BIOTECH Patent News - March 2001 United States Patents

Baxter AG (Austria) has patented hybrid proteins which affect blood coagulation and comprise a region from a donor anticoagulant or antithrombotic protein. Information concerning the hybrid proteins implicates DNA sequences encoding the proteins and hosts, including transgenic animals, that possess these DNA sequences. (US 6156888)

Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX) has patented double-stranded cDNA synthesized from nucleic acid extracted from Norwalk virus purified from stool specimens of volunteers. One clone was isolated from a cDNA library constructed in a pUC13 vector after amplification of the cDNA. The specificity of this cDNA (pUCNV-953) was shown by hybridization assays. The cDNA reacted with post- (but not pre-) infection stool samples from Norwalk volunteers and with highly purified Norwalk virus, but not with other common enteric viruses such as hepatitis A virus and rotavirus. (US 6156883)

University of California has patented a protein consisting essentially of purified human minor vault protein p193 or purified biologically active variants thereof, or a combination of purified human minor vault protein p193 and biologically active variants thereofFurther, there is provided a method of diagnosing and a method of treating patients with multidrug resistant cancer. (US 6156879)

Rockefeller University (New York, NY) has patented a method of efficiently sequencing multiple exons from complex genomic DNAs is disclosed. The methodology includes the use of bacterial and bacteriophage-derived artificial chromosomes in novel gene trapping protocols. Targeted gene trapping by homologous recombination, and random gene trapping with the use of a transposon system are exemplified. (US 6156574)

ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Carlsbad, CA) has patented antisense compounds, compositions and methods for modulating the expression of SRC-3. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding SRC-3. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of SRC-3 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of SRC-3. (US 6156571)

Washington State University (Pullman, WA) has patented a gene encoding a 37 kDa outer membrane protein from Campylobacter coli M275. This protein has been named CadF and is expressed in a large number of clinical isolates of Campylobacter species. The invention also provides assays for detecting the presence of pathogenic Campylobacter species based on the antibody-based detection of CadF, or the polymerase chain reaction-based amplification of a segment of the C. coli cadF gene. (US 6156546)

University of Nebraska (Lincoln, NE) has patented a catalytic antibody and components thereof which cleave HIV gp120, and methods of isolating, cloning and purifying such antibodies or antibody components from patients. The compositions described may provide utility in the treatment of HIV infection. (US 6156541)

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Rockville, MD has patented a thrombin inhibitor polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptide. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques. The antithrombin polypeptide is used to treat various diseases where prevention of blood clotting is necessary and is of therapeutic value. (US 6156540)

University of Ottawa (Ottawa, Canada) has patented a substantially pure DNA encoding mammalian IAP polypeptides; substantially pure polypeptides; and methods of using such DNA to express the IAP polypeptides in cells and animals to inhibit apoptosis. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the IAP family and primers and probes for the identification and isolation of additional IAP genes. (US 6156535)

Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation (Paramus, NJ) has patented an isolated nucleic acid, vectors, transformed mammalian cells and non-human transgenic animals that encode and express normal or mutant alpha 1a, alpha 1b and alpha 1c adrenergic receptor genes. This invention also provides a protein, and an antibody directed to the protein and pharmaceutical compounds related to alpha 1a, alpha 1b and alpha 1c adrenergic receptors. (US 6156518)

Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston, MA) has patented a novel method for identifying individuals who are likely to have negative responses to regular administration of beta -agonists. The invention also provides kits useful for this purpose. (US 6156503)

Cytel Corporation (San Diego, CA) has patented fusion-point spanning peptides, for example BCR-ABL fusion breakpoint peptides associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia, which bind major histompatibility complex molecules, such as HLA class I molecules, and induce cytotoxic T cell proliferation. The breakpoint peptides can be used as vaccines. (US 6156316)

The Scripps Research Institute (La Jolla, CA) has patented human monoclonal antibodies which immunoreact with Herpes simplex virus Type-1 and Type-2, immunotherapeutic and diagnostic methods of using the monoclonal antibodies, as well as nucleic acids and cell lines for producing the monoclonal antibodies. (US 6156313)

BIOTOP Sas di Rita Cassarin (Italy) has patented immortalized dendritic cells, to a process for their production from primary cultures and to their use for the activation, in vivo or in vitro, of T lymphocytes in antigen specific way. (US 6156307)

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) has patented methods for introducing at least one gene encoding a product into at least one target cell of a mammalian host for use in treating the mammalian host. These methods include employing recombinant techniques to produce a vector molecule that contains the gene encoding for the product, and infecting the target cells of the mammalian host using the DNA vector molecule. A method to produce an animal model for the study of connective tissue pathology. (US 6156304)

Chiron Corporation (Emeryville, CA) has patented a colony stimulating factor, CSF-1, is a lymphokine useful in regulating the immune system. is a lymphokine useful in overcoming the immunosuppression induced by chemotherapy or resulting from other causes. CSF-1 is obtained in usable amounts by recombinant methods, including cloning and expression of the murine and human DNA sequences encoding this protein. (US 6156300)

Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (San Diego, CA) has patented a method for treatment of cancer and infectious disease comprises administering a first composition containing interferon- alpha or analogues thereof, together with a second composition containing at least one substance with H2, or 5-HT1A, receptor agonist activity, for example, histamine or serotonin. The first and second compositions are either mixed in a preparation or furnished in separate doses. (US 6155266)