Appeal No. 2004-1259
Application No. 09/832,355
DISCUSSION
Background
The claimed invention is directed to a fusion protein comprising a first non-
heparin-binding VEGF-A peptide portion, or a peptide portion that exhibits at least
about 80% homology to a VEGF-A peptide portion, and a second non-VEGF peptide
portion covalently associated with the first peptide portion, which first and second
peptide portions separately promote angiogenesis or bone growth, and wherein the
second peptide portion lacks a collagen binding domain. Specification, pages 1-2.
Such a fusion protein is useful for promoting angiogenesis, bone growth, and/or wound
healing. Specification, page 2.
According to the specification, by “non-heparin-binding it is meant that less than
about 5% of the VEGF peptide portion of the fusion protein should be bound to heparin-
containing sites at a given moment after administration to or expression in a
mammalian host (compared to, e.g., about 50-70% binding for VEGF165, and about 90-
100% for VEGF189). More preferably, the VEGF peptide portion exhibits no apparent
affinity for heparin, as exhibited by VEGF-C, non-heparin binding P1GFs, VEGF-R and,
more preferably, VEGF121.” Specification, page 15.
The non-VEGF peptide portion can be any suitable peptide portion including a
non-VEGF factor, preferably which is capable of promoting angiogenesis, bone growth,
or wound healing. Specification, page 17. By non-VEGF portion, it is meant that the
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