Recent Patents Issued
U.S. Patent No. 6,846,490, titled "Nontoxic Vernix Compositions and Methods of Producing", issued on January 25, 2005. The inventors are Steve Hoath, Marty Visscher, and Bill Pickens of the Skin Sciences Institute. This patent claims compositions comprising natural or synthetic vernix for use as a skin curative to enhance healing and/or a skin protectant for protecting the skin from exposure to water and/or toxins. The technology described in this patent is under an exclusive option agreement with a multi-national corporation.
U.S. Patent No. 6,849,257, titled "Lipid Hydrolysis Therapy for Atherosclerosis and Related Diseases", issued February 1, 2005. The inventors are Greg Grabowski and Hong Du of the Division of Human Genetics. This patent claims methods of treating atherosclerosis, for example by reducing atherosclerotic plaque, by administering lysosomal acid lipase to a patient in need of such treatment. The technology described in this patent has been licensed to Large Scale Biology Corp. (as reported in the December 2003 newsletter).
U.S. Patent No. 6,872,406, titled "Fusogenic Properties of Saposin C and Related Proteins and Polypeptides for Application to Transmembrane Drug Delivery Systems", issued March 29, 2005. The inventor is Xioyang Qi of the Division of Human Genetics. This patent claims methods for delivering methods pharmaceutical agents within and/or through dermal and/or mucosal tissues utilizing a fusogenic protein, such as saposin C, in association with a phospholipid membrane (liposome) for use in cosmetic and medicinal applications. The technology described by the patent received a "Bridge the Gap" validation award in the fall of 2004, and is currently being developed as a possible start-up opportunity for Cincinnati Children's.
U.S. Patent No. 6,812,340, titled "Inhibition of Bone Tumor Formation Using Antisense cDNA Therapy", issued November 2, 2004. The inventors are Robert Gendron and Helene Paradis. The patent relates to a method for using tubedown-1 antisense oligonucleotide molecules for the treatment of bone tumors and Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors.
U.S. Patent No. 6,838,428, titled "Surfactant Protein D for the Prevention and Diagnosis of Pulmonary Emphysema", issued January 4, 2005. The inventor is Jeffrey Whitsett. The patent relates to methods for treating pulmonary disease, including injury caused by reactive oxygen, ozone, chemicals, or chemotherapeutic agents, inflammation, transplantation, emphysema, and bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, by administering mammalian SP-D to a human.
