Claims for Patent: 8,460,933

Summary for Patent: 8,460,933

Title:	Expression system incorporating a capsid promoter sequence as an enhancer
Abstract:	The invention provides a method for enhancing expression of a transgene in a host cell, which includes the steps of inserting a capsid promoter element (Pcap), or a sequence comprising the reverse complement of the capsid promoter element (PcapR), into a mammalian expression cassette upstream (5\') of a cytomegalovirus immediate/early enhancer/promoter region (Pcmv); inserting the transgene into the expression cassette downstream (3\') of the cytomegalovirus immediate/early enhancer/promoter region; inserting a vector containing the expression cassette into the host organism; and causing expression of the transgene. The capsid promoter element (Pcap) is typically from a circovirus, parvovirus or anellovirus. The transgene is typically expressed at a higher level than when expressed by a vector containing the expression cassette without the transcriptional control element. An expression cassette, vector, DNA vaccine, pharmaceutical composition and method of treatment are also claimed.
Inventor(s):	Rybicki; Edward Peter (Cape Town, ZA), Tanzer; Fiona Lesley (Cape Town, ZA)
Assignee:	South African Medical Research Council (Cape Town, ZA) University of Cape Town (Cape Town, ZA)
Application Number:	12/084,728
Patent Claims:	1. A method for enhancing expression of a transgene from a cytomegalovirus immediate/early promoter (Pcmv) in a host cell comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a porcine circovirus type 1 capsid gene promoter (Pcap) or a Pcap reverse complement sequence (PcapR) as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 2 into a mammalian expression cassette upstream (5') of the Pcmv promoter element; (b) inserting the transgene into the mammalian expression cassette downstream (3') of the Pcmv element; (c) inserting the expression cassette into the host organism; and (d) causing expression of the transgene. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a cytomegalovirus intron is inserted downstream (3') of the Pcmv and a bovine growth hormone polyadenylation site (bgh polyA) is inserted downstream (3') of the transgene. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the Pcap or PcapR is inserted immediately upstream (5') of the Pcmv element. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the Pcap or PcapR is inserted up to 1100 base pairs upstream (5') of the Pcmv element. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the host cell is a mammalian cell line for in vitro transgene expression or a cell of a mammalian host organism for in vivo transgene expression. 6. A mammalian expression cassette comprising: (a) a cytomegalovirus immediate/early promoter (Pcmv) element; and (b) a sequence that is the Pcap or PcapR located upstream (5') of the Pcmv element, wherein the Pcap or PcapR comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2; wherein the Pcap or PcapR enhances the Pcmv promoter activity. 7. The mammalian expression cassette of claim 6, which includes a transgene downstream (3') of the cytomegalovirus immediate/early promoter element. 8. A vector including the expression cassette of claim 6. 9. An isolated host cell comprising the vector of claim 8. 10. A DNA vaccine comprising the expression cassette or vector as claimed in claims 6 or 8.

Details for Patent 8,460,933

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		2025-11-08
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	For Injection	103132			2025-11-08
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	Injection	103132			2025-11-08