Methods and compositions for identifying morphogen analogs

Patent Number: 7,306,903

One of the interesting methods of building up a patent portfolio is to cover not only therapeutic candidates, but also methods of identifying therapeutic candidates. In the current patent, the company Curis covers ways of identifying compounds that have morphogen activity.

Specifically the patent covers methods of identifying compounds with similar biological effects as the morphogens OP-1, OP-2, BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-9, Vgl, Vgr-1, DPP, or 60A. Broadly speaking, the patent covers the identification of compounds through the following steps:

a) taking a cell that has inside of it a DNA sequence that is involved in the activation of transcription of the morphogen or agents induced by the morphogen and operably linking a reporter to that DNA sequence so that the reporter is activated and gives a signal when the DNA is activated.

b) exposing the cell to the agent which is being tested

c) assessing expression of the reporter.

Numerous DNA sequences and methods of enabling this patent are provided.

View this patent on the USPTO website.