Vical Incorporated

University of California

Marston Manthorpe

Jukka Hartikka

Philip L Felgner

Suezanne E Parker

Holly Horton

Adrian Vilalta

Frank M Longo

Thomas G Evans

Jennifer Meek

Melanie W Quong

Loretta Sukhu

The present invention is directed to raising a detectable immune response in a vertebrate by administering in vivo, into a tissue of the vertebrate, at least one polynucleotide comprising one or more regions of nucleic acid encoding a SARS-CoV protein or a fragment, a variant, or a derivative thereof. The present invention is further directed to raising a detectable immune response in a vertebrate by administering, in vivo, into a tissue of the vertebrate, at least one SARS-CoV protein or a fragment, a variant, or derivative thereof. The SARS-CoV protein can be, for example, in purified form. The polynucleotide is incorporated into the cells of the vertebrate in vivo, and an immunologically effective amount of an immunogenic epitope of a SARS-CoV polypeptide, fragment, variant, or derivative thereof is produced in vivo. The SARS-CoV protein is also administered in an immunologically effective amount.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome DNA compositions and methods of use

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a non-infectious, non-integrating polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding an interferon &#x3c9; and one or more cationic compounds. The present invention also provides methods of treating cancer in a mammal, comprising administering into a tissue of the mammal a non-infectious, non-integrating polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding a cytokine. In addition, the present invention also relates to the methodology for selective transfection of malignant cells with polynucleotides expressing therapeutic or prophylactic molecules in intra-cavity tumor bearing mammals. More specifically, the present invention provides a methodology for the suppression of an intra-cavity dissemination of malignant cells, such as intraperitoneal dissemination. Furthermore, the invention relates to compositions and methods to deliver polynucleotides encoding polypeptides to vertebrate cells in vivo, where the composition comprises an aqueous solution of sodium phosphate.

Methods for treating cancer using interferon-&#x3c9;-expressing polynucleotides

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a non-infectious, non-integrating polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding an interferon &#x3c9; and one or more cationic compounds. The present invention also provides methods of treating cancer in a mammal, comprising administering into a muscle of the mammal a non-infectious, non-integrating DNA polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding a cytokine. In addition, the present invention also relates to the methodology for selective transfection of malignant cells with polynucleotides expressing therapeutic or prophylactic molecules in intra-cavity tumor bearing mammals. More specifically, the present invention provides a methodology for the suppression of an intra-cavity dissemination of malignant cells, such as intraperitoneal dissemination. Furthermore, the invention relates to compositions and methods to deliver polynucleotides encoding polypeptides to vertebrate cells in vivo, where the composition comprises an aqueous solution of sodium phosphate.

Methods for treating cancer using cytokine-expressing polynucleotides

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods to improve expression of exogenous polypeptides into vertebrate cells in vivo, utilizing delivery of polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides. More particularly, the present invention provides the use of salts, in particular sodium and potassium salts of phosphate, in aqueous solution, and auxiliary agents, in particular detergents and surfactants, in pharmaceutical compositions and methods useful for direct polynucleotide-based polypeptide delivery into the cells of vertebrates.

Compositions and methods for in vivo delivery of polynucleotide-based therapeutics

This invention provides compounds displaying NGF agonist activity, wherein the compounds comprise a multimer of a sequence of amino acid residues or biologically functional equivalents thereof, the sequence being substantially homologous to residues 29-38 of NGF, residues 43-47 of NGF or residues 92-97 of NGF. Preferably, the multimer is a cyclic dimer wherein the monomeric amino acid sequences are linked to each other by disulfide bridges. This invention also provides methods and compositions for the treatment of disorders involving NGF-responsive cells, by administering an effective amount of the multimeric NGF agonists of this invention to an individual suffering from such disorder.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Marston Manthorpe