Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Gmbh

Chiron Corporation

University of California

Keting Chu

Lorianne K Masuoka

Lewis T Williams

David Pot

Changyu Wang

Corrine Yoshihara

Methods of therapy for B-cell malignancies are provided. The methods comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist anti-CD40 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof to a patient in need thereof. The antagonist anti-CD40 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is free of significant agonist activity when the antibody binds a CD40 antigen on a normal human B cell, exhibits antagonist activity when the antibody binds a CD40 antigen on a malignant human B cell, and can exhibit antagonist activity when the antibody binds a CD40 antigen on a normal human B cell. Antagonist activity of the anti-CD40 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof beneficially inhibits proliferation and/or differentiation of malignant human B cells.

Methods of therapy for B-cell malignancies using antagonist anti-CD40 antibodies

Antagonistic anti-CD40 antibodies

The invention provides for DNA encoding Fas ligand muteins and chimeras and the proteins encoded thereby. The invention further includes the use of DNA and vectors to produce transformed cells expressing the mutant or chimeric Fas ligand. When the Fas ligand of the invention is a non cleavable form, the cells expressing the Fas ligand are useful in vitro for identifying Fas expressing cells and in vitro or in vivo for reducing populations of Fas expressing cells. Thus, in other embodiments, the present invention is also directed to a method for treating a patient, for example a mammal, for autoimmune disease or transplant rejection by administering a Fas ligand therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent is a polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or a small molecule. The polypeptides include full-length Fas ligand polypeptide, or a biologically active variant, derivative, portion, fusion or peptide thereof.

Nucleic acids encoding mutant forms of Fas ligand

Mutant forms of Fas ligand and uses thereof

A novel kinase has been identified which phosphorylates I.kappa.B. Reagents which inhibit this kinase can be used as therapeutic tools to inhibit inflammation. The kinase can also be used as a target for drug screening to identify anti-inflammatory compounds.

Ikk.beta. regulates transcription factors

Human IKK-beta DNA constructs and cells

The present invention identifies a novel, Fas-associated factor 1 termed FAF1 which potentiates Fas-induced cell killing. The invention provides FAF1 nucleic acid and polypeptide compositions as well as methods of using these compositions in the therapeutic treatment of diseases resulting from dysregulation in apoptosis. Also provided are cells carrying and expressing the nucleic acid compositions and methods of using these cells to screen for agonists and antagonists of Fas-mediated apoptosis. Methods of isolating FAF1-interacting proteins are disclosed. Also provided are antibodies that bind FAF1, a hybridoma and a kit comprising the antibodies.

Antibodies to protein, FAF1

The present invention identifies a novel, Fas-associated factor 1 termed FAF1 which potentiates Fas-induced cell killing. The invention provides FAF1 nucleic acid and polypeptide compositions as well as methods of using these compositions in the therapeutic treatment of diseases resulting from dysregulation in apoptosis. Also provided are cells carrying and expressing the nucleic acid compositions and methods of using these cells to screen for agonists and antagonists of Fas-mediated apoptosis. Methods of isolating FAF1-interacting proteins are disclosed.

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Burlingame, CA, United States of America

Keting Chu