{
  "patent_number": "US RE49280",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "A Custom-Built Protein to Block TGF-beta Signaling in Disease",
  "original_title": "USRE49280E1 - TGFbeta type II-type III receptor fusions",
  "summary": "A laboratory-engineered protein designed to soak up excess TGF-beta molecules, which could help treat conditions like cancer and fibrosis where these signals are overactive.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a synthetic protein called RER, which is a fusion of parts from two different human receptors: TGF-beta type II and type III. By stitching these together into a heterotrimeric structure, the protein acts like a molecular sponge that binds to all three isoforms of TGF-beta with high affinity. Because it specifically targets TGF-beta, it can neutralize these signals without interfering with other related growth factors like BMPs or activins. In practice, this could be injected into a patient to clear out harmful, excess TGF-beta signaling that drives tumor growth or tissue scarring.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover naturally occurring TGF-beta receptors found in the human body.",
    "Does not cover fusion proteins that bind to other TGF-beta superfamily members like BMPs or activins.",
    "Does not cover general protein engineering techniques that do not result in the specific RER heterotrimeric structure.",
    "Does not cover therapeutic methods that do not rely on the specific amino acid sequences defined in the claims."
  ],
  "filed": "2013-03-28",
  "granted": "2022-11-08",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "University of Texas System",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/university-of-texas-system",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Christian Zwieb",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/christian-zwieb"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andrew Hinck",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/andrew-hinck"
    },
    {
      "name": "Luzhen Sun",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/luzhen-sun"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "biotech",
    "pharmaceutical"
  ],
  "abstract": "Certain embodiments are directed to novel heterotrimeric fusions in which the ectodomain of the TGF-β type II receptor (TβP?II) is coupled to the N- and C-terminal ends of the endoglin-domain of the TGF-β type III receptor (TpRIIIE). Certain embodiments are directed to novel heterotrimeric polypeptides in which the ectodomain of the TGF-β type II receptor (TI3RII) is coupled to the N- and C-terminal ends of the endoglin-domain (E domain) of the TGF-β type III receptor (TI3RIII). This trimeric receptor, known as RER, can bind all three TGF-β isoforms with sub-nanomolar affinity and is effective at neutralizing signaling induced by all three TGF-β isoforms, but not other ligands of the TGF-β superfamily, such as activins, growth and differentiation factors (GDFs), and bone morphonogenetic proteins (BMPs).",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE49280/smart-ring-health-tracker",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE49280/smart-ring-health-tracker/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/USRE49280",
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}