Published May 24 (EP); May 18 (WO); May 24 (GB)

Aberdeen, Univ. of GB 2 343 895

_-cell transplants

Aberdeen, UK

Immortalized insulin-producing human _-cell that can be rendered glucose responsive; for cell transplants.

Abraham, N.G., et al. WO 00/27198

Interferon therapy

Valhalla, N.Y.

Retroviral vectors encoding interferon-a, cells transduced with these vectors; for interferon therapy.

Adv. Biotech. Ctr. Consortium WO 00/27996

Chondrocyte culture medium

Genoa, Italy

Serum-free medium for the growth and proliferation of chondrocytes and mesenchymal cells in culture.

Ajinomoto EP 1 002 866

Controlling bacterial growth

Tokyo

Genes encoding corynebacteria surfactant temperature sensitivity, encoded protein; for controlling growth.

Alcon Labs WO 00/28042

Lowering intraocular pressure

Ft. Worth, Texas

Administration of an inducible gene for cyclooxygenase to eye tissue; for lowering intraocular pressure.

Aventis Pharma WO 00/28010

Ex vivo gene therapy

Frankfurt, Germany

Removing cells for transfection with a growth and/or differentiation factor gene; for therapeutic reintroduction.

Aventis Pharma WO 00/28062

Neuronal gene therapy vector

Antony, France

Vector having a tetracycline (tet) transactivator controlled by a tet-dependent promoter; for neuronal gene therapy.

Aventis Pharma WO 00/28064

Vancoresmycin antibiotics

Frankfurt, Germany

Production of vancoresmycin from microorganisms; for use as an antibiotic.

Barth, S. WO 00/28050

Recombinant protein expression

Cologne, Germany

Recovery of recombinant proteins from transformed organisms in which expression is triggered by stress.

BASF WO 00/27884

Vitamin E antibodies

Ludwigshafen, Germany

Antibodies, mini-antibodies, and antibody fragments that bind vitamin E, antibody selection methods.

BASF WO 00/28063

Chromane production

Ludwigshafen, Germany

Catalytic antibodies and fragments; for producing chromanes by cyclization.

Baxter WO 00/28021

Factor VIII polypeptide

Vienna, Austria

Factor VIII polypeptide having Factor VIII:C activity, production method; for influencing LDL binding affinity.

Bayer WO 00/27881

IL-2 muteins

Leverkusen, Germany

Human interleukin (IL)-2 mutant proteins, encoding gene sequences; for therapeutics.

Ben Gurion Univ. WO 00/28019

IL-15 antisense

Beer Sheva, Israel

Antisense oligomers capable of inhibiting interleukin (IL)-15 production; for therapeutics.

Beth Israel Deaconess Hosp. WO 00/27416

Angiogenesis stimulation

Boston

Stimulation of angiogenesis via the syndecan-4 cytoplasmic domain signalling pathway.

Biocrystal WO 00/28088 & 28089

DNA nanocrystals

Westerville, Ohio

Nanocrystals with attached polynucleotide strands that form dendrimers when hybridized to targets; for sequencing.

Biogen WO 00/27422

Peripheral neuropathy therapy

Cambridge, Mass.

Treating or preventing peripheral neuropathies using hedgehog gene products.

Bionebraska WO 00/28067

Protein amidation

Lincoln, Neb.

Enzymatic amidation of proteins so that the C-terminal arginine has an a-carboxamide group.

Bologne, Univ. of EP 1 002 864

Herpes infection therapeutic

Bologne, Italy

Monoclonal antibodies to herpes simplex proteins; for preventing and treating infections.

Brigham & Women's Hosp. WO 00/27865

cbl-SL protein

Boston

Gene sequences encoding cbl-SL protein, fragments, functional variants; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Cedars-Sinai Med. Ctr. WO 00/27874

Transferrin receptor-like proteins

Los Angeles

Transferrin receptor-like proteins, fragments, encoding gene sequences, antisense; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

CNRS (Natl. Ctr. Sci. Res.) WO 00/27871

Potassium channel family

Paris

Potassium channel family regulated by external pH, encoding genes; for screening modulators for therapeutics.

Cytomatrix WO 00/27999

Lymphoid cell production

Woburn, Mass.

Production of lymphoid tissue-specific cells from hematopoietic progenitor cells in three-dimensional devices.

Diasorin WO 00/28039

Viral gene probes

Saluggia, Italy

Viral genome genes, probes for identification; for infection diagnostics and therapeutics.

Digital Gene Technol. WO 00/28013

Macrophage activation modulated genes

La Jolla, Calif.

Gene sequences and encoded proteins whose expression is modulated by microglia and macrophage activation.

Digital Gene Technol. WO 00/28026

Opiate-modulated genes

La Jolla, Calif.

Gene sequences and encoded proteins whose expression is modulated by opiate administration and withdrawal.

Digital Gene Technol. WO 00/28033

Novel polypeptides

La Jolla, Calif.

Novel polypeptides, encoding gene sequences, fragments, antibodies, production methods.

Du Pont WO 00/28036

Disease resistance factors

Wilmington, Del.

NPR1 gene, encoded disease resistance factors, chimeric genes; for therapeutics.

Eiken Kagaku WO 00/28082

Nucleic acid synthesis

Tokyo

Process for synthesizing nucleic acids using an isothermal reaction and specific primers.

Emory Univ. WO 00/27998

Cell division control

Atlanta

Proteins that generate reactive oxygen intermediates that affect cell division, encoding genes; for therapeutics.

Emory Univ. WO 00/28031

Hematopoietic cell transplants

Atlanta

Improving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation using cell preparations with reduced dendritic cell number.

Eurona Medical WO 00/28079

Aplastic anemia gene

Uppsala, Sweden

Gene that is inactivated in aplastic anemia, mutations, oligo probes; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Fibrogen WO 00/27868

Connective tissue growth factor

S. San Francisco

Connective tissue growth factor, encoding gene sequences, production methods; for therapeutics.

Gendaq WO 00/27878

Zinc finger protein screen

London

Screening system for finding zinc finger nucleic acid binding proteins using polysome display.

Genecare WO 00/28048

Gene therapy plasmids

Lyngby, Denmark

Plasmid having the ability to maintain low or high copy number depending on defined conditions, for gene therapy.

Genencor Intl. WO 00/28007

Mutant serine hydrolases

Palo Alto, Calif.

Chemically modified mutant serine hydrolases having improved catalytic activity and chiral selectivity.

Genset WO 00/28080

Trait-associated genes

Paris

Methods, software, and instrumentation for finding genomic regions having a gene associated with a detectable trait.

Hadasit Med. Res. Serv. & Develop. WO 00/27870

Newly identified proteins

Jerusalem, Israel

Newly identified proteins, biologically functional homologs, encoding gene sequences, antibodies.

Harvard Univ. WO 00/28011

Engineered cell regulation

Cambridge, Mass.

FK506-based regulation of target gene transcription, growth, proliferation, and differentiation of engineered cells.

Hoechst Marion Roussel WO 00/28024

Human transcription factor

Puteaux, France

Human transcription factor htfIIIA, encoded protein; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Hoechst Marion Roussel WO 00/28037

Antifungal agents

Puteaux, France

Candida yeast transcription factor, encoding gene sequences, analogs, production methods; for finding antifungal agents.

Human Genome Sciences WO 00/28035

Chemokine _-7

Rockville, Md.

Chemokine _-7, encoding gene sequences, mutants, production methods; for immune system therapeutics.

Identigene WO 00/28085

Newborn genotyping

Houston, Texas

Methods for identification and tracking newborns using genotyping methods.

Incyte Genomics WO 00/28027

Corticosteroid synthesis-associated genes

Palo Alto, Calif.

Corticosteroid synthesis-associated genes, encoded proteins, antisense, antibodies; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Incyte Genomics WO 00/28029

Cell surface glycoproteins

Palo Alto, Calif.

Cell surface glycoproteins, encoding gene sequences, antibodies, modulators; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Incyte Genomics WO 00/28032

Cell surface receptor proteins

Palo Alto, Calif.

Human cell surface receptor proteins, encoding genes, antibodies, modulators; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Incyte Genomics WO 00/28034

Cytokine signal regulators

Palo Alto, Calif.

Cytokine signal regulators, encoding gene sequences, antibodies, modulators; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Incyte Genomics WO 00/28045

Human hydrolases

Palo Alto, Calif.

Human hydrolases, encoding gene sequences, antibodies, modulators; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Indian Counc. Sci. & Indus. Res. EP 1 002 869

Artificial promoter

New Delhi, India

Chemically synthesized artificial promoter designed using database sequences.

Indian Counc. Sci. & Indus. Res. EP 1 002 872

Mutation identification

New Delhi, India

Identification of mutations and associated phenotypes in non-dividing cells using mutagens.

INSERM (Natl. Inst. Hlth. & Med. Res.) WO 00/28001

MHC exosomes

Paris

Exosome vesicles that contain major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules; for inducing immune responses.

Isis Innovation WO 00/28000

Dendritic cell production

Oxford, UK

Producing mature dendritic cells by co-culture of embryonic stem cells and immature dendritic cells.

Isis Innovation WO 00/28075

Antibiotic screens

Oxford, UK

Bacillus strains having genes replaced by heterologous and reporter genes; for antibiotic screens.

Isotis EP 1 002 859

Seeding cells onto scaffolds

Bilthoven, Netherlands

Methods for seeding cells onto porous or fibrous scaffolds; for tissue engineering.

IVS Technol. WO 00/28086

DNA diagnostics

Carlsbad, Calif.

DNA-based diagnostic methods using two differentially-labeled primers and amplification reactions.

Japan Sci. & Technol. WO 00/27186

Leukemia model

Saitama, Japan

Animals lacking T cell function into which human T cell leukemia virus-1 infected cells have been transplanted.

Japan Sci. & Technol. WO 00/28015

Mutation analysis

Saitama, Japan

Introducing more point mutations into one strand of double-stranded genomic DNA; for mutation analysis.

Karolinska Innovations WO 00/28022

PGE synthase

Stockholm, Sweden

Prostaglandin E (PGE) synthase, encoding gene sequences, production methods; for finding modulators.

Kerckhoff Clinic WO 00/28023

Ischemia-induced genes

Bad Nauheim, Germany

Gene sequences whose expression is induced by ischemia and reperfusion; for therapeutic preconditioning.

Kirkpatrick, S.A. WO 00/27409

Transfected Sertoli cells

Tucson, Ariz.

Sertoli cells transfected with vectors coding therapeutics; for producing immunologically privileged sites.

Kyowa Hakko Kogyo WO 00/27885

klotho protein-Ig chimera

Tokyo

klotho protein-immunoglobulin (Ig) chimera, encoding gene sequences; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Leuven Res. & Develop. WO 00/27876

Lectins

Leuven, Belgium

Methods for isolating lectins from the albumin fraction, purified lectins; for use as therapeutics.

Ludwig Inst. WO 00/27879

PDGF D

New York

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) D, encoding gene sequences, antibodies; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

MacFarlane Burnet Ctr. Med. Res. WO 00/28003

HIV therapeutic

Fairfield, Australia

Fowl pox vectors encoding HIV gag or pol antigens and a cytokine; for HIV therapy.

McGill Univ. WO 00/28324

Neuronal growth modulators

Montreal

Controlling neuronal growth by affecting the p75NTR or MEK/MAPK pathways, methods for identifying modulators.

Medigene WO 00/28059

Brain tumor gene therapy

Kuopio, Finland

Adenoviral vectors having functional thymidine kinase genes; for brain tumor gene therapy.

Melbourne, Univ. of WO 00/27877

Major facilitator proteins

Parkville, Australia

Major facilitator superfamily proteins having laminin homology, encoding gene sequences, antibodies.

Merck WO 00/27862

Melanocortin 3 receptor

Rahway, N.J.

Gene sequences encoding the melanocortin 3 receptor from rhesus monkeys, encoded protein; for finding modulators.

Merck WO 00/27863

Melanocortin 4 receptor

Rahway, N.J.

Gene sequences encoding the melanocortin 4 receptor from rhesus monkeys, encoded protein; for finding modulators.

Merck WO 00/28002

Melanocortin 5 receptor

Rahway, N.J.

Gene sequences encoding the melanocortin 5 receptor from rhesus monkeys, encoded protein; for finding modulators.

Methexis WO 00/28081

Polymorphism genotyping

Ghent, Belgium

Genotyping of polymorphisms using variation in endonuclease sites in the polymorphic region.

Microbilogical Res. Auth. WO 00/28041

Neuronal SOD targeting

Salisbury, UK

Delivery of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to neuronal cells using targeting domains; for treating oxidative damage.

Microscience WO 00/28038

Virulence genes

London

Virulence genes from E. coli K1, encoded proteins; for treating infection of pathogenic E. coli.

Millennium Pharma WO 00/28028

Epstein Barr-induced receptors

Cambridge, Mass.

G protein-coupled receptors homologous to those induced by Epstein Barr virus, encoding genes; for therapeutics.

Mira Diagnostics EP 1 002 875

Oligo polymerase inhibitor

Leverkusen, Germany

Oligonucleotide inhibitor of the 5'-3' exonuclease activity of a thermostable polymerase.

Mitokor WO 00/28458

DNA sequence patterns

San Diego

Methods and systems for analyzing patterns in DNA sequence files; for finding gene families.

Mitsubishi Chemical WO 00/27872

Sensor protein

Tokyo

Sensor protein made up of a binding protein linked to a reporter protein; for monitoring biological function.

Molec. Biol. Res. Inst. WO 00/28060

Adenoviral vector production

Pomezia, Italy

Cells for the production of helper-dependent adenoviral vectors, methods of preparation and use in gene therapy.

Molec. Biol. Resources WO 00/28084

Isothermal DNA amplification

Milwaukee

Isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods using serial generation of double-stranded DNA with terminal nick sites.

Monash Univ. WO 00/27995

Human embryonic stem cells

Clayton, Australia

Undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells, methods of cultivation and propagation.

Myriad Genetics WO 00/27864

Prostate cancer gene

Salt Lake City

Chromosome 17p-linked prostate cancer susceptibility gene, encoded protein; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

NIH (Natl. Inst. Hlth.) WO 00/27875

Neurotrophic factor

Bethesda, Md.

Activity dependent neurotrophic factor III, encoding gene sequences, antibodies; for treating neural disease.

NIH (Natl. Inst. Hlth.) WO 00/28049

High-stability vector

Bethesda, Md.

High-stability vector derived from the large virulence plasmid of Shigella flexneri; for improved cell stability.

Nitsch, R.M. EP 1 002 862

Brain gene

Hamburg, Germany

Brain-derived gene sequence, encoded protein; for diagnosing and treating neurological disease.

North Carolina, Univ. of WO 00/28004

Parvovirus vectors

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Genetically engineered parvovirus vectors having inserted heterologous genes; for less antigenic gene therapy.

North Western Hlth. Care Network WO 00/28009

Hepatitis B variant

Parkville, Australia

Hepatitis B virus variant strain having an altered immunological profile; for therapeutics.

Novo Nordisk WO 00/28065

Factor VII production

Bagsvaerd, Denmark

Enhancing the expression of Factor VII by co-expressing kex2 endoprotease in mammalian cells.

Novo Nordisk Biotech WO 00/28043

Preventing microbial biofilms

Davis, Calif.

Lactonohydrolase, encoding gene sequences, production methods; for preventing microbial biofilm development.

Novo Nordisk Biotech WO 00/28044

Lysophospholipase

Davis, Calif.

Lysophospholipase, encoding gene sequences, production methods.

Nyxis WO 00/28090

Glioblastoma diagnostics

Chicago

Gene expression patterns characteristic of brain cancers such as glioblastomas; for diagnostics.

Oregon Hlth. Sci. Univ. WO 00/28040

Kaposi's sarcoma model

Portland, Ore.

Cloning of rhadinovirus which causes Kaposi's sarcoma-like symptoms in immune compromised primates; for Kaposi's model.

Ortho-McNeil Pharma WO 00/28092

Gene expression profiling

Raritan, N.J.

Methods for generating gene expression profiles from selected cells; for differential expression assays.

Pennsylvania, Univ. of WO 00/28061

AAV gene therapy vectors

Philadelphia

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 1 nucleic acid sequences, vectors, functional fragments; for gene therapy.

Res. Corp. Technol. WO 00/27873

IL-2 binding protein

Tucson, Ariz.

Interleukin (IL)-2 binding protein from arthropods, antibodies, modulators; for affecting immunoresponses.

Rochester, Univ. of WO 00/28016

Tumor-killing T cells

Rochester, N.Y.

Induction and isolation of cytotoxic T cells that specifically attack tumor cells.

Rogosin Inst. WO 00/27207

Suppressing cell growth

New York

Growth restricted cells; for producing proliferation suppressive materials.

San Raffaele del Monte Tabor Fdn. WO 00/27880

HIV therapeutics

Milan, Italy

RANTES-derived peptides having anti-HIV activity; for therapeutics.

Sanko Junyaku EP 1 002 877

Gene amplification

Tokyo

Gene amplification methods that do not use enzymes or branched DNA but do use overlapping probes.

Sanofi-Synthelabo EP 1 002 863

Potassium channel

Paris

Potassium channel from the erg protein family, encoding gene; for neurological diagnostics and therapeutics.

Sanofi-Synthelabo EP 1 002 865

Adipose-specific protein

Paris

Adipose-specific protein, encoding gene, recombinant production methods; for treating obesity.

Schering EP 1 002 870

DNA binding steroid receptor

Berlin

Androgen and progesterone receptor binding hormone response DNA sequence elements [in German].

Scios WO 00/28091

Gene expression analysis

Sunnyvale, Calif.

Integrated computer software systems for analyzing gene expression data from microarrays and gene chips.

Sequetech WO 00/28087

Nucleic acid sequencing

Mountain View, Calif.

Library of modified primers for nucleic acid sequencing using polymerase-catalyzed primer-extension reactions.

SmithKline Beecham WO 00/27427

Antibacterial screens

Philadelphia

Bacterial trmD proteins, encoding genes, recombinant production methods; for antibacterial screens.

SmithKline Beecham WO 00/27882

HNOVILR peptides

Philadelphia

HNOVILR peptides, encoding gene sequences, recombinant production methods; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

SmithKline Beecham WO 00/28083

Mouse 7-transmembrane receptor

Philadelphia

Mouse 7-transmembrane receptor, encoding gene, recombinant production methods; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

South Carolina, Med. Univ. of WO 00/27883

Tumor cell apoptosis

Charleston, S.C.

Transfecting tumor cells with Fas ligand gene; for causing apoptosis in Fas positive tumor cells.

Stanford Univ. WO 00/27861

PDE-interacting proteins

Palo Alto, Calif.

Phosphodiesterase (PDE)-interacting proteins, encoding genes; for inflammation diagnostics and therapeutics.

Sterrenbeld Biotech WO 00/27869, 27997 & 28066

EPO purification

Wilmington, Del.

Purifying recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) from supernatants from large-scale cell culture, host cells, purified EPO.

Temple Univ. WO 00/27866

Angiogenesis inhibition

Philadelphia

Inhibition of angiogenesis by high molecular weight kininogen and its peptide analogs.

Texas, Univ. of WO 00/28020

Inhibiting cardiac hypertrophy

Austin, Texas

Inhibition of calcium stimulation of cardiac hypertrophic response through the MEF2 transcription factor.

Thomas Jefferson Univ. WO 00/28047

Apoptotic protease

Philadelphia

Apoptotic protease caspase-14, encoding gene sequences, functional fragments, antibodies; for modulating apoptosis.

Tosoh EP 1 002 878

Hepatitis C therapeutic

Shinnanyo, Japan

Hepatitis C virus RNA-binding oligonucleotide, preparation method; for treating hepatitis C infections.

Unilever EP 1 002 861

Antigen-binding proteins

London

Heavy chain variable domains of immunoglobulins attached with linkers having restricted conformational flexibility.

U.S. Navy WO 00/27205

Diarrhea therapeutic

Arlington, Va.

E. coli-Campylobacter coli fusion protein; for vaccines against campylobacter-induced diarrhea.

Wales, Univ. Coll. Med. WO 00/28025

Bioluminescent indicator

Cardiff, UK

Pholasin, a bioluminescent oxidative indicator, variants with modified emission characteristics; for reporter use.

Zeneca WO 00/28323

TGF-_ modulator modulators

London

Methods for identifying modulators of BS69, a modulator of transforming growth factor (TGF)-_; for therapeutics.

Zymogenetics WO 00/28030

Placenta regulating protein

Seattle

Human secretory protein 61, encoding gene sequences, antibodies; for regulating placental development.