Published April 1 & 8 (EPO); March 26 & April 2 (WO); April 8 (GB)

American Cyanamid WO 98/13501

Mononegavirales virus vaccines

Madison, N.J.

Recombinant RNA mononegavirales viruses with attenuating mutations in the 3' genomic promoter region; for vaccines.

Angeletti Molec. Biol. Inst. WO 98/12308

Soluble hepatitis protease fragments

Pomezia, Italy

Process for preparing and purifying soluble peptide fragments of the hepatitis C NS3 serine protease.

Angeletti Molec. Biol. Res. Inst. WO 98/13383

IL-6 antagonist

Pomezia, Italy

Adenoviral vectors encoding human interleukin (IL)-6 muteins with antagonist activity; for therapy.

Bailey, J.E., et al. WO 98/12913

Globin producing plants

Zurich, Switzerland

Transgenic plants with inserted genes and enhanced growth characteristics; for producing globins.

Barcelona Free Univ. WO 98/12317

Metalocarboxypeptidase inhibitors

Bellaterra, Spain

Metalocarboxypeptidase inhibitors, natural protein variants, and peptidomimetics; for use as antitumor agents.

Bavarian Nordic Res. Inst. WO 98/13500

Dengue virus vaccine

Glostrup, Denmark

Recombinant MVA virus vectors expressing dengue virus antigens; for vaccines.

Biomec Technol. Transfer WO 98/12320

Gene expression control

Freiburg, Germany

Vector encoding a fusion of a stat protein and an activated nuclear receptor; for controlling gene expression.

British Biotech Pharma WO 98/13495

Human RANTES muteins

Oxford, U.K.

Muteins of human RANTES that aggregate less under physiological conditions and are less pro-inflammatory.

California, Univ. of WO 98/11779

Intestinal cell transfection

Oakland, Calif.

Oral administration of a gene for transfection of intestinal cells; for gastrointestinal delivery of therapeutics.

Calif. Inst. Technol. WO 98/13491

Neurogenins

Pasadena, Calif.

Genes for neurogenins, encoded proteins, antibodies; for therapeutics.

Case Western Res. Univ. WO 98/12316

Repeat sequence cloning

Cleveland, Ohio

Method for stably cloning large repeating DNA sequences, especially alpha satellite DNA.

Cedars-Sinai Med. Ctr. WO 98/12323

Congenital heart disease protein

Los Angeles

Gene for congenital heart disease protein, encoded protein, antibodies; for therapeutics.

Ctr. Blood Res. WO 98/12324

Monocyte chemotactic protein 5

Boston

Gene for monocyte chemotactic protein 5; for screening assays, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

Chiron EPO 832 980

Prodrug conversion vector

Emeryville, Calif.

Recombinant viral vectors having a gene mediating prodrug conversion; for treating infections.

Chiron WO 98/12332

Treating intracellular pathogens

Emeryville, Calif.

Treating intracellular infections using vaccines containing an antigen derived from the intracellular pathogen.

Chiron WO 98/12337

Gene function analysis

Emeryville, Calif.

Random and targeted promoter integration; for analyzing gene function in cells and organisms.

Cold Sp. Harb. Labs WO 98/12339

Replication-deficient retroviruses

Cold Sp. Harb., N.Y.

Replication-deficient retroviral vectors, packaging cell lines; for elucidating gene function.

Corixa EPO 834 567

Babesia microti antigens

Seattle, Wash.

Genes for Babesia microti antigens, encoded proteins, antibodies; for diagnosis and vaccine preparation.

Cornell Univ. WO 98/12341

Kaposi's herpesvirus propagation

Ithaca, N.Y.

Epstein-Barr virus-free lymphoma cell line having Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus; for viral propagation.

Creative Biomolecules WO 98/13509

Bone morphogenesis gene

Hopkinton, Mass.

Gene expressed during mammalian tissue, particularly bone, morphogenesis; for identifying analogs for therapy.

Dana-Farber Cancer Inst. WO 98/13508

Gene therapy targeting cancers

Boston

Vectors with E2F transcription factor responsive promoters; for gene therapy that targets cancer cells.

Diagnocure WO 98/12227

Carcinoma antigen antibodies

Saint-Foy, Que.

Recombinant single chain antibodies directed against the gp54 carcinoma antigen; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

DNAVec Res. WO 98/12336

Artificial mammalian chromosome

Tsukuba, Japan

Artificial chromosome with a centromere and DNA replication origin as well as telomeres added by host yeast cells.

Duke Univ. WO 98/12310

Electroporation apparatus

Durham, N.C.

Apparatus and method for transfecting cells by electroporation.

Eisai EPO 834 740

Osteocalcin antibodies

Tokyo

Antibodies that can discriminate between osteocalcin and osteocalcin with glutamine as its 17th amino acid residue.

Favre, D. WO 98/12315

Cell-free translation extract

Montreal, Que.

Efficient translation of mRNAs in a cytoplasmic extract from eukaryotic cells cultured in monolayers.

Fujita Hlth. Univ. EPO 834 562

Calpain inhibitor

Aichi, Japan

Gene for a calpain inhibitor, encoded protein, production method.

Garvan Inst. Med. Res. WO 98/12303

Neuronal cell culture

Darlinghurst, Australia

Separation of neuronal and glial cells and methods for subsequent cell culture.

Genentech EPO 832 971

Adheson variants

S. San Francisco

Derivatives of cell surface proteins homologous to the immunoglobulin superfamily; for treating HIV infection.

Genetics Inst. WO 98/12322

Bone morphogenic protein-16

Cambridge, Mass.

Gene for bone morphogenic protein-16, encoded protein; for treating bone diseases and inducing cell growth.

Geron GB 2 317 891

Telomerase reverse transcriptase

Menlo Park, Calif.

Gene for the reverse transcriptase subunit of human telomerase, encoded protein, antibodies; for cancer and ageing.

Graham, F.L., et al. WO 98/13510

High capacity adenoviral vectors

Hamilton, Ont.

Helper-dependent vector system; for producing high capacity adenoviral cloning vectors.

Harvard Univ. WO 98/12326

Hedgehog-interacting proteins

Cambridge, Mass.

Genes for hedgehog-interacting proteins, encoded proteins; for modifying hedgehog-mediated induction.

Harvard Univ. WO 98/13494

Wilms' tumor binding proteins

Cambridge, Mass.

Wilms' tumor WT1 binding proteins, assay for modulators; for controlling cell growth and differentiation.

Hoffmann-La Roche EPO 834 572

DAB transfection carriers

Basel, Switzerland

Alpha- and gamma-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) containing oligopeptides; for use as nucleic acid carriers in transfection.

Human Genome Sciences WO 98/12204

B cell translocation genes

Rockville, Md.

Human B cell translocation genes, encoded proteins, vectors, host cell expression system.

Human Genome Sciences WO 98/12344

TNF receptor homologous genes

Rockville, Md.

Genes for receptors having homology to type 2 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor, encoded proteins, expression system.

Icos WO 98/13502

Protein binding disruption

Bothell, Wash.

Methods for identifying compounds that disrupt protein-protein interactions between known binding partners.

Idun Pharma WO 98/12328

Human Bad proteins

La Jolla, Calif.

Genes for human Bad proteins and functional fragments; for screening modifiers and affecting cell viability.

Incyte WO 98/12220

Human tumor proteins

Palo Alto, Calif.

Genes for human tumor proteins, antisense, encoded proteins, expression system; for treating cancer.

Incyte WO 98/12223

Interferon-inducible protein

Palo Alto, Calif.

Genes for a human interferon-inducible protein, antisense, encoded protein, expression system.

Incyte WO 98/12325

GTP binding protein gamma-3

Palo Alto, Calif.

Gene for human GTP binding protein gamma-3, encoded protein, antibodies, expression system; for identifying modifiers.

Incyte WO 98/13484

Cathepsins

Palo Alto, Calif.

Genes for human cathepsins, encoded proteins, antibodies, antisense, expression system; for diagnosis and therapy.

Kansas St. Univ. WO 98/12319

Staphylococcus antibacterials

Manhattan, Kan.

Broad spectrum therapeutic peptides from Staphylococcus; for antibacterials.

KM Biotech WO 98/13492

Motoneurotrophic factors

Montebello, Calif.

Genes for motoneurotrophic factors, encoded proteins, expression systems; for axonal regeneration.

Knappe, A., et al. WO 98/12330

Mammalian cytokine

Erlangen, Germany

Gene for a mammalian cytokine, encoded protein, antibodies; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Leiden St. Univ. EPO 834 561 & WO 98/13490

Migraine-associated genes

Leiden, Netherlands

Brain-specific calcium channel subunit and related migraine and neurological disorder genes on chromosome 19.

Ludwig Inst. Cancer Res. WO 98/13374

Tumor rejection antigen

New York

Gene for a tumor rejection antigen, encoded protein; for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Lxr Biotech WO 98/13493

Apoptosis-related protein

Richmond, Calif.

Genes for the apoptosis-related SARP polypeptide, encoded protein, antibodies; for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Mass. Gen. Hosp. WO 98/12207

High synthetic gene expression

Boston

Synthetic gene with a less preferred amino acid codon replaced by a preferred codon; for high level expression.

Mass. Gen. Hosp. WO 98/12311

Baculovirus vector system

Boston

Baculovirus expression vector for transfecting recombinant genes into mammalian cells.

Max Planck Inst. WO 98/13489

Tumor suppressors

Berlin, Germany

Genes for tumor suppressors, encoded proteins, antibodies, antisense, production methods; for cancer treatment.

Maxygen WO 98/13485 & 13487

Gene therapy optimization

Santa Clara, Calif.

Optimization of expression vector performance by recursive sequence shuffling and selection; for gene therapy.

McGill Univ. WO 98/13507

Tumor-specific promoter

Montreal, Que.

Tumor-specific promoter Hex II, vectors incorporating the promoter; for targeted gene therapy.

Millennium Pharma WO 98/12302

Weight control genes

Cambridge, Mass.

Genes for Tub interactor polypeptides of the weight control pathway, encoded proteins; for diagnosis and therapy.

MRC (Med. Res. Counc.) WO 98/12304

Hematopoietic stem cell culture

London

An in vitro cell culture system for the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells.

MRC (Med. Res. Counc.) WO 98/13496

Chaperone protein fragments

London

GroEL chaperone protein fragments, muteins, and modifications that retain activity.

NIH (Natl. Inst. Hlth.) WO 98/11914

Targeting antigens for vaccines

Bethesda, Md.

Targeting antigens to the MHC Class I processing pathway with an anthrax toxin fusion protein; for vaccines.

NIH (Natl. Inst. Hlth.) WO 98/13511

Retroviral vector packaging

Bethesda, Md.

Retroviral vectors with recombinant genes amplified by autocatalytic togavirus vectors in the cell cytoplasm.

Novartis WO 98/13499

Adenoviral packaging cells

Basel, Switzerland

Packaging cell lines for developing high capacity adenoviral vectors; for gene therapy.

Novo Nordisk WO 98/12300

Recombinant protein production

Bagsvaerd, Denmark

Expression system host cells having reduced levels of metalloprotease and alkaline protease; for producing proteins.

Ontogeny WO 98/12306

Hematopoietic stem cell generation

Cambridge, Mass.

Viable stem cells obtained from an animal donor and transfected with a hematopoietic gene; for making stem cells.

Pharming EPO 832 981

Therapeutics secreted in milk

Leiden, Netherlands

Vectors having enhancer sequences that can target transgenic gene expression to milk; for efficient secretion.

Reed, G.L. WO 98/12329 & 12334

Fibrinolysis enhancement

Winchester, Mass.

Fibrinolysis enhancement using chimeric, humanized, and single chain antibodies to *-2-antiplasmin; for stroke.

Salk Inst. WO 98/12314

Quiescent cell transfection

La Jolla, Calif.

Retroviral vectors modified to be recognized by the nuclear import machinery of a non-dividing cell; for transfection.

Schering WO 98/13488

Alzheimer's treatment

Berlin, Germany

Cellular model systems used to determine amyloid precursor protein secretase activity; for Alzheimer's disease.

Shanghai Inst. Cell Biol. GB 2 317 890

Liver cancer antibodies

Shanghai, China

Radiolabelled mouse monoclonal antibody directed against primary liver carcinomas; for cancer therapy.

SmithKline Beecham EPO 832 973

Antibacterial screen

Philadelphia, Penn.

Gene for a GTP-binding protein, encoded protein, production methods; for screening antibacterials.

SmithKline Beecham EPO 832 975

Staphylococcus antibacterials

Philadelphia, Penn.

Gene for Staphylococcus aureus histidinol dehydrogenase, encoded protein; for screening antibacterials.

SmithKline Beecham EPO 832 977

Antibacterial screen

Philadelphia, Penn.

Gene for sugar kinase, encoded protein, production methods; for screening antibacterials.

SmithKline Beecham EPO 832 978

Antibacterial screen

Philadelphia, Penn.

Gene for 3-dehydroquinate synthase, encoded protein, production methods; for screening antibacterials.

SmithKline Beecham EPO 834 563

Human 7-transmembrane receptor

Philadelphia, Penn.

Gene for a human 7-transmembrane receptor, encoded protein, production methods; for treating infections.

SmithKline Beecham EPO 834 564

Mouse CC-CKR5 receptor

Philadelphia, Penn.

Gene for the mouse CC-CKR5 receptor, encoded protein, production methods; for knockouts modeling HIV infection.

SmithKline Beecham EPO 834 565

G-protein coupled receptor

Philadelphia, Penn.

Gene for human G-protein coupled receptor, encoded protein, production method; for treating infections.

SmithKline Beecham EPO 834 568

Saliva binding protein

Philadelphia, Penn.

Gene for a saliva binding protein, encoded protein; for screening antagonists, diagnosis, and therapy.

Spinal Cord Soc. WO 98/12305

Stable neuronal transfection

Fergus Falls, Minn.

Transfection of neurons with genes for proliferation cell nuclear factor, replication factor C, and a therapeutic.

Suntory WO 98/12313

Nitric oxide synthase inducers

Osaka, Japan

Vector with inducible nitric oxide synthase control region linked to a reporter gene; for identifying inducers.

TDK EPO 834 560

Magnetic particle-bound proteins

Tokyo

Recombinantly produced proteins that bind to bacterial magnetic particles; for ease of purification.

Texas, Univ. of WO 98/11916

Defective virus for vaccines

Austin, Texas

Defective interfering virus particle with a naturally occurring core antigen internal deletion; for vaccines.

Texas, Univ. of WO 98/12327

BRCA1 gene binding proteins

Austin, Texas

Genes for proteins that bind the BRCA1 gene, encoded proteins; for cancer-related diagnostics and therapeutics.

Vanderbilt Univ. WO 98/12312

Viral antisense therapy

Nashville, Tenn.

Antisense gene therapy for inhibition of RNA virus replication in the cell cytoplasm.

Vanderbilt Univ. WO 98/13473

Yeast production system

Nashville, Tenn.

Yeast cell production system that has a modified signal peptidase complex; for recombinant protein expression.

Viromedica Pacific WO 98/12338

Gene therapy retroviral vectors

Seoul, S. Korea

Retroviral vectors for gene therapy with deleted gag and env genes; for high titer and increased gene expression.

Virus Res. Inst. WO 98/12205

Bacterial transcriptional regulators

Cambridge, Mass.

Genes encoding mature transcriptional regulators from Enterococcus faecalis.

Washington Univ. WO 98/12309

Matrix metalloprotease inhibitors

St. Louis, Mo.

Interaction of matrix metalloprotease inhibitor TIMP-2 with gelatinase A as an assay for identifying other inhibitors.

Wisconsin, Univ. of WO 98/12318

Thrombin inhibitor

Madison, Wis.

Thrombin inhibitor made from parts of the fibrinogen gamma chain connected with a linker group.