Using Antibodies to Protect Transplanted Organs from Damage
A medical method for preserving transplanted organs by using specific antibodies to block a protein that causes inflammation and blood vessel leakage.
Original patent title: “Methods of protecting a solid organ transplant tissue with angiopoietin-2 antibodies”
A medical method for preserving transplanted organs by using specific antibodies to block a protein that causes inflammation and blood vessel leakage. Granted to University of Helsinki in 2019 with 5 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to keep a donated organ healthy after it is moved into a patient's body. It focuses on using a specific type of antibody that targets a protein called Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2). When an organ is transplanted, it often suffers from ischemia, which is a lack of blood flow, followed by damage when blood flow returns. The method involves bathing or perfusing the organ with these antibodies to stop Ang-2 from making blood vessels leaky and causing harmful inflammation.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1).
- Does not cover treatments that do not use the specific variable heavy and light chain sequences defined in the patent.
- Does not cover systemic administration of the drug to the patient's entire body, only the perfusion of the allograft itself.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the specific selection of an antibody that neutralizes Ang-2 while ignoring Ang-1, preventing the 'leaky vessel' effect without disrupting the healthy blood vessel maintenance provided by Ang-1.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Experimental organ preservation solutions used in transplant surgery research.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Organ rejection is a major hurdle in transplant medicine. By targeting the specific molecular signals that cause blood vessels to fail during the transplant process, this method aims to improve the survival rate of donated organs like hearts, kidneys, or livers.
Filed
November 22, 2017
Granted
September 3, 2019
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The research originated from the University of Helsinki and collaborators. The development of Ang-2 inhibitors is a field of interest for major pharmaceutical companies focused on vascular biology and oncology, as Ang-2 is also a target for preventing tumor blood vessel growth.
Market impact
This patent provides a specific therapeutic pathway for organ preservation. While it has not yet triggered widespread industry litigationlitigationA lawsuit over patent infringement. Litigated patents often signal commercial importance.Read more →, it establishes a protected method for using targeted antibody therapy to improve the viability of allografts, potentially increasing the pool of usable donor organs.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to keep a donated organ healthy after it is moved into a patient's body. It focuses on using a specific type of antibody that targets a protein called Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2). When an organ is transplanted, it often suffers from ischemia, which is a lack of blood flow, followed by damage when blood flow returns. The method involves bathing or perfusing the organ with these antibodies to stop Ang-2 from making blood vessels leaky and causing harmful inflammation.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the specific selection of an antibody that neutralizes Ang-2 while ignoring Ang-1, preventing the 'leaky vessel' effect without disrupting the healthy blood vessel maintenance provided by Ang-1.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1).
- Does not cover treatments that do not use the specific variable heavy and light chain sequences defined in the patent.
- Does not cover systemic administration of the drug to the patient's entire body, only the perfusion of the allograft itself.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
3/20
Moderate scope
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$30K – $96K
Midpoint $60K · 11.4 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
5 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Connor, J., Lemstrom, K., Alitalo, K., Herbst, R., Syrjala, S., & Leow, C. C. (2019). Using Antibodies to Protect Transplanted Organs from Damage (U.S. Patent No. 10,400,035). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10400035/ocrevus-ocrelizumab
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Using Antibodies to Protect Transplanted Organs from Damage cover?
A medical method for preserving transplanted organs by using specific antibodies to block a protein that causes inflammation and blood vessel leakage.
Who owns patent US 10400035?
University of Helsinki owns this patent, granted in 2019.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 3, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Organ rejection is a major hurdle in transplant medicine. By targeting the specific molecular signals that cause blood vessels to fail during the transplant process, this method aims to improve the survival rate of donated organs like hearts, kidneys, or livers.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover antibodies that bind to Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1).
Patent monitoring