Where'd and gang: I really need to get a
copy of the recent Avigen PNAS paper and get
caught up on that one...it must be the only
stock in my Gene Therapy watch lists that is
consistently moving upward, geeze this momentum
guys are bold...or maybe they've all read the
paper and liked it (somehow I do not think
that all the Yahoos subscribe to PNAS)
Melissa Burton, Hiroyuki Nakai, Peter Colosi, Janet Cunningham, Rachel Mitchell, and Linda Couto. Coexpression of factor VIII heavy and light chain adeno-associated viral vectors produces biologically active protein. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 1999; 96(22):12725-12730.
But for now maybe you can help. As I understand
it, contaminating wild type AAV triggers immune
response and limits transgene expression and
finding the best AAV play is finding the company
which can manufacture the purest? What about
recombination with wild-type after administration,
*all* AAV is supposed to be disabled, tricky.
Do you suppose the Avigen Hemophilia Canine model is
immune privledged in some way?
It is not at all likely I'll jump on to Avigen for
the conclusion of this momo ride, but I can't ignore
this stock either...clearly the market likes it, and
sometimes the market is right...even if for the wrong
reason. I saw a post which said that PBS may be running
a show with something about Gene Therapy, if I find the
name and time, I'll post.
Finally, Wilson apparently spoke at the NatureBiotech
Gene Therapy meeting on Monday--regarding EPO. I wonder
if he gave an update on the Upenn (Ariad?) EPO monkeys?
Any lukers oout there know? Also Carter of TGEN spoke on
Tuesday--anybody see that presentation--it should have
been about tgen's aav-CF in sinusitis model.
I do not know if Avigen had anybody presenting at
the meeting, sorry. I'd hoped to see a pulse in
Ariad and TGEN this past week on that meeting, TGEN
did do a PR, market yawned. I never expect any PR
from Ariad or Genovo...last time I checked in August
the two were still cooperating.
Finally, I sure hope I am not missing out on
some great gene therapy discussion over on the
listserve, if so please PM me. |
