Biogen, Incorporated

Biogen, Massachusetts

Bernard Allet

Eric H Kawashima

Walter C Fiers

A process of producing mammalian tumor necrosis factors (TNF) and TNF-like polypeptides by culturing eukaryotic or prokaryotic hosts transformed with DNA sequences encoding those polypeptides. A process for purifying TNF-like polypeptides using an anion exchanger. The TNFs and TNF-like polypeptides produced by the processes of this invention, and compositions and methods utilizing those TNFs and TNF-like polypeptides, are useful in anticancer, antitumor and antimalarial therapies. They are also useful together with interferon therapy, chemotherapy in anticancer and antitumor therapies, and in combination with actinomycin D in the treatment of tumor-bearing mammals.

Processes for producing tumor necrosis factor

Recombinant DNA molecules comprising DNA sequences derived from bacteriophage T4 that are useful in expressing desired polypeptides in unexpectedly high yields, hosts and expression systems comprising such recombinant DNA molecules and methods for expressing desired polypeptides in high yields by the utilization of such hosts and expression systems.

Expression systems for overproduction of desired proteins

DNA sequences, recombinant DNA molecules and hosts transformed with them which produce polypeptides displaying a biological or immunological activity of gamma interferon. The genes coding for these polypeptides and methods of making and using these DNA sequences, molecules, hosts, genes and polypeptides are disclosed. The DNA sequences of this invention are further characterized by expression control sequences which permit the production of gamma interferon in high yields. More particularly, these expression control sequences comprise the .lambda. P.sub.L promoter, and more preferably, a trp-derived expression control sequence containing the sequence ATCGATACT between the Shine-Dalgarno sequence and the translational start signal. In appropriate hosts, these DNA sequences and recombinant DNA molecules permit the production and identification of genes and polypeptides displaying a biological or immunological activity of gamma interferon and their use in antiviral, antitumor or anticancer, and immunomodulation agents and methods.

Growing community of inventors

Onex, Switzerland

Bernard Allet