Title: Functional and Hyperfunctional siRNA Directed Against Bcl-2
Number: 7,511,132
Filed: Oct. 16, 2007
Lead Inventor: Anastasia Khvorova, Dharmacon (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
"Efficient sequence-specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology," the patent's abstract states. "By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene-silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing Bcl-2."
Title: Double-Stranded RNA Oligonucleotides Which Inhibit Tyrosinase Expression
Number: 20090081263
Filed: Oct. 15, 2008
Lead Inventor: Christine Collin-Djangone, L'Oreal
"Novel double-stranded RNA oligonucleotides are useful for decreasing tyrosinase expression, have cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical applications, for example are useful skin depigmenting or anti-browning agents, and can be associated with cationic particles less than or equal to 1 [micrometer] in size, having a zeta potential of from 10 to 80 mV," the patent application's abstract states.
Title: Pharmaceutical Composition for Treating Cancer
Number: 20090081282
Filed: Sept. 19, 2008
Lead Inventor: Yu-Kyoung Oh, Korea University
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "provides a small interfering RNA that is capable of inhibiting intracellular expression of Wnt1 through complementary binding to a Wnt1 transcript base sequence and a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising the same." The siRNA of the invention, the abstract notes, "is complementary to a base sequence of a Wnt1 transcript [and] provides apoptotic cancer cell death due to inhibition of expression of Wnt1 commonly expressed in cancer cells by RNA-mediated interference. Therefore, the composition of the … invention comprising the same can be used as an excellent anticancer drug."
Title: High-Throughput Method for Identifying Gene Function Using Lentiviral Vectors
Number: 20090081682
Filed: Sept. 19, 2008
Inventor: Boro Dropulic, Virxsys
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "relates to methods and compositions for the efficient identification of one or more functionalities of a product encoded by a nucleic acid sequence of interest. The methods utilize the abilities to over- and/or under-express the product in a cell, as well as the combination of these results, to permit the identification of at least one of the product's cellular or in vivo functionality."
Title: Methods of Treatment of Acute Renal Failure
Number: 20090082291
Filed: July 10, 2007
Lead Inventor: Elena Feinstein, Quark Pharmaceuticals
"The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide, which down-regulates the expression of a human p53 gene," the patent application's abstract states. "The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide compound … a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier … [and] contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from alopecia or acute renal failure or other diseases comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient. The alopecia may be induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and the patient may be suffering from cancer, in particular breast cancer."
Title: Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Cancer
Number: 20090082294
Filed: Feb. 5, 2008
Lead Inventor: Uri Nir, Urifer
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, comprises "nucleic acid molecules useful in the treatment of cancer. … The nucleic acid molecules may include a short interfering ribonucleic acid molecule directed against Fer mRNA."
The invention also comprises "a kit for the treatment of cancer including a short interfering ribonucleic acid molecule of the presently described subject matter, as well as a pharmaceutical composition containing a short interfering ribonucleic acid molecule … [as well as] a method of treating cancer in an individual in which expression of Fer in cells or tissues of an individual is inhibited using a short interfering ribonucleic acid molecule."
Title: Compositions and Methods for Regulating Gene Expression
Number: 20090082297
Filed: June 25, 2008
Lead Inventor: Daniel Lioy, Oregon Health & Science University
The patent application, according to its abstract, claims "methods, compositions, and kits for selectively increasing the expression of a target gene."
Specifically, the application claims the use of an oligonucleotide, including a locked nucleic acid, complementary to a microRNA recognition element in a messenger RNA encoding a protein of interest.
Title: Methods for Producing microRNAs
Number: 20090082298
Filed: June 5, 2008
Lead Inventor: Ross Dickins, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
"The invention relates to recombinant vectors for inducible and/or tissue-specific expression of double-stranded RNA molecules that interfere with the expression of a target gene," the patent application's abstract states. "In certain embodiments, the invention relates to the use of tetracycline-responsive RNA polymerase II promoters to direct inducible knockdown in certain cells of an integrated or an endogenous gene, such as p53. The invention also relates to a method for producing transgenic animals expressing inducible, reversible, and/or tissue-specific double-stranded RNA molecules that interfere with the expression of a target gene."
Title: Modulation of Transthyretin Expression
Number: 20090082300
Filed: Nov. 19, 2008
Lead Inventor: Vickie Brown-Driver, Isis Pharmaceuticals
The patent application, its abstract states, claims "compounds, compositions, and methods … for modulating the expression of transthyretin. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding transthyretin." Also claimed are "methods of using these compounds for modulation of transthyretin expression and for diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions associated with expression of transthyretin," the abstract adds.
Title: siRNA Targeting TATA Box-Binding Protein-Associated Factor
Number: 20090082556
Filed: June 6, 2008
Lead Inventor: Anastasia Khvorova, Dharmacon (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
"Efficient sequence-specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology," the patent application's abstract states. "By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene-silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for TAF1."
Title: Sequence-Specific Inhibition of Small RNA Function
Number: 20090083873
Filed: Nov. 19, 2008
Lead Inventor: Gyorgy Hutvagner, University of Massachusetts
The invention "relates to the discovery of a method for inhibiting RNA silencing in a target sequence-specific manner," the patent application's abstract states. "RNA silencing requires a set of conserved cellular factors to suppress expression of gene-encoded polypeptide. The invention provides compositions for sequence-specific inactivation of the RISC component of the RNA silencing pathway, and methods of use thereof. The RISC inactivators of the present invention enable a variety of methods for identifying and characterizing miRNAs and siRNAs, RISC-associated factors, and agents capable of modulating RNA silencing," it adds. "Therapeutic methods and compositions incorporating RISC inactivators and therapeutic agents identified through use of RISC inactivators are also featured."