient subject, such as a canine or dog.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: Advisys, Inc.Inventor: Ruxandra Draghia-Akli