{
  "patent_number": "US 5272135",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Preventing Protein Damage with Extra Methionine",
  "original_title": "Method for the stabilization of methionine-containing polypeptides",
  "summary": "This 1993 patent describes how adding extra methionine to protein-based medicines can prevent them from degrading, especially in liquid or semi-solid forms.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent details a method to stop proteins, specifically those with a methionine amino acid, from oxidizing and breaking down when stored in liquid or semi-solid medicines. The key is to add extra methionine, an amino acid that is part of the protein, to the preparation. This added methionine acts as a shield, getting oxidized itself instead of the methionine within the therapeutic protein. The patent specifies adding methionine in amounts between 0.01% and 0.3% by weight or volume, ensuring that the therapeutic protein remains stable for storage and use. For example, claim 8 describes using this method with epidermal growth factor in a liquid solution.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Methods that do not involve adding methionine to inhibit oxidation.",
    "Methods for stabilizing proteins that do not contain any methionine residues.",
    "Stabilization of proteins in solid dosage forms (e.g., pills, powders).",
    "Adding methionine in concentrations outside the specified range of 0.01% to 0.3%.",
    "Inhibiting oxidation of molecules other than polypeptides."
  ],
  "filed": "1991-03-01",
  "granted": "1993-12-21",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Chiron Ophthalmics Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/chiron-ophthalmics-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Harun Takruri",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/harun-takruri"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 63,
  "tags": [
    "pharmaceutical",
    "biotech",
    "materials"
  ],
  "abstract": "A method for inhibiting the oxidation of a polypeptide in a liquid or semi-solid pharmaceutical or therapeutic preparation, the polypeptides having an amino acid sequence comprising at least one methionine residue, wherein the amino acid methionine is added in a sufficient amount to inhibit the oxidation of the methionine residue(s) to methionine sulfoxide.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5272135/lipitor-atorvastatin",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5272135/lipitor-atorvastatin/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US5272135",
  "relatedPatents": []
}