US 12297278

U.S. Patent 12,297,278, titled "Wnt surrogate molecules and uses thereof," was granted to Surrozen Operating Inc. on May 13, 2025. The patent application was filed on July 28, 2023, with a priority date of December 19, 2017.

Abstract:
The patent describes Wnt signaling pathway agonist molecules, compositions, and methods for their use. These molecules are soluble, bivalent, and bispecific Wnt surrogate molecules. They comprise one or more regions that specifically bind to one or more Frizzled (Fzd) receptors and one or more regions that specifically bind to Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) and/or Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6). Such molecules are useful for modulating Wnt signaling pathways, for example, in the treatment of degenerative diseases and tissue injuries.

Inventors:

• Yang Li
• Tom Zhiye YUAN
• Aaron Ken Sato
• Wen-Chen YEH
• Claudia Yvonne Janda
• Tristan William FOWLER
• Helene Baribault
• Kuo-Pao LAI
• Liqin XIE
• Randall J. Brezski
• Chenggang LU

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The independent claims of US Patent 12,297,278 focus on defining the Wnt surrogate molecules and their use in modulating Wnt signaling. (Please note that without the full claim text, this is a summary based on the provided "Definitions" section of the patent).

• Claim 1 (Implied, from description of "the disclosure"): This claim likely covers a soluble, bivalent, bispecific Wnt surrogate molecule. The molecule must include at least one region that specifically binds to a Frizzled (Fzd) receptor and at least one region that specifically binds to LRP5 and/or LRP6. It specifies that these binding regions can be antigen-binding fragments of an antibody, such as IgG, scFv, Fab, VHH, or sdAb, and further defines the specificity of these regions through CDR sequences or high sequence identity to provided SEQ ID NOs. The claim also covers various structural formats where the binding regions are fused to each other or to an Fc region, directly or via a linker.

• Claim 2 (Implied, from description of "the present disclosure"): This claim likely relates to an isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide sequence that comprises one or more of the Fzd binding regions and/or one or more of the LRP5/6 binding regions of a Wnt surrogate molecule as defined in Claim 1.

• Claim 3 (Implied, from description of "the present disclosure"): This claim likely covers an expression vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide of Claim 2.

• Claim 4 (Implied, from description of "the present disclosure"): This claim likely covers an isolated host cell comprising the expression vector of Claim 3.

• Claim 5 (Implied, from description of "the present disclosure"): This claim likely covers a pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier, and a therapeutically effective amount of any of the Wnt surrogate molecules defined in Claim 1.

• Claim 6 (Implied, from description of "the present disclosure"): This claim likely covers a method for agonizing a Wnt signaling pathway in a cell. The method involves contacting the cell with any of the Wnt surrogate molecules defined in Claim 1, where the molecule acts as an agonist of the Wnt signaling pathway.

• Claim 7 (Implied, from description of "the present disclosure"): This claim likely covers a method for treating a subject having a disease or disorder associated with reduced Wnt signaling. The method involves administering to the subject an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of Claim 5, where the Wnt surrogate molecule is an agonist of a Wnt signaling pathway. The claim may further specify a list of diseases or disorders, such as bone fractures, osteoporosis, liver regeneration, etc.

• Claim 8 (Implied, from description of "the present disclosure"): This claim likely covers a method for increasing bone mineral density, increasing bone volume, increasing bone cortical thickness, increasing bone mineral apposition rate, increasing bone stiffness, increasing bone biomechanical strength, increasing resistance to bone fracture, decreasing bone resorption, or decreasing bone loss associated with osteoporosis, in a subject in need thereof. The method involves providing to the subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a Wnt surrogate molecule (as defined in Claim 1), where the Wnt surrogate molecule is an agonist of a Wnt signaling pathway.

• Claim 9 (Implied, from description of "the present disclosure"): This claim likely covers a method for increasing liver to body weight ratio, promoting liver regeneration, increasing liver cell proliferation or mitosis, decreasing liver fibrosis (optionally following chronic liver injury), increasing hepatocyte function, or decreasing coagulation time in the liver, in a subject in need thereof. The method involves providing to the subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a Wnt surrogate molecule (as defined in Claim 1), where the Wnt surrogate molecule is an agonist of a Wnt signaling pathway.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, a search of CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 12297278 did not yield any specific results for litigation involving this exact patent. While there are numerous intellectual property and patent infringement cases filed in the Federal Circuit in 2026, none explicitly mention US12297278B2. It is possible that litigation or appeals may exist under a different case identifier, or are not yet publicly available in the searched dockets. The USPTO's public search tools or assignment center may offer further details on potential legal status changes. However, it is noted that a PTAB case PGR2026-00027 has been filed and is pending.