Here's a brand new Millennium patent for the tub gene:
>>United States Patent 6,207,386
Kleyn , et al. March 27, 2001
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Compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of body weight disorders, including obesity
Abstract
The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight.
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164.195.100.11
What is interesting is how much more than just the sequence is in the patent (although the sequence is in there too - umpteen pages of GGGCATG's). A nice example of a "modern" gene patent.
Tubby mice gain weight gradually, rather than as juveniles as with the ob and db mice.
Note MLNM has a whole slew of IP in this area - stuff like the UCPH gene which is involved in energy expenditure, and the receptor for leptin (OB-R). I have not much idea of how much practical significance this IP has - Biotech Jim is probably the guy to comment on this.
MLNM does list one preclinical obesity candidate on the web site (MC-4 Afonist, - (sic) I assume they mean agonist - a small molecule indicated for obesity.), but I assume that much of the effort is hidden in their partnerships (I guess now with Aventis).
Peter |
