GenStar Therapeutics Announces Issuance of Patent for Sensitizing Tumors to Radiation Using Gene Therapy
Business Wire - April 25, 2000 09:16
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SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--April 25, 2000--GenStar Therapeutics (AMEX: GNT), a biotechnology company developing products for the treatment of hemophilia A and prostate cancer, announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,051,218 entitled, "Tumor Radiosensitization Using Gene Therapy." This University of California patent covers a method of inhibiting the growth of a cancerous tumor by delivering the cytokine gene interleukin-3 to sensitize tumors to standard radiation therapy. GenStar exclusively licensed the patent for use in developing a novel treatment for prostate and other cancers. In addition, the patent has been exclusively licensed to The Immune Response Corporation (NASDAQ: IMNR), in Carlsbad, California, for the use in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer, brain tumors and melanoma.
"The receipt of this patent enhances GenStar's unique approach to treating prostate cancer via multiple modes of action that includes sensitizing tumors to the effects of standard radiation by gene therapy," said Robert E. Sobol, M.D., President and CEO of GenStar Therapeutics.
GenStar's prostate candidate product is a genetically engineered cold virus that has multiple anti-tumor effects. The product has been designed to replicate in and destroy prostate cancer cells and to deliver therapeutic inteleukin-3 genes to the tumor site. Interleukin-3 gene therapy sensitizes tumors to the effects of standard radiation therapy and stimulates anti-tumor immune responses capable of treating metastatic disease. In animal tumor models, a single injection of the adenoviral vector completely eradicated tumors and the combination of interleukin-3 cytokine gene therapy with radiotherapy was curative, resulting in enhanced efficiency of radiation therapy and anti-tumor immune responses.
GenStar Therapeutics is a biotechnology company currently developing gene therapy products for the treatment of hemophilia A and prostate cancer. The Company's hemophilia product is being developed in collaboration with Baxter Healthcare and its prostate cancer product development program will be supported in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute. The Company recently announced the completion of approximately $25 million in equity financings, which will contribute additional financial resources to the development of these products.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those regarding the gene therapy products. Neither Baxter nor GenStar has entered into any human clinical trials of the gene transfer systems, and the results of any future human clinical trials cannot be predicted. The actual initiation of these clinical trials will be dependent upon a number of factors, including obtaining other regulatory approvals, and finding and enrolling patients in the clinical trials who meet all of the criteria for enrollment. The success of gene therapy in animal models does not guarantee that the same results will be obtained in humans because of several potential risks. These include the risk that side effects may result from the treatments; other risks and uncertainties inherent in the development of gene therapy products; and those risks detailed from time to time in documents filed by GenStar with the SEC, including the report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1999. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date
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