Cetus Corporation

Cetus Oncology Corporation

Chiron Corporation

University of California

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Danute E Nitecki

Lois Aldwin

Margaret Moreland

Peter Ralph

George A Martin

David F Mark

John Stephen Haskill

Corey H Levenson

Irwin Braude

Henry Rapoport

Michael Kriegler

Nandini Katre

Francis P McCormick

Gail L Wong

Robin Clark

Robert C Brasch

Norman Arnheim

Robert J Goodson

Jeffry S Mann

Kirston E Koths

Walter J Laird

Donald A Kaplan

L L Houston

I Lawrence Greenfield

Lawrence I Greenfield

Paula J Shadle

Henry Rapaport

John D Young

Pradip K Bhatnagar

James R Feramisco

A macromolecular contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of the vascular system is constructed of a polymeric backbone structure with a plurality of spacer arms bonded to the backbone structure, each spacer arm terminating in at least one paramagnetic complex. The polymeric backbone thus serves as an amplifier by supporting a multitude of paramagnetic complexes, and the spacer arms contribute to the molecular weight. The spacer arms further contribute useful properties to the agent, such as hydrophilicity and the ability to cleave at a relatively rapid rate in blood.

Biodegradable contrast media for MR imaging

Two novel cytokines which are involved in an inflammatory response (inflammatory cytokines) are disclosed. The inflammatory cytokines have been isolated from activated peripheral blood, preferably monocytes adhered to plastic; or peripheral blood leukocytes induced with calcium ionophore and mezerin. The two cytokines are Gro .beta. and .gamma., and their cDNA and amino acid sequences are disclosed. The expression of the genes in various cells is presented. Assay and diagnostic utilities using the cytokines; recombinant materials and procedures; purification procedures; and monoclonal antibodies to the cytokines are also shown.

Gro genes

Gro genes, proteins, and uses thereof

Method of purifying Gro .beta. or Gro .alpha. protein using antibodies

Macromolecular contrast media for MR imaging

A coupling agent which is an activated ester such as N-maleimido-6-aminocaproyl-HNSA (mal-sac-HNSA) is formed by reacting 4-hydroxyl-3-nitrobenzene sulfonic acid sodium salt (HNSA) with a carboxylic acid moiety of a compound such as N-maleimido-6-aminocaproic acid. The coupling agent is reacted with an amino group of an amine-containing biological material such as a protein at a pH of about 5.5 to 10.0 and HNSA is released. The released HNSA is spectroscopically measured at a wavelength of from about 350 nm to about 500 nm to precisely monitor and control conjugating of the coupling agent to the biological material. The resulting product is coupled to a sulfhydryl group or other group of another material to provide cross-linking between the two. This enables joining the biological material to one another, to a support matrix, to a label, to a hapten, and to other materials. An immunotoxin for therapeutic use can be prepared by conjugating the coupling agent to an antibody such as a monoclonal antibody with tumor cell specificity and then joining the resultant conjugate to a cytotoxic molecule.

Method of conjugating an activated ester to an amine-containing

Compositions and methods are described for identifying inhibitors of mature protein hormone formation from a prohormone, and prophylactic and therapeutic uses of the inhibitors for treating diseases associated with elevated levels of the mature hormones, particulary sepsis, AIDS and autoimmune diseases.

Method for determining TNF

Compositions and methods are described for identifying inhibitors of mature protein hormone formation from a prohormone, and prophylactic and therapeutic uses of the inhibitors for treating diseases associated with elevated levels of the mature hormones, particulary sepsis, and autoimmune diseases.

Assay for determinig TNF or IL-1 convertase activity

Methods for the identification of cytokine convertase inhibitors

The present invention is a process for preparing an activated ester of polyethylene glycol or a polyoxyethylated polyol. After the activated ester is prepared, it can be reacted with a protein to form a polymer/protein conjugate. Conjugation with a polymer can reduce the protein's immunogenicity, increase its solubility, and increase its circulating in vivo half-life. Preferred proteins are IL-2, CSFs, and interferons.

Preparation of an activated polymer ester for protein conjugation

Bifunctional chemicals useful for linking aldehyde containing moieties to moieties containing functionalities which are or can be reactive with sulfhydryl are claimed and have the formula:

Cross-linking agents

Succinylacetone derived or related medicaments and methods of synthesis of the same are shown wherein the medicaments consists of succinylacetonyl-proline-PEG, succinylacetonyl-NH-PEG, or compounds that have the formula: ##STR1## wherein n=1-6

Immunosuppressive analogues and derivatives of succinylacetone

This invention discloses heterobifunctional coupling agents for making a wide array of molecular conjugates. The agents contain a sterically hindered thiol, linked through a spacer arm to a second group reactive toward nucleophiles such as 1.degree. and 2.degree. amines or reactive thiols that are present on biological and organic materials. The coupling agents are useful for making conjugates containing a sterically hindered linkage.

Coupling agents and sterically hindered disulfide linked conjugates

Succinylacetone derived or related medicaments and methods of synthesis of the same are shown wherein the medicaments consists of succinylacetonyl-proline-PEG, succinylacetonyl-NH-PEG, or compounds that have the formula: ##STR1## and that have immunosuppressive activity both in vivo and in vitro based on their activities in cellular immunologic assays and adjuvant induced arthritis in rats, respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Danute E Nitecki