Looking Good!!!
Broad Patent Issues for Paclitaxel
Production by Microorganisms;
Establishes Strong Proprietary Position
DALLAS, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics Inc. (Nasdaq: CYPH - news,
CYPH - news, CYPHZ - news) today announced the issuance of a broad patent (U.S. Patent #
5,861,302) for the production of paclitaxel, the active ingredient in Taxol(TM), by microorganisms
isolated from the Yew Tree.
The technology was developed by Dr. Gary Strobel of Montana State University and Drs. Andrea
and Donald Stierle of Montana College of Science and Technology. In 1994, a patent was issued
for the original fungal strain that produced paclitaxel. This new broad patent establishes a strong
proprietary position for the technology.
Cytoclonal obtained exclusive rights to this technology and established a program with the Montana
researchers to develop a cost-effective system to produce paclitaxel and related compounds using
microbial fermentation, which is the basis for efficient production of many drugs, including
antibiotics. Taxol is presently produced from components of the rare Yew Tree.
In 1998 Cytoclonal signed an agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) concerning production
of paclitaxel, employing its microbial fermentation as well as paclitaxel-specific genes isolated by Dr.
Rodney Croteau at Washington State University. The agreement covers production of paclitaxel,
Bacatin and other Taxanes that could be used for a second-generation version of paclitaxel and new
cancer compounds from microorganisms furnished by Cytoclonal. In 1998 BMS generated $1.25
billion in sales of Taxol, which is approved for the treatment of breast, ovarian and lung cancers. This is a partial release! |
