{
  "patent_number": "US 7297334",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Genentech's Antibodies Stop Tumor Blood Vessel Growth",
  "original_title": "Anti-vegf antibodies",
  "summary": "A Genentech patent for specific lab-made antibodies that block a protein called VEGF, effectively starving tumors of the blood supply they need to grow.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a method for stopping angiogenesis, which is the process of creating new blood vessels. Tumors often use a protein called VEGF to signal the body to grow new vessels to feed them. The patent claims a specific humanized antibody designed to bind to VEGF with high affinity, effectively neutralizing it. By blocking this signal, the antibody prevents the proliferation of endothelial cells, which are the cells that line blood vessels, thereby inhibiting tumor growth.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover antibodies that bind to VEGF with a lower affinity than 1x10^-8 M.",
    "Does not cover antibodies that lack the specific amino acid sequences defined in the CDR regions.",
    "Does not cover non-humanized antibodies or other types of VEGF inhibitors like small molecule drugs.",
    "Does not cover general methods of cancer treatment that do not specifically target the VEGF pathway."
  ],
  "filed": "2004-10-26",
  "granted": "2007-11-20",
  "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": "Leonard G. Presta",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/leonard-g-presta"
    },
    {
      "name": "James A. Wells",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/james-a-wells"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yvonne Man-yee Chen",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/yvonne-man-yee-chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Henry B. Lowman",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/henry-b-lowman"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 54,
  "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/7297334/anti-cd20-antibody-therapy",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7297334/anti-cd20-antibody-therapy/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US7297334",
  "relatedPatents": []
}