Title: Composition and Methods of RNAi Therapeutics for Treatment of Cancer and Other Neovascularization Diseases
Number: 7,534,878
Filed: June 29, 2007
Lead Inventor: Yijia Liu, Intradigm
The patent, its abstract states, claims "compositions and methods for [the] treatment of diseases involving unwanted neovascularization. The invention provides treatments that control [neovascularization] through selective inhibition of pro-angiogenic biochemical pathways, including inhibition of the VEGF pathway gene expression and inhibition localized at pathological [neovascularization] tissues."
The patent also claims "tissue-targeted nanoparticle compositions comprising polymer conjugates and nucleic acid molecules that induce RNA interference," the abstract adds. "The nanoparticle compositions of the invention can be used alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents such as VEGF pathway antagonists. The compositions and methods can be used for the treatment of [neovascularization] diseases such as cancer, ocular disease, arthritis, and inflammatory diseases."
Title: Compositions for Bacterial-Mediated Gene Silencing and Methods of Using the Same
Number: 20090123426
Filed: Dec. 16, 2005 PCT Filed: Dec. 16, 2005
Lead Inventor: Chiang Li, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Cequent Pharmaceuticals)
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, comprises "methods … for the delivery of one or more small interfering RNAs to a eukaryotic cell using a bacterium," as well as "methods … for using this bacterium to regulate gene expression in eukaryotic cells using RNA interference, and methods for treating cancer [or] cell proliferative disorders.
"The bacterium includes one or more siRNAs or one or more DNA molecules encoding one or more siRNAs," the abstract adds. "Vectors are also described for use with the bacteria of the invention for causing RNA interference in eukaryotic cells."
Title: Oligonucleic Acid-Bearing Composite and Pharmaceutical Composition Containing the Composite
Number: 20090123532
Filed: Nov. 24, 2008
Lead Inventor: Junichi Yano, Nippon Shinyahu
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "provides a complex [with] a cationic liposome comprising 2-O-(2-diethylaminoethyl)carbamoyl-1,3-O-dioleoylglycerol and a phospholipid as main ingredients, and an oligo nucleic acid … carried on the liposome."
The invention also comprises "a pharmaceutical composition containing the complex to be used for treating or preventing diseases caused by a target molecule of the oligo nucleic acid since it is possible to administer the complex in vivo and to put the complex into practical use as a medicament because the complex can exhibit pharmacological efficacy in vivo," the abstract adds.
[ pagebreak ]
Title: Methods for Quantitating Small RNA Molecules
Number: 20090123912
Filed: Jan. 25, 2006 PCT Filed: Jan. 25, 2006
Inventor: Christopher Raymond, Rosetta Inpharmatics (Merck)
"In one aspect, the … invention provides methods for amplifying a microRNA molecule to produce DNA molecules," the patent application's abstract states. "The methods each include the steps of using primer extension to make a DNA molecule that is complementary to a target microRNA molecule; and using a universal forward primer and a reverse primer to amplify the DNA molecule to produce amplified DNA molecules. In some embodiments of the method, at least one of the forward primer and the reverse primer comprise at least one locked nucleic acid molecule."
Title: Methods and Compositions for the Treatment of Erythrocyte Diseases
Number: 20090124566
Filed: June 6, 2008
Lead Inventor: Jen-Tsan Chi, Duke University
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, comprises "methods to determine the susceptibility of a subject to erythrocyte diseases … [by] determining the [microRNA] compositions of erythrocytes from the subject."
It has been discovered that "erythrocytes comprise microRNA populations and the populations can be profiled or analyzed and used to determine the susceptibility for disease," the abstract notes. "The miRNA compositions can also be used to determine the severity of erythrocyte disease, and the features and clinical phenotypes of the erythrocyte disorders."
The invention also comprises "pharmaceutical compositions comprising erythrocyte miRNAs and methods for the treatment of a subject with an erythrocyte disease," the abstract adds. "In other embodiments of the invention, the miRNAs can be used to increase the life-span of erythrocytes through the introduction of an erythrocyte miRNA."
Title: Influenza Therapeutic
Number: 20090124567
Filed: June 3, 2008
Lead Inventor: Jianzhu Chen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MDRNA)
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "provides methods and compositions for inhibiting influenza infection and/or replication based on the phenomenon of RNA interference, [as] well as systems for identifying effective siRNAs and shRNAs for inhibiting influenza virus and systems for studying influenza virus infective mechanisms. The invention also provides methods and compositions for inhibiting infection, pathogenicity, and/or replication of other infectious agents, particularly those that infect cells that are directly accessible from outside the body, e.g., skin cells or mucosal cells.
"In addition, the invention provides compositions comprising an RNAi-inducing entity, e.g., an siRNA, shRNA, or RNAi-inducing vector targeted to an influenza virus transcript and any of a variety of delivery agents," the abstract adds. "The invention further includes methods of use of the compositions for treatment of influenza."