Using Antibodies to Target Tissue Factor Without Stopping Blood Clotting
A patent describing specific antibodies that attach to a protein called tissue factor without interfering with the body's natural blood-clotting process.
Original patent title: “Tissue factor antibodies and uses thereof”
A patent describing specific antibodies that attach to a protein called tissue factor without interfering with the body's natural blood-clotting process. Granted to Purdue Pharma LP in 2011 with 32 claims and 3 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent identifies specific antibodies that bind to human tissue factor, a protein often found in high amounts on cancer cells. Unlike many other antibodies that might block tissue factor, these are specifically selected because they do not inhibit blood coagulation, which is vital for patient safety. The patent covers the specific hybridoma cell lines (TF260, TF196, etc.) that produce these antibodies. It also details how these antibodies can be linked to cytotoxic agents—essentially toxic drugs—to deliver them directly to cells expressing tissue factor, or to detectable agents for imaging purposes.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover antibodies that inhibit or block the normal blood coagulation process.
- Does not cover general methods for creating antibodies that are not derived from the specific deposited hybridoma lines.
- Does not cover the use of tissue factor antibodies for purposes other than binding to the protein without affecting clotting.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in selecting antibodies that bind to tissue factor without interfering with its physiological role in the coagulation cascade, effectively decoupling the therapeutic targeting from the risk of hemorrhage.
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
Targeted cancer therapy research
Diagnostic imaging for tumors expressing tissue factor
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Tissue factor is a key target in cancer therapy because it is frequently overexpressed in tumors. The challenge in targeting it is that tissue factor is also essential for blood clotting; inhibiting it can lead to dangerous bleeding. This patent provides a way to target the protein for therapy or imaging while leaving the body's clotting mechanism intact.
Filed
August 7, 2008
Granted
August 9, 2011
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology relates to the broader field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Companies like Seagen and various oncology-focused biotech firms continue to explore targeting tissue factor for solid tumors, though they must navigate the same safety constraints regarding coagulation.
Market impact
This patent represents a specialized approach to oncology drug development. It highlights the necessity of balancing therapeutic efficacy with physiological safety, specifically in the context of proteins that serve dual roles in disease and normal bodily functions like coagulation.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent identifies specific antibodies that bind to human tissue factor, a protein often found in high amounts on cancer cells. Unlike many other antibodies that might block tissue factor, these are specifically selected because they do not inhibit blood coagulation, which is vital for patient safety. The patent covers the specific hybridoma cell lines (TF260, TF196, etc.) that produce these antibodies. It also details how these antibodies can be linked to cytotoxic agents—essentially toxic drugs—to deliver them directly to cells expressing tissue factor, or to detectable agents for imaging purposes.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in selecting antibodies that bind to tissue factor without interfering with its physiological role in the coagulation cascade, effectively decoupling the therapeutic targeting from the risk of hemorrhage.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover antibodies that inhibit or block the normal blood coagulation process.
- Does not cover general methods for creating antibodies that are not derived from the specific deposited hybridoma lines.
- Does not cover the use of tissue factor antibodies for purposes other than binding to the protein without affecting clotting.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
12/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
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
$72K – $230K
Midpoint $144K · 2.1 yr remaining · 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
32 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Wang, B. (2011). Using Antibodies to Target Tissue Factor Without Stopping Blood Clotting (U.S. Patent No. 7,993,644). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7993644/stelara-ustekinumab
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 Using Antibodies to Target Tissue Factor Without Stopping Blood Clotting cover?
A patent describing specific antibodies that attach to a protein called tissue factor without interfering with the body's natural blood-clotting process.
Who owns patent US 7993644?
Purdue Pharma LP owns this patent, granted in 2011.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 9, 2031, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7993644 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Tissue factor is a key target in cancer therapy because it is frequently overexpressed in tumors. The challenge in targeting it is that tissue factor is also essential for blood clotting; inhibiting it can lead to dangerous bleeding. This patent provides a way to target the protein for therapy or imaging while leaving the body's clotting mechanism intact.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover antibodies that inhibit or block the normal blood coagulation process.
Patent monitoring