Darwin Discovery Limited

Celltech R&d Limited

Ucb Pharma, S.a.

Ucb S.a.

Ucb Manufacturing, Inc.

Bryan W Paeper

Mary E Brunkow

Brian Robert Kovacevich

Jeffrey Van Ness

John Thomas Mulligan

David J Galas

David Guenther Winkler

Sean Proll

David J Winkler

Patrick R Charmley

Karen Staehling-Hampton

Andreas Gerardus Uitterlinden

A novel class or family of TGF-&#x3b2; binding proteins is disclosed. Also disclosed are assays for selecting molecules for increasing bone mineralization and methods for utilizing such molecules.

Compositions and methods for increasing bone mineralization

Described herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising an anti-sclerostin antibody and an inhibitor of bone resorption.

Compositions and methods are provided for determining in a subject a risk for having, or presence of, altered bone mineral density such as osteoporosis or osteopenia or other conditions characterized by decreased or increased bone density. Specifically, the invention relates to determination of a sclerostin gene region nucleotide polymorphism (SRP) in DNA of the sclerostin gene region of human chromosome 17. In certain embodiments, SRPs that indicate an increased risk for altered bone mineral density occur as gender-associated polymorphisms. Isolated polynucleotides comprising representative SRPs are also provided.

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Compositions and methods for increasing bone density using antibodies directed to a novel class or family of TGF-&#x3b2; binding proteins are provided. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with a loss of bone density, for example osteoporosis.

Antibodies associated with alterations in bone density

Nucleic acids relating to human TGF-&#x3b2; binding proteins are disclosed. Also disclosed are assays for selecting molecules for increasing bone mineralization and methods for utilizing such molecules.

Antibodies to a novel family of TGF-&#x3b2; binding proteins are disclosed, for use in methods of altering bone density and bone mineralization, which methods are applicable to the treatment of diseases including osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Methods for modulating bone mineralization

Compositions and methods for increasing bone density using antibodies directed to a novel class or family of TGF-&bgr; binding proteins are provided. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with a loss of bone density, for example osteoporosis.

A novel class or family of TGF-&bgr; binding proteins is disclosed. Also disclosed are assays for selecting molecules for increasing bone mineralization and methods for utilizing such molecules.

Compositions and methods for increasing bone density using antibodies directed to a novel class or family human of TGF-&bgr; binding proteins are disclosed. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with a loss of bone density, for example osteoporosis. The disclosed compositions include polypeptides, and their encoding polynucleotides, which specifically bind to at least one human bone morphogenic protein (BMP) selected from BMP-5 and BMP-6.

Polypeptides associated with alterations in bone density

The genomic locus responsible for Van Buchem's disease is narrowed to an approximately 92 kb region of human chromosome 17 at 17q21. Individuals afflicted with or carriers of Van Buchem's disease exhibit a 52 kb deletion within this 92 kb region. Methods are provided that permit the differentiation between individuals homozygous for and therefore afflicted with Van Buchem's disease, individuals heterozygous for and therefore carriers of Van Buchem's disease, and individuals who are normal with respect to Van Buchem's disease. Also provided are general methodologies for the detection of a wide variety of large genomic deletions.

Methods for identifying genomic deletions

A novel human protein has been isolated which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising the polynucleotide sequence provided in SEQ ID NO:1 or a polynucleotide sequence that is completely complementary thereto. This novel protein binds to at least two members of the family of TGF-beta proteins, which are the human bone morphogenic protein-5 and human bone morphogenic protein-6.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Bryan W Paeper