Claims for Patent: 6,642,028

Summary for Patent: 6,642,028

Title:	Vectors and genes exhibiting increased expression
Abstract:	Novel genes and vectors exhibiting increased expression and novel splicing patterns are disclosed. The gene can comprise one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites which have been corrected. The gene can alternatively or additionally comprise one or more introns within coding or noncoding sequences. The gene can still further comprise modified 5\' and/or 3\' untranslated regions optimized to provide high levels and duration of tissue-specific expression. In one embodiment, the gene comprises the coding region of a full-length Factor VIII gene modified by adding an intron within the portion of the gene encoding the .beta.-domain, so that the gene is expressed as a .beta.-domain deleted Factor VIII protein. The novel Factor VIII gene can also be modified to correct one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites within or outside of the coding region.
Inventor(s):	Ill; Charles R. (Encinitas, CA), Gonzales; Jose E. N. (San Diego, CA), Yang; Claire Q. (Carlsbad, CA), Bidlingmaier; Scott (New Haven, CT)
Assignee:	The Immune Response Corporation (Carlsbad, CA)
Application Number:	09/205,817
Patent Claims:	1. An isolated DNA encoding a Factor VIII protein, wherein the DNA comprises one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites which have been corrected relative to the consensus or near consensus splice sites occurring in the factor VIII sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4, wherein the correction results in increased expression of the DNA. 2. The isolated DNA of claim 1 comprising a cDNA clone. 3. The isolated DNA of claim 1 wherein the one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites comprises a 5' splice donor site which is corrected by mutating one or both of the nucleotides within the essential GT pair. 4. The isolated DNA of claim 1 wherein the one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites comprises a 3' splice acceptor site which is corrected by mutating one or both of the nucleotides within the essential AG pair. 5. The isolated DNA of claim 1 comprising a cDNA which is expressed as a .beta.-domain deleted Factor VIII protein. 6. An expression vector comprising the isolated DNA of claim 1 operably linked to a promoter sequence. 7. The isolated DNA of claim 1, wherein the one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites contain either: (A) at least five out of nine bases of a consensus 5' splice donor site, (C/A)AGGT(A/G)AGT, including the invariant GT, provided that if only five out of nine bases are present, the five bases are located consecutively in a row; or (B) at least three out of fourteen bases of a consensus 3' splice acceptor site, (Y=10)CAGG (wherein Y is a pyrimidine within the pyrimidine track), including the invariant AG. 8. An isolated DNA comprising the coding region of a full-length Factor VIII gene, wherein the coding region contains an intron spanning the portion of the gene encoding the .beta.-domain. 9. An expression vector comprising the isolated DNA of claim 8 perably linked to a promoter sequence. 10. A method of producing Factor VIII comprising introducing the expression vector of claim 9 into a host cell capable of expressing the vector, and allowing for expression of the vector. 11. A method of increasing expression of a gene encoding a Factor VIII protein comprising correcting one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites within the nucleotide sequence of the gene and expressing the gene in a cell. 12. The method of claim 11 comprising mutating one or both of the nucleotides within the essential GT pair, if the consensus or near consensus splice site is a 5' splice site, or mutating one or both of the nucleotides within the essential AG pair, if the consensus or near consensus splice site is a 3' splice site. 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the gene is expressed as a .beta.-domain deleted Factor VIII protein. 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying the one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites using the following algorithm: (A) the site contains at least five out of nine bases of a consensus 5' splice donor site, (C/A)AGGT(A/G)AGT, including the invariant GT, provided that if only five out of nine bases are present, the five bases are located consecutively in a row; or (B) the site contains at least three out of fourteen bases of a consensus 3' splice acceptor site, (Y=10)CAGG (wherein Y is a pyrimidine within the pyrimidine track), including the invariant AG. 15. A method of increasing expression of a gene comprising identifying one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites within the gene using the following algorithm: (A) the site contains at least five out of nine bases of a consensus 5' splice donor site, (C/A)AGGT(A/G)AGT, including the invariant GT, provided that if only five out of nine bases are present, the five bases are located consecutively in a row; or (B) the site contains at least three out of fourteen bases of a consensus 3' splice acceptor site, (Y=10)CAGG (wherein Y is a pyrimidine within the pyrimidine track), including the invariant AG, and correcting multiple consensus or near consensus splice sites within the gene which meet the requirements of the algorithm, wherein the algorithm further requires that the consensus or near consensus splice site include a consensus branch sequence, (C/T)N(C/T)T(A/G)A(C/T), wherein N is any nucleotide, located upstream from a consensus or near consensus 3' splice acceptor site. 16. A method of increasing expression of a gene encoding a Factor VIII protein comprising identifying one or more consensus or near consensus splice sites within the gene using the following algorithm: (A) the site contains at least five out of nine bases of a consensus 5' splice donor site, (C/A)AGGT(A/G)AGT, including the invariant GT, provided that if only five out of nine bases are present, the five bases are located consecutively in a row; or (B) the site contains at least three out of fourteen bases of a consensus 3' splice acceptor site, (Y=10)CAGG (wherein Y is a pyrimidine within the pyrimidine track), including the invariant AG, and correcting multiple consensus or near consensus splice sites within the gene which meet the requirements of the algorithm. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the gene is expressed as a .beta.-domain deleted Factor VIII protein.

Details for Patent 6,642,028

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	For Injection	103132	06/04/1986		2017-12-05
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	For Injection	103132			2017-12-05
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	Injection	103132			2017-12-05