Agy Therapeutics, Inc.

Thorsten Melcher

Daniel J Chin

Mirella Gonzalez-Zulueta

Li Gan

Sabine Mueller

Kalev Kask

Keith McFarland

Richa Wilson

Tadeusz Wieloch

Shiming Ye

Kristin Anton

Mehrdad Shamloo

Kc McFarland

The present invention relates to the use of proteins which are differentially expressed in primary brain tumor tissues, as compared to normal brain tissues, as biomolecular targets for brain tumor treatment therapies. Specifically, the present invention relates to the use of immunotherapeutic and immunoimaging agents which specifically bind to one or more of human proteins angiopoietin related protein 2 (ARP-2,) secreted protein acidic, rich in cysteine (SPARC,) c-met proto-oncogene (C-MET,) brevican (BEHAB,) CD-44 antigen (CD-44,) tetraspanin 3 (TSPN3,) pleiotrophin (PTN,) osteopontin (OPN,) vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor-2 (VIPR-2,) and receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta (PTP&#x3b6;) for the treatment and visualization of brain tumors in patients. The present invention also provides compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions for administration in the methods of the invention. The present invention also provides novel splice variants of protein PTP&#x3b6;, PTP&#x3b6; SM1 and PTP&#x3b6; SM2. Nucleic acid probes specific for the spliced mRNA encoding these variants and affinity reagents specific for the novel proteins are also provided.

Use of protein biomolecular targets in the treatment and visualization of brain tumors

Methods for correlating genes and gene function are provided. Such methods generally involve selecting a candidate gene that appears to be correlated with a particular cellular state or activity and then validating the role of the candidate gene in establishment of such a cellular state or activity. Certain methods utilize RNA interference techniques in the validation process.

High-throughput transcriptome and functional validation analysis

Methods for correlating genes and gene function are provided. Such methods generally involve selecting a candidate gene that appears to be correlated with a particular cellular state or activity and then validating the role of the candidate gene in establishment of such a cellular state or activity. Certain methods utilized RNA interference techniques in the validation process.

The present invention identifies a gene whose gene product provides a protective effect against neurological disorders or neuronal injuries. Further, the invention provides methods for diagnosing or assessing an individual's susceptibility to a neuronal injury such as stroke. Also provided are therapeutic methods for treating patients, and methods for prophylactically treating individuals susceptible to various neurological disorders or neuronal injuries. Additionally, the invention describes screening methods for identifying agents that can be administered to treat individuals that have suffered or are at risk to suffer such disorders or injuries.

Method of diagnosing ischemic stroke via UCP-2 detection

The invention relates to a human phospholipase C expressed in the brain (B-PLC) and induced in response to ischemic brain tissue. The inventions provides methods and reagents useful for diagnosis and treatment of hypoxic-ischemic brain insult such as stroke.

Diagnostic marker for neurological conditions

The present invention relates to the identification of a binding between NMDA receptor (NMDA-R) subunits and a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), e.g., PTPL1. The present invention provides methods for screening a PTPL1 agonist or antagonist that modulates NMDA-R signaling. The present invention also provide methods and compositions for treatment of disorders mediated by abnormal NMDA-R signaling. The present invention further provides methods for isolating PTPL1 from a biological preparation.

Methods for identifying a modulator of the interaction of NMDA receptor with protein tyrosine phosphatase L1

The present invention relates to the use of proteins which are differentially expressed in primary brain tumor tissues, as compared to normal brain tissues, as biomolecular targets for brain tumor treatment therapies. Specifically, the present invention relates to the use of immunotherapeutic and immunoimaging agents that specifically bind to human protein tyrosine phosphatase-zeta (PTP&zgr;) for the treatment and visualization of brain tumors in patients. The present invention also provides compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions for administration in the methods of the invention.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Thorsten Melcher