How Genentech Engineered Antibodies to Starve Tumors of Blood
A 2007 Genentech patent describing specific lab-made antibodies that block a protein called VEGF, which tumors use to grow new blood vessels.
Original patent title: “Anti-VEGF antibodies”
A 2007 Genentech patent describing specific lab-made antibodies that block a protein called VEGF, which tumors use to grow new blood vessels. Granted to Genentech Inc in 2007 with 13 claims and 76 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a humanized antibody designed to bind tightly to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). VEGF is a protein that signals the body to grow new blood vessels. By blocking this signal, the antibody prevents tumors from building the blood supply they need to expand. The patent specifically claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → the precise amino acid sequences for the antibody's 'variable domains'—the parts that actually grab onto the VEGF protein—ensuring it binds with high affinity.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to targets other than VEGF.
- Does not cover naturally occurring, non-humanized antibodies.
- Does not cover therapeutic methods of treating patients, only the antibody composition itself.
- Does not cover antibody sequences that fall outside the specific amino acid variations defined in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The inventors used 'humanization' to make a mouse-derived antibody look like a human protein to our immune system, preventing the body from attacking the medicine while maintaining the high-affinity binding of the original mouse version.
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
Avastin (bevacizumab)
Lucentis (ranibizumab)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is the foundation for anti-angiogenic therapy, a major pillar of modern oncology. By cutting off the nutrient supply to tumors, these antibodies transformed cancer treatment from purely cytotoxic (killing cells) to targeted biological intervention. It paved the way for drugs like bevacizumab, which have been used to treat various cancers and eye diseases.
Filed
September 3, 2002
Granted
January 30, 2007
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Genentech (a member of the Roche Group) remains the primary holder of this technology. Many biosimilar manufacturers are now building on these foundational patents as they expire to create lower-cost versions of these life-saving therapies.
Market impact
This patent helped establish the multi-billion dollar market for monoclonal antibodies in oncology. It provided the intellectual property protection necessary for the commercial success of Avastin, which became one of the most widely used cancer treatments in history.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a humanized antibody designed to bind tightly to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). VEGF is a protein that signals the body to grow new blood vessels. By blocking this signal, the antibody prevents tumors from building the blood supply they need to expand. The patent specifically claims the precise amino acid sequences for the antibody's 'variable domains'—the parts that actually grab onto the VEGF protein—ensuring it binds with high affinity.
The clever bit
The inventors used 'humanization' to make a mouse-derived antibody look like a human protein to our immune system, preventing the body from attacking the medicine while maintaining the high-affinity binding of the original mouse version.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to targets other than VEGF.
- Does not cover naturally occurring, non-humanized antibodies.
- Does not cover therapeutic methods of treating patients, only the antibody composition itself.
- Does not cover antibody sequences that fall outside the specific amino acid variations defined in the claims.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
38/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 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
$81K – $259K
Midpoint $162K · expired or expiring · 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
13 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Baca, M., Presta, L. G., Wells, J. A., Chen, Y. M., & Lowman, H. B. (2007). How Genentech Engineered Antibodies to Starve Tumors of Blood (U.S. Patent No. 7,169,901). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7169901/avastin-bevacizumab
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 How Genentech Engineered Antibodies to Starve Tumors of Blood cover?
A 2007 Genentech patent describing specific lab-made antibodies that block a protein called VEGF, which tumors use to grow new blood vessels.
Who owns patent US 7169901?
Genentech Inc owns this patent, granted in 2007.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 30, 2027, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7169901 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 76 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is the foundation for anti-angiogenic therapy, a major pillar of modern oncology. By cutting off the nutrient supply to tumors, these antibodies transformed cancer treatment from purely cytotoxic (killing cells) to targeted biological intervention. It paved the way for drugs like bevacizumab, which have been used to treat various cancers and eye diseases.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover antibodies that bind to targets other than VEGF.
Same assignee
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