# How to Use Modified Cells to Produce Insulin-Regulating Proteins in the Body > A method for taking a patient's own cells, modifying them with DNA to produce GLP-1, and putting them back into the body to treat metabolic conditions. - **Patent:** US 6531124 - **Original title:** In vivo production and delivery of insulinotropin for gene therapy - **Owner:** Transkaryotic Therapies Inc - **Granted:** 2003 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 2 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical ## What it does This patent describes a gene therapy approach where a patient's own somatic cells (like skin or blood cells) are removed and modified in a lab. Scientists insert a DNA construct that carries instructions for the cell to produce a specific protein, specifically GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) or its derivatives. These modified cells are then grown into a clonal strain, which means they are multiplied to create a large, consistent population. Finally, these cells are reintroduced into the patient's body, where they act as a living factory to continuously produce the desired protein. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover direct injection of synthetic GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide or liraglutide. - Does not cover viral-vector gene therapy where DNA is delivered directly into the body without cell removal. - Does not cover the use of embryonic stem cells or germline cells. - Does not cover the production of proteins other than GLP-1 or EPO. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in using the patient's own primary cells to create a stable, clonal cell line that can be expanded in the lab before being returned to the body, effectively turning the patient into their own drug-manufacturing plant. ## Real-world examples 1. Experimental ex-vivo gene therapy for metabolic disorders 2. Autologous cell-based protein delivery systems ## Why it matters This patent represents an early effort to turn the patient's own cells into a therapeutic delivery system, moving away from the need for frequent injections of synthetic hormones. While the specific approach of ex-vivo cell transplantation for GLP-1 has faced significant hurdles compared to modern injectable GLP-1 agonists, it highlights the foundational research into personalized medicine and cell-based therapies that continue to influence current biotech development. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How to Use Modified Cells to Produce Insulin-Regulating Proteins in the Body cover? A method for taking a patient's own cells, modifying them with DNA to produce GLP-1, and putting them back into the body to treat metabolic conditions. ### Who owns patent US 6531124? Transkaryotic Therapies Inc owns this patent, granted in 2003. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US 6531124 cited by? This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent represents an early effort to turn the patient's own cells into a therapeutic delivery system, moving away from the need for frequent injections of synthetic hormones. While the specific approach of ex-vivo cell transplantation for GLP-1 has faced significant hurdles compared to modern injectable GLP-1 agonists, it highlights the foundational research into personalized medicine and cell-based therapies that continue to influence current biotech development. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover direct injection of synthetic GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide or liraglutide. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6531124/xolair-omalizumab **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US6531124 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Make Human Erythropoietin (EPO) Using Engineered DNA](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4703008/neupogen-g-csf-filgrastim) — This patent describes the specific DNA sequences and methods to engineer cells to produce erythropoietin (EPO), a protein vital for red blood cell production, outside the human body. - [How Scientists Taught Bacteria to Make Human Hormones](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4356270/recombinant-dna-cloning-genentech) — Genentech's 1979 patent on using engineered DNA to force bacteria to produce human proteins like insulin and growth hormones. - [How Scientists First Made DNA Replicate in New Cells](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4237224/cohen-boyer-recombinant-dna) — This 1980 patent describes a method for cutting and pasting DNA pieces in a lab to create new, self-replicating genetic material that can be inserted into bacteria, a foundational technique for genetic engineering. - [Making Insulin Last Longer with Tiny Coated Drug Particles](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9370488/method-and-system-for-synthesizing-nanocarrier-based-long-acting-drug-delivery-s) — This patent describes how to create tiny, layered particles that can hold insulin and release it slowly into the body, aiming for longer-lasting diabetes treatment. - [Making Drug Proteins Last Longer and Target Diseases Better](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20190160160/methods-to-treat-diseases-with-protein-peptide-and-antigen-modification) — This patent describes ways to make protein and peptide drugs stay in the body longer and target specific diseases like autoimmune conditions or cancer more precisely by linking them together or combining them with other molecules.