{
  "patent_number": "US 6884879",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Genentech Created Antibodies to Stop Tumor Growth",
  "original_title": "Anti-VEGF antibodies",
  "summary": "A 1997 patent describing a specific humanized antibody designed to block VEGF, a protein that helps tumors grow their own blood supply.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes the genetic blueprints for a specialized antibody that targets Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). By binding to VEGF, the antibody prevents it from signaling endothelial cells to multiply, effectively starving tumors of the blood supply they need to expand. The patent specifically claims the DNA sequences required to produce these humanized antibodies, which are designed to be less likely to trigger an immune rejection in human patients compared to purely mouse-derived versions.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover all possible anti-VEGF antibodies, only those containing the specific amino acid sequences defined in the claims.",
    "Does not cover methods of treating specific diseases, as the claims focus on the nucleic acids and the production process.",
    "Does not cover naturally occurring antibodies found in non-human animals.",
    "Does not cover generic antibody production techniques that do not utilize these specific sequences."
  ],
  "filed": "1997-08-06",
  "granted": "2005-04-26",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Genentech Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/genentech-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Manuel Baca",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/manuel-baca"
    },
    {
      "name": "James A. Wells",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/james-a-wells"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 308,
  "tags": [
    "biotech",
    "pharmaceutical"
  ],
  "abstract": "Humanized and variant anti-VEGF antibodies and various uses therefor are disclosed. The anti-VEGF antibodies have strong binding affinities for VEGF; inhibit VEGF-induced proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro; and inhibit tumor growth in vivo.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6884879/anti-vegf-antibodies",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6884879/anti-vegf-antibodies/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US6884879",
  "relatedPatents": []
}