An Antibody That Detects Specific Sugar-Protein Combinations for Diagnostics
This patent describes a unique antibody designed to precisely recognize a specific sugar-protein structure, particularly a 'fucosylated glycopeptide' found on certain proteins like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is useful for medical tests.
Original patent title: “Monoclonal antibody reacting with glycopeptide, and use thereof”
This patent describes a unique antibody designed to precisely recognize a specific sugar-protein structure, particularly a 'fucosylated glycopeptide' found on certain proteins like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is useful for medical tests. Granted to Sysmex in 2019 with 13 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2037.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → a special type of antibody, called a monoclonal antibody, that can find and stick to a very specific target. The target is a 'glycopeptide' (a protein with a sugar attached) that has a 'core fucose moiety' (a specific sugar part) and a particular sequence of amino acids near where the sugar is attached. Crucially, the antibody described in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1 and 11 is defined by its unique 'complementarity-determining regions' (CDRs) and reacts with a glycopeptide of formula (1) but not with similar glycopeptides of formulas (2), (3), or (4). For example, it reacts with fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), even after the protein has been treated with chemicals like SDS and DTT, which can change its shape, as described in claims 4 and 5.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover antibodies that react with glycopeptides of formula (2), (3), or (4) as defined by SEQ ID NOs: 14, 15, and 16 in the patent.
- Does not cover antibodies that react with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) that is not fucosylated, even if pretreated with SDS and DTT, as specified in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 6.
- Does not cover antibodies that do not have the specific amino acid sequences for the heavy and light chain CDRs as listed in SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 or 7-12.
- Does not cover antibodies that recognize only the amino acid part of the glycopeptide without the core fucose moiety being part of the epitope.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is creating an antibody that is highly selective, recognizing not just a protein, but a specific combination of a sugar and protein structure (a glycopeptide) where both the sugar and specific amino acids form the binding site. This allows it to differentiate between very similar molecules, like fucosylated versus non-fucosylated AFP, which is critical for accurate diagnostic tools.
The Patent Drawing
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
Diagnostic kits for liver cancer screening
Laboratory tests for biomarker detection
Research tools for studying protein glycosylation
Immunoassays for fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is important for medical diagnostics, especially in detecting specific forms of proteins that can indicate diseases. Fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a known biomarker, often elevated in certain cancers like liver cancer. An antibody that can precisely distinguish between fucosylated and non-fucosylated AFP, or different glycopeptide structures, allows for more accurate and specific diagnostic tests. This specificity helps doctors identify disease markers more reliably.
Filed
May 30, 2017
Granted
November 19, 2019
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Sysmex Corp, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major player in clinical diagnostics, particularly in hematology and urinalysis. They continue to develop and commercialize diagnostic reagents and instruments. Companies in the broader diagnostics industry, such as Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, and Abbott Laboratories, are also active in developing highly specific antibodies for various biomarker detection applications, including cancer diagnostics.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the market for advanced diagnostic reagents, particularly for cancer biomarkers. By enabling the precise detection of specific glycoforms of proteins like AFP, it allows for the development of more accurate and sensitive diagnostic assays. This specificity can reduce false positives or negatives, improving patient outcomes and potentially opening new avenues for early disease detection and monitoring in the clinical diagnostics market.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent claims a special type of antibody, called a monoclonal antibody, that can find and stick to a very specific target. The target is a 'glycopeptide' (a protein with a sugar attached) that has a 'core fucose moiety' (a specific sugar part) and a particular sequence of amino acids near where the sugar is attached. Crucially, the antibody described in claim 1 and 11 is defined by its unique 'complementarity-determining regions' (CDRs) and reacts with a glycopeptide of formula (1) but not with similar glycopeptides of formulas (2), (3), or (4). For example, it reacts with fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), even after the protein has been treated with chemicals like SDS and DTT, which can change its shape, as described in claims 4 and 5.
The clever bit
The clever part is creating an antibody that is highly selective, recognizing not just a protein, but a specific combination of a sugar and protein structure (a glycopeptide) where both the sugar and specific amino acids form the binding site. This allows it to differentiate between very similar molecules, like fucosylated versus non-fucosylated AFP, which is critical for accurate diagnostic tools.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover antibodies that react with glycopeptides of formula (2), (3), or (4) as defined by SEQ ID NOs: 14, 15, and 16 in the patent.
- Does not cover antibodies that react with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) that is not fucosylated, even if pretreated with SDS and DTT, as specified in claim 6.
- Does not cover antibodies that do not have the specific amino acid sequences for the heavy and light chain CDRs as listed in SEQ ID NOs: 1-6 or 7-12.
- Does not cover antibodies that recognize only the amino acid part of the glycopeptide without the core fucose moiety being part of the epitope.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
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
$45K – $144K
Midpoint $90K · 10.7 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.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
13 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
FUKAGAWA, K., HIGA, Y., Kataoka, Y., Nomura, T., & EGASHIRA, Y. (2019). An Antibody That Detects Specific Sugar-Protein Combinations for Diagnostics (U.S. Patent No. 10,479,827). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10479827/monoclonal-antibody-reacting-with-glycopeptide-and-use-thereof
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US10479827"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 4376110 · 1983 · Hybritech Inc
How Two Special Antibodies Find Substances in Body Fluids
US 12590172 · 2026 · Morphosys
How to Find Antibodies That Only Detect Bound Drug Targets
US 7993644 · 2011 · Purdue Pharma LP
Using Antibodies to Target Tissue Factor Without Stopping Blood Clotting
US 3927193 · 1975 · F Hoffmann La Roche AG
Using Radioactive Antibodies to Find Tumors Inside the Body
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does An Antibody That Detects Specific Sugar-Protein Combinations for Diagnostics cover?
This patent describes a unique antibody designed to precisely recognize a specific sugar-protein structure, particularly a 'fucosylated glycopeptide' found on certain proteins like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is useful for medical tests.
Who owns patent US 10479827?
Sysmex owns this patent, granted in 2019.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 30, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is important for medical diagnostics, especially in detecting specific forms of proteins that can indicate diseases. Fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a known biomarker, often elevated in certain cancers like liver cancer. An antibody that can precisely distinguish between fucosylated and non-fucosylated AFP, or different glycopeptide structures, allows for more accurate and specific diagnostic tests. This specificity helps doctors identify disease markers more reliably.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover antibodies that react with glycopeptides of formula (2), (3), or (4) as defined by SEQ ID NOs: 14, 15, and 16 in the patent.
Patent monitoring