Method for down-regulating GDF-8 activity
US7056512B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 6, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07K2319/00
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Disclosed are novel methods for increasing muscle mass by means of immunization against Growth Differentiation Factor 8 (GDF-8, myostatin). Immunization is preferably effected by administration of analogues of GDF-8 which are capable of inducing antibody production against homologous GDF-8. Especially preferred as an immunogen is homologous GDF-8 which has been modified by introduction of one single or a few foreign, immunodominant and promiscuous T-cell epitopes while substantially preserving the tertiary structure of the homologous GDF-8. Also disclosed are nucleic acid vaccination against GDF-8 and vaccination using live vaccines as well as methods and means useful for the vaccination. Such methods and means include methods for identification of useful immunogenic GDF-8 analogues, methods for the preparation of analogues and pharmaceutical formulations, as well as nucleic acid fragments, vectors, transformed cells, polypeptides and pharmaceutical formulations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.