Claims for Patent: 8,278,043

Summary for Patent: 8,278,043

Title:	Methods and materials related to grey alleles
Abstract:	This document relates to methods and materials for determining whether or not a horse contains a Grey allele. For example, diagnostic methods such as nucleic acid-based detection methods and materials such as nucleic acid probes and primer pairs that can be used to determine whether or not a horse contains a duplication in intron 6 of STX17 nucleic acid are provided. This document also relates to methods and materials for treating a mammal having or being likely to develop cancer (e.g., benign, malignant, or metastatic cancer). For example, methods and materials for treating cancer in a mammal by administering an agent having the ability to reduce expression of an STX17 polypeptide and/or an NR4A polypeptide (e.g., an NR4A1, NR4A2, or NR4A3 polypeptide) in the mammal are provided.
Inventor(s):	Andersson; Leif (Uppsala, SE), Pielberg; Gerli Rosengren (Uppsala, SE), Golovko; Anna Olegovna (Uppsala, SE), Lennartsson; Kjell Robert Johan (Heby, SE), Heldin; Carl-Henrik (Uppsala, SE)
Assignee:	Melica HB (Uppsala, SE)
Application Number:	12/663,138
Patent Claims:	1. A method for assisting a horse breeder or horse owner in assessing a horse for the presence of a Grey allele, wherein said method comprises: (a) sequencing a portion of intron 6 of STX17 nucleic acid of said horse to determine whether or not said horse comprises a duplication in said intron 6, (b) classifying said horse as containing a Grey allele if said horse comprises said duplication, and (c) classifying said horse as lacking a Grey allele if said horse does not comprise said duplication. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said horse is a foal. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said horse comprises black, brown, or chestnut hair. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is homozygous for said duplication. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being homozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is homozygous for said duplication. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is heterozygous for said duplication. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being heterozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is heterozygous for said duplication. 8. A method for assisting a horse breeder or horse owner in assessing a horse for the presence of a Grey allele, wherein said method comprises: (a) using a nucleic acid probe capable of detecting a breakpoint of a duplication in intron 6 of STX17 nucleic acid to determine whether or not said horse comprises said duplication, (b) classifying said horse as containing a Grey allele if said horse comprises said duplication, and (c) classifying said horse as lacking a Grey allele if said horse does not comprise said duplication. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said nucleic acid probe comprises the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:32. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said horse is a foal. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said horse comprises black, brown, or chestnut hair. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is homozygous for said duplication. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being homozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is homozygous for said duplication. 14. The method of claim 8, wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is heterozygous for said duplication. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being heterozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is heterozygous for said duplication. 16. A method for assisting a horse breeder or horse owner in assessing a horse for the presence of a Grey allele, wherein said method comprises: (a) using a nucleic acid primer pair capable of amplifying nucleic acid comprising a breakpoint of a duplication in intron 6 of STX17 nucleic acid to determine whether or not said horse comprises said duplication, (b) classifying said horse as containing a Grey allele if said horse comprises said duplication, and (c) classifying said horse as lacking a Grey allele if said horse does not comprise said duplication. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said horse is a foal. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein said horse comprises black, brown, or chestnut hair. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is homozygous for said duplication. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being homozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is homozygous for said duplication. 21. The method of claim 16, wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is heterozygous for said duplication. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being heterozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is heterozygous for said duplication.

Details for Patent 8,278,043

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		2027-06-05
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	For Injection	103132			2027-06-05
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	Injection	103132			2027-06-05