Title: Ii-RNAi-Involved Ii Suppression in Cancer Immunotherapy
Number: 20090060889
Filed: March 10, 2008
Lead Inventor: Eric von Hofe, Generex Biotechnology
The patent application, its abstract states, claims "compositions and methods involving the inhibition of Ii expression in cells for the purpose of altering antigen-presentation pathways.
"Human Ii-RNAi constructs that effectively inhibit Ii expression in human cancer cells have been generated," it notes. "The combination of different Ii-RNAi constructs that target different positions of Ii mRNA has a synergistic effect on Ii inhibition. Furthermore, specific promoters for driving Ii-RNAi expression are critical for the activity of Ii-RNAi in different types of cells. Active Ii-RNAi sequences were cloned into plasmids in which Ii-RNAi sequences are driven by either a CMV or an EF-1alpha promoter."
The application further claims "compositions and methods … for inhibiting Ii and treating cancer," the abstract states. "Provided are siRNAs and expression constructs comprising DNA sequences [that] encode siRNAs effective to inhibit Ii expression, cells containing such DNA constructs or siRNAs, and methods for use of the same."
Title: Devices, Systems, and Methods for Improving Memory and/or Cognitive Function Through Brain Delivery of siRNA
Number: 20090060987
Filed: Oct. 31, 2007
Inventor: William Kaemmerer, Medtronic
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "relates to devices, systems, and methods for improving memory and/or cognitive function by brain delivery of compositions of small interfering RNA or vectors containing the DNA encoding for small interfering RNA. Such compositions can be administered using devices, systems, and methods for direct delivery of the compositions to the brain, or using devices, systems, methods of delivery, and compositions that deliver small interfering RNA or vectors containing the DNA encoding the small interfering RNA across the blood-brain barrier. The … invention also provides valuable small interfering RNA vectors, and methods for reduction of BACE1 levels in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, or other regions of the brain that have beneficial effects on improving memory and/or cognitive function in a subject."
Title: Cancer-Cell Targeting Using Nanoparticles
Number: 20090061010
Filed: March 31, 2008
Lead Inventor: Stephen Zale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The invention "generally relates to polymers and macromolecules, in particular, to polymers useful in particles such as nanoparticles," the patent application's abstract states. "One aspect of the invention is directed to a method of developing nanoparticles with desired properties. In one set of embodiments, the method includes producing libraries of nanoparticles having highly controlled properties, which can be formed by mixing together two or more macromolecules in different ratios. One or more of the macromolecules may be a polymeric conjugate of a moiety to a biocompatible polymer. In some cases, the nanoparticle may contain a drug. Other aspects of the invention are directed to methods using nanoparticle libraries."
Title: siRNA and Methods of Manufacture
Number: 20090061487
Filed: Sept. 6, 2007
Lead Inventor: Sam Reich, Opko Health
The patent application, its abstract states, claims "double-stranded RNA of about 19 to about 25 nucleotides in length capable of regulating gene expression by RNA interference. … Such double-stranded RNA are particularly useful for treating disease or conditions associated with a target mRNA or gene. Methods of manufacture and methods of use of the double-stranded RNA are also provided."
Title: Compositions and Methods for Inhibiting Expression of a Gene from the JC Virus
Number: 20090062225
Filed: April 27, 2007
Lead Inventor: Pamela Tan, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
According to the patent application's abstract, the invention "relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid for inhibiting the expression of a gene from the JC virus comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of a gene from the JC virus. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by JC-virus expression and the expression of a gene from the JC virus using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of a gene from the JC virus in a cell."
Title: piRNA and Uses Related Thereto
Number: 20090062228
Filed: March 7, 2008
Lead Inventor: Greg Hannon, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
"The invention relates to small single stranded RNAs and analogs thereof, collectively "piRNA" herein, compositions comprising such piRNAs, and their uses in regulating target-gene expression or as markers for certain disease states," the patent application's abstract states.
Title: Method and Composition for Reducing the Expression of ROCK-II
Number: 20090062229
Filed: May 6, 2008
Lead Inventor: Scott Morham, Myriad Genetics
The patent application, its abstract states, claims "methods and compositions for reducing the expression of Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2." The application specifically claims RNAi-based methods of reducing ROCK-II expression.
Title: Creating Poultry and Other Animals Resistant to Viral Disease
Number: 20090064352
Filed: March 31, 2006 PCT Filed: March 31, 2006
Inventor: Ronen Kahana, Kimron Veterinary Institute
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "is directed to genetically modified animals … resistant to viral infections," and claims "methods for creating animals which are resistant to viral infections."
The application specific claims the use of siRNAs to create the animals.