Genzyme Corporation

University of Iowa Research Foundation

Erytech Pharma

Nelson S Yew

Seng H Cheng

Ronald K Scheule

John Marshall

Craig S Siegel

David J Harris

Edward R Lee

Simon J Eastman

Hongmei Zhao

John P Leonard

Canwen Jiang

Thomas A Natoli

Shirley C Hubbard

Oxana Ibraghimov-Beskrovnaya

Mathieu B Lane

Rebecca G Bagley

Cynthia Marie Arbeeny

Michael J Welsh

Richard J Gregory

Yann Godfrin

Chau-Dung Chang

Donna Armentano

Eric A Rowe

S Catherine Hubbard

Allen J Fasbender

Robin J Ziegler

Jennifer D Tousignant

Emmanuelle Dufour

Oxana Ibraghinov-Beskrovnaya

Malgorzata Przybylska

A method of treating polycystic kidney disease in a subject comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Method of treating polycystic kidney diseases with ceramide derivatives

The disclosure provides methods for treating fatty liver disease and associated conditions by inhibiting the synthesis of glucosphingolipids, as exemplified by the use of glucosylceramide synthase substrate analogs.

Methods of treating fatty liver disease

The invention provides methods of treating a diabetic subject comprising administering a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor to the subject.

Method of lowering blood glucose

A method of treating polycystic kidney disease in a subject comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 

Methods of treating diabetes mellitus

Sustained transgene expression will be required for the vast majority of genetic diseases being considered for gene therapy. The initially high levels of expression attained with plasmid DNA (pDNA) vectors containing viral promoters, such as that from cytomegalovirus (CMV), decline precipitously to near background levels within 2 to 3 weeks. We have constructed pDNA vectors containing the human cellular ubiquitin B (Ub) promoter and evaluated their expression in the mouse lung. Cationic lipid-pDNA complexes were instilled intranasally (IN) or injected intravenously (IV) into immunodeficient BALB/c mice. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene expression from the Ub promoter was initially very low at day 2 post-administration but by day 35 exceeded the level of expression attained from a CMV promoter vector by 4- to 9-fold. Appending a portion of the CMV enhancer 5' of the Ub promoter (CMV-Ub) increased CAT expression to nearly that of the CMV promoter and expression persisted in the lung for at least three months, with 50% of day 2 levels remaining at day 84. In the liver, expression from the CMV-Ub hybrid promoter was sustained for 42 days. Since previous studies have shown that eliminating immunostimulatory CpG motifs in pDNA vectors reduces their toxicity, we constructed a CpG deficient version of the CMV-Ub vector expressing alpha-galactosidase A, the enzyme that is deficient in Fabry disease, a lysosomal storage disorder. After IN or IV administration, levels of alpha-galactosidase A from this vector were not only undiminished but increased 500% to 1500% by day 35. These results suggest that CpG-reduced plasmid vectors containing a CMV-Ub hybrid promoter may provide the long-term expression and efficacy required for a practical gene therapeutic.

Expression vectors containing hybrid ubiquitin promoters

Sustained transgene expression will be required for the vast majority of genetic diseases being considered for gene therapy. The initially high levels of expression attained with plasmid DNA (pDNA) vectors containing viral promoters, such as that from cytomegalovirus (CMV), decline precipitously to near background levels within 2 to 3 weeks. We have constructed pDNA vectors containing the human cellular ubiquitin B (Ub) promoter and evaluated their expression in the mouse lung. Cationic lipid-pDNA complexes were instilled intranasally (IN) or injected intravenously (IV) into immunodeficient BALB/c mice. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene expression from the Ub promoter was initially very low at day 2 post-administration but by day 35 exceeded the level of expression attained from a CMV promoter vector by 4- to 9-fold. Appending a portion of the CMV enhancer 5&prime; of the Ub promoter (CMV-Ub) increased CAT expression to nearly that of the CMV promoter and expression persisted in the lung for at least three months, with 50% of day 2 levels remaining at day 84. In the liver, expression from the CMV-Ub hybrid promoter was sustained for 42 days. Since previous studies have shown that eliminating immunostimulatory CpG motifs in pDNA vectors reduces their toxicity, we constructed a CpG deficient version of the CMV-Ub vector expressing alpha-galactosidase A, the enzyme that is deficient in Fabry disease, a lysosomal storage disorder. After IN or IV administration, levels of alpha-galactosidase A from this vector were not only undiminished but increased 500% to 1500% by day 35. These results suggest that CpG-reduced plasmid vectors containing a CMV-Ub hybrid promoter may provide the long-term expression and efficacy required for a practical gene therapeutic.

Cationic amphiphiles for intracellular delivery of therapeutic molecules

Novel cationic amphiphiles are provided that facilitate transport of biologically active (therapeutic) molecules into cells. The amphiphiles contain lipophilic groups derived from steroids, from mono or dialkylamines, or from alkyl or acyl groups; and cationic groups, protonatable at physiological pH, derived from amines, alkylamines or polyalkylamines. There are provided also therapeutic compositions prepared typically by contacting a dispersion of one or more cationic amphiphiles with the therapeutic molecules. Therapeutic molecules that can be delivered into cells according to the practice of the invention include DNA, RNA, and polypeptides. Representative uses of the therapeutic compositions of the invention include providing gene therapy, and delivery of antisense polynucleotides or biologically active polypeptides to cells. With respect to therapeutic compositions for gene therapy, the DNA is provided typically in the form of a plasmid for complexing with the cationic amphiphile. Novel and highly effective plasmid constructs are also disclosed, including those that are particularly effective at providing gene therapy for clinical conditions complicated by inflammation. Additionally, targeting of organs for gene therapy by intravenous administration of therapeutic compositions is described.

Organ-specific targeting of cationic amphiphile/DNA complexes for gene

The present invention provides recombinant viral and non-viral vectors comprising a transgene encoding a biologically active human lysosomal enzyme that are able to infect and/or transfect and sustain expression of the biologically active human lysosomal enzyme transgene in mammalian cells deficient therein. In addition, methods are provided for providing a biologically active human lysosomal enzyme to cells deficient therein, which comprises introducing into the cells a vector comprising and expressing a transgene encoding the biologically active human lysosomal enzyme, wherein the vector is taken up by the cells, the transgene is expressed and biologically active enzyme is produced. The cells may be infected and/or transfected by the vector, dependent upon whether the vector is a viral vector and/or plasmid or the like. The invention also provides a method of supplying a biologically active human lysosomal enzyme to other distant cells deficient therein wherein the transfected and/or infected cells harboring the vector secrete the biologically active enzyme which is then taken up by the other deficient cells. In a preferred embodiment the present invention provides for sustained production of biologically human active .alpha.-galactosidase A in cells of Fabry individuals that are deficient in said enzyme.

Compositions and method for treating lysosomal storage disease

The invention is directed to a transgene expression system comprising a transcription unit which contains a transgene operably linked to expression control sequences, preferably the CMV promoter, and which is delivered simultaneously with all or part of the adenovirus E4 genomic region to a cell in order to facilitate persistent expression of the transgene. The components of the transgene expression system can be delivered by vectors including plasmids and/or viruses and may be complexed with cationic amphiphiles to facilitate entry into a cell. The invention is also directed to methods for the production of the transgene expression system. The invention is further directed to compositions that contain the transgene expression system and to methods for the use of such compositions to deliver transgenes encoding biologically active proteins to cells.

Transgene expression system for increased persistence

Cationic amphiphile/DNA complexes

Novel compositions are provided. Typically, the compositions comprise one or more neutral co-lipids and also a cationic amphiphile. Therapeutic compositions are prepared according to the practice of the invention by contacting a therapeutically active molecule with a dispersion of neutral co-lipid(s) and amphiphile(s).

Compositions comprising cationic amphiphiles and co-lipids for

Cationic amphiphiles and plasmids for intracellular delivery of

Growing community of inventors

West Upton, MA, United States of America

Nelson S Yew