Collagen Corporation

Genzyme Corporation

John M McPherson

George A Ksander

George H Chu

Yasushi Ogawa

Diana M Hendricks

Hugh McMullin

Bruce Pratt

Donald G Wallace

Qun Zhou

Thomas L Smestad

Karl A Piez

Tim Edmunds

George J Todaro

Johanne Kaplan

Rosa Armstrong

Saeid Seyedin

James G Hanlon

Peter C Yaeger

John S Sundsmo

Marie E Brown

Danile R Twardzik

Francois Binette

Jane E Ranchalis

Novel methods for treating patients with autoimmune diseases are disclosed. The methods of the invention include first depleting circulating lymphocytes in the mammal, e.g., by administering anti-thymocyte antibody, and then, during the course of repopulation, administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of latent TGF-&#x3b2; and/or another agent that promotes expansion of regulatory T cells. In certain aspects, the disclosed process results in improved kidney function and survival rates.

Methods of treating autoimmune diseases

Methods for producing antibody-based therapeutics with enhanced ADCC activity are disclosed. The enhanced ADCC activity is attributed to oligomannose-type N-glycans on the antibodies and Fc fusion proteins of the invention. Also disclosed are methods of using such antibody-based therapeutics for targeted killing of cells in a mammal, including therapeutic methods of treating cancers, autoimmune diseases and other diseases.

Antibody-based therapeutics with enhanced ADCC activity

One object of the present invention is based upon the development and use of a serum-free defined cell culture medium comprising a supplement mixture, a component mixture, a vitamin mixture, an inorganic salt mixture and amino acid mixture that avoids the problems inherent in the use of serum. In particular, the defined medium is useful in culturing fibroblasts, especially chondrocytes. Another object of the present invention is to claim a method of enhancing the differentiation of chondrocytes and enhancing the synthesis of a cartilage specific matrix using tumor growth factor beta (TGF-.beta.). Another object of the present invention is to claim a method of enhancing the differentiation of chondrocytes using the combination of TGF-.beta.and IGF.

Chondrocyte media formulations and culture procedures

Collagen implants that are useful as wound healing matrices are characterized by being formed of collagen fibrils that are not chemically cross-linked, and having a bulk density of 0.01 to 0.3 g/cm.sup.3 and a pore population in which at least about 80% of the pores have an average pore size of 35 to 250 microns. The implants are capable of promoting connective tissue deposition, angiogenesis, reepithelialization, and fibroplasia. The wound healing matrix also serves as an effective sustained delivery system for bioactive agents.

Collagen wound healing matrices and process for their production

Processes for producing collagen matrixes and methods of using same

Polypeptides called cartilage-inducing factors (CIFs) that are found in bone and have heretofore been identified as having in vitro cartilage-inducing activity. TGF-.beta. activity, and anti-inflammatory activity have now been found to possess potent oncostatic activity. The CIFs showed oncostatic activity on human and animal tumors, including carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, and melanomas.

Method of inhibiting tumor growth sensitive to CIF-.beta.treatment

A method of repairing bone defects by use of suspensions containing purified atelopeptide, reconstituted, fibrillar skin collagen or bone collagen powder or mixtures thereof is disclosed. The suspensions provide matrices for conductive growth of bone into the defect. The skin collagen may also be lyophilized and used in the form of mats.

Methods of bone repair using collagen

A soft tissue wound healing composition comprising an aqueous mixture of fibrillar collagen, heparin, and undegranulated platelets or platelet releasate. The composition is applied topically to the wound site in conjunction with means to keep it at the site and hydrated or in the form of an occlusive dressing.

Wound-healing composition

Cross-linked atelopeptide collagen that is substantially free of residual cross-linking agent is prepared by: reconstituting atelopeptide collagen from solution by neutralizing the solution at a reduced temperature and a hypotonic ionic strength; cross-linking the reconstituted fibers in an aqueous medium at a concentration of 0.1 to 10 mg/ml with glutaraldehyde under conditions that produce cross-linked collagen that when in suspension in physiological saline at a concentration of 35 mg/ml exhibits a shear viscosity whose log varies linearly with the log of the shear rate and is approximated by the formula

Injectable cross-linked collagen implant material

Growing community of inventors

Hopkinton, MA, United States of America

John M McPherson