Patent Press Release ...
Squetch, forgive me for identifying you as Graham over on RB ... I got the address format over here confused.
Here is the press release ...
cytogenix.com
HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 26, 2000)?. CytoGenix, Inc. (CYGX) announced the issue of US Patent No.
6,054,299 to Charles A. Conrad, MD. who developed the stem loop intracellular expression vector under a
sponsored research agreement from CytoGenix. The Company has an exclusive license for the
technology and has filed several patents for refinements of this original vector plus other novel approaches
to the challenge of effective intracellular expression.
This patent is the first of a comprehensive portfolio covering materials and methods licensed by CYGX to
support its development of a critical final stage "delivery" system for the promising antisense therapy
drugs under development by several major biotechs and pharmaceutical companies. The CytoGenix
intracellular expression vector, trade name TroVec?, actually synthesizes single strands of sequence
specific DNA in the nucleus of the targeted cells where they must appear in order to have therapeutic
effect.
The patent covers methods and compositions, which facilitate the isolation and specific targeting of any
single stranded DNA sequence to be acted upon by any desired double stranded DNA genetic element or
recognition sequence. The patented invention relates to a stable DNA construct into which a target DNA
strand is incorporated for subsequent expression by a host cell. The construct enables a sufficient
number of replications of the target sequence and facilitates antisense, triplex and aptameric applications
of single stranded DNA of specific sequences.
Antisense compounds work by blocking or inhibiting the process by which a virus or cancer cell usurps a
normal cell's ability to produce harmful proteins and to replicate.
The CytoGenix vector is designed to implement and enable the intracellular expression of the many
therapeutic oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) that have been discovered and patented over the last
decade, but which have not found their way into the healthcare system due to the so-called "delivery"
barrier.
Malcolm Skolnick, President/CEO of CYGX stated, "We believe this technology provides the threshold
mechanism for all the researchers who have determined the antisense ODN's against particular diseases.
Using the TroVec? technology, it is possible to express any identified ODN in sufficient quantity in
affected cells to make antisense therapy a viable reality with broad application to a variety of disease
states."
Additional information about CytoGenix and its technology can be found on the website at
www.cytogenix.com. |
