Biopharmaceuticals Example Patent for Compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of ovarian Cancer

Invented by Chaitanya S. Bangur, Marc W. Retter, Gary R. Fanger, Paul Hill, Corixa Corp

Ovarian cancer is a deadly disease that affects thousands of women every year. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women, and it is estimated that over 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States alone in 2021. The market for compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of ovarian cancer is growing rapidly, as researchers and pharmaceutical companies work to develop new and innovative treatments for this devastating disease. One of the most promising areas of research in the field of ovarian cancer is the development of targeted therapies. These therapies are designed to specifically target cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This approach has the potential to be much more effective than traditional chemotherapy, which can damage healthy cells along with cancer cells. Several targeted therapies are currently in development for the treatment of ovarian cancer, and they are showing promising results in clinical trials. Another area of research that is gaining traction in the field of ovarian cancer is immunotherapy. This approach involves using the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy has been successful in treating other types of cancer, and researchers are now exploring its potential in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Several immunotherapy drugs are currently in development for the treatment of ovarian cancer, and they are showing promising results in early clinical trials. In addition to new treatments, there is also a growing market for diagnostic tests for ovarian cancer. Early detection is key to successful treatment of ovarian cancer, and researchers are working to develop new tests that can detect the disease in its early stages. These tests include blood tests, imaging tests, and genetic tests. Several companies are currently developing diagnostic tests for ovarian cancer, and they are expected to hit the market in the coming years. The market for compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of ovarian cancer is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. The global ovarian cancer therapeutics market is projected to reach $5.2 billion by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research. This growth is being driven by several factors, including an increase in the incidence of ovarian cancer, the development of new and innovative treatments, and a growing demand for early detection tests. In conclusion, the market for compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of ovarian cancer is a rapidly growing and exciting field. Researchers and pharmaceutical companies are working tirelessly to develop new and innovative treatments for this devastating disease, and the potential for success is high. With continued investment and research, we can hope to see significant progress in the fight against ovarian cancer in the coming years.

The Corixa Corp invention works as follows

Compositions and methods are disclosed for the treatment and diagnosis of cancers, especially ovarian cancer. Illustrative formulations include one or more polypeptides from ovarian cancer, immunogenic portions of these polypeptides as well as polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides. They also contain antigen-presenting cells that express such polypeptides and T cells specific to cells that express such polypeptides. Compositions disclosed are useful for the treatment, prevention, and/or diagnosis of diseases.

Background for Compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of ovarian Cancer

1. “1.

The present invention is a general therapy and diagnostic tool for cancers such as ovarian carcinoma. The invention is related more specifically to polypeptides that contain at least a part of an ovarian tumour protein and polynucleotides that encode such polypeptides. These polypeptides are used in pharmaceutical compositions such as vaccines and other compositions to diagnose and treat ovarian cancer.

2. “2.

Cancer is an important health problem around the globe. Despite advances in cancer detection and treatment, there is no universally effective method of prevention or treatment. The current therapies, which generally combine chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, are inadequate for many patients.

Ovarian Cancer is a major health issue for women throughout the United States, and the rest of the world. Despite advances in the detection and treatment of this cancer, there is no universally effective method for prevention or therapy. The management of this disease relies on early diagnosis, aggressive treatment and a range of other treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Treatment is chosen based on prognostic factors, such as an analysis of tumor markers. The use of established cancer markers can lead to results that are difficult to interpret and high mortality rates continue to be observed among many cancer patients.

Immunotherapies can improve cancer treatment and patient survival. These therapies could involve the generation of or enhancement to an antigen for ovarian cancer. “However, only a few ovarian cancer antigens have been identified and generating an immune response to such antigens is not shown to be beneficial.

Accordingly, in the field of medicine there is a requirement for improved methods to identify ovarian tumour antigens as well as for the use of such antigens for the treatment ovarian carcinoma. The present invention meets these needs, and also provides other benefits.

Despite extensive research into therapies for cancers like these and others, ovarian carcinoma remains difficult to diagnose. There is therefore a need for improved methods of detecting and treating cancers. “The present invention meets these needs, and also provides other benefits related to them.

In one aspect, this invention provides polynucleotide compounds that contain a sequence chosen from the following:

In one preferred embodiment, polynucleotide-based compositions are expressed at a concentration of at least 20%, preferable at 30% and at a maximum of 50% in ovarian tumours tested. This level is at least 2-fold, preferably 5-fold and at most 10-fold greater than normal tissue.

In another aspect of the invention, polypeptide compositions are provided that contain an amino acid coded by a sequence of polynucleotides described above.

The present invention also provides polypeptides composed of an amino acid sequence chosen from the group consisting SEQ ID Nos: 312-388, 392-455 458-459 478-511 571-618 623-624.

In certain preferred implementations, polypeptides or polynucleotides are immunogenic. They are capable of eliciting a response immune, in particular a humoral response and/or cellular immune response as described further herein.

The present invention also provides fragments or variants of polypeptide and/or nucleotide-based sequences. These fragments have an immunogenicity of at least 50%, more preferably 70%, and most preferably 90%, of the immunogenicity of polypeptides sequences as set forth by SEQ ID Nos. 312, 388-389 and 392-455 and 458-459 and 478-511 and 571-618, 623-624 and polypeptides encoded by polyn

The present invention also provides polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide as described above, expression vectors containing such polynucleotides, and host cells that have been transformed or transfected using such expression vectors.

In other aspects, this invention provides pharmaceutical compositions that contain a polypeptide (or polynucleotide) as described above in combination with a physiologically-acceptable carrier.

In a related aspect, pharmaceutical compositions (e.g. vaccine compositions) are provided for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. These compositions typically comprise an immunegenic polypeptide, polynucleotide or polynucleotide and an immunostimulant such as an adjuvant.

The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions which include: (a), an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds a polypeptide or fragment thereof of the invention; (b), a physiologically accept carrier.

The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions that include: (a), an antigen-presenting cell that demonstrates a polypeptide in the manner described above, and (b), a pharmaceutically accepted carrier or excipient. Antigen-presenting cells that can be used as examples include macrophages (monocytes), dendritics cells, fibroblasts, and B cells.

In related aspects, pharmaceutical compositions that include: (a), an antigen-presenting cell that expresses the polypeptide described above; and (b), an immunostimulant are provided.

The present invention also provides polynucleotides that encode fusion protein compositions comprising at least one polypeptide, such as those described above. These compositions are typically pharmaceutical compositions (e.g. vaccine compositions) and include a physiologically-acceptable carrier or immunostimulant. As described in the present invention, the fusion proteins can comprise multiple immunogenic polypeptides, or portions/variations thereof. They may also include one or more segments of polypeptides to facilitate the expression, purification, and/or immunogenicity.

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