The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 04, 2016
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2009
Ron Weiss, Newton, MA (US);
Priscilla E. M. Purnick, West Windsor, NJ (US);
Caroline Dehart, Fort Lauderdale, FL (US);
Jon Monk, New York, NY (US);
Aparna Swaminathan, Orefield, PA (US);
Ron Weiss, Newton, MA (US);
Priscilla E. M. Purnick, West Windsor, NJ (US);
Caroline DeHart, Fort Lauderdale, FL (US);
Jon Monk, New York, NY (US);
Aparna Swaminathan, Orefield, PA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
In its various embodiments, the invention provides, first, a composition comprising a vector for transfecting a cell. The vector comprises a first nucleic acid encoding an antisense agent having thereon an RNA interference target for a transcript of a gene endogenous to the cell. The vector further comprises a second nucleic acid that encodes a cell-killing agent. The second nucleic acid further comprises a sequence of nucleotides transcribable into a non-coding region of a transcript of the second nucleic acid, such that the non-coding region becomes an RNA interference target for the antisense agent. In the transfected cell, the vector operates to interfere with the expression of the cell-killing agent unless and until the vector senses certain endogenous gene signals, whereupon it releases the cell-killing agent. Second, the invention provides a method of treating a disease in a patient by killing cells responsible for the disease, the method comprising administering the vector to the patient until the disease, or a symptom thereof, is ameliorated.