Inhibitex Allowed a Patent Covering Antibodies Against Staphylococcal MSCRAMM Protein.Health/Medical Writers ATLANTA--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 8, 2001 Inhibitex's Intellectual Property Portfolio Now Contains 17 Issued Patents Inhibitex, Inc. today announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. patent number 6,288,214 with claims directed to proprietary antibodies against a Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus The aureus (pl. aurei) was a gold coin of ancient Rome valued at 25 silver denarii. The aureus was regularly issued from the 1st century BC to the beginning of the 4th century AD, when it was replaced by the solidus. ) collagen binding MSCRAMM MSCRAMM Microbial Surface Components Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecules (TM) protein. Inhibitex licensed exclusive worldwide rights to this technology in an agreement signed in June 1994 with Texas A&M University. MSCRAMM(TM) proteins are a family of surface proteins that mediate the binding of bacteria to human tissue. These novel adhesins are being used by Inhibitex to develop a pipeline of immunotherapeutics targeting the treatment and prevention of hospital acquired infections caused by antibiotic-resistant staphylococci, including S. aureus. S. aureus infections can range from localized infections of wounds to invasive, life-threatening infections including pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis osteomyelitis (ŏs'tēōmī'əlī`tĭs), infection of the bone and bone marrow. Direct infection of bone usually occurs through open fractures, penetrating wounds, or surgical operations. and endocarditis endocarditis (ĕn'dōkärdī`tĭs), bacterial or fungal infection of the endocardium (inner lining of the heart) that can be either acute or subacute. . Moreover, S. aureus infections represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality Morbidity and Mortality can refer to:
"In preclinical studies, we have demonstrated that monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies targeted against the collagen binding MSCRAMM(TM) protein provide exceptional levels of protection against a significant bacterial challenge," commented Joseph M. Patti, Ph.D., co-inventor and chief scientific officer. "The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) covered by this patent represent a small part of the total package of mAbs that we are developing for the treatment of life-threatening infectious diseases." Inhibitex has recently entered into a research and commercial partnership with Wyeth Lederle Vaccines ("WLV WLV Wolverhampton (West Midlands, United Kingdom) WLV With Love Wlv Wet Inzake de Luchtverontreiniging (Dutch: law on air pollution) "), a business unit of American Home Products Corporation (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AHP AHP Assistant House Physician. ), for the global development of human vaccines targeting staphylococci. Inhibitex, Inc., located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing "first in field" antibody-based products for the treatment and prevention of bacterial and fungal infections. The Company is developing a pipeline of products based on its proprietary MSCRAMM(TM) technology platform. This technology is based on a family of surface proteins found on pathogenic organisms that allow them to attach to human tissue and initiate an infection. The Company has several products in clinical and preclinical development based on this platform. |
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