Very quiet here <G>.
5/11/00 - Genetic Engineering News Reports Bioengineering Spurs Regenerative Medicine
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LARCHMONT, N.Y., May 11, 2000 (BW HealthWire) -- Tissue-reparative technologies increasingly will draw the attention of biotechnology companies as research pushes advances in this area, reports Genetic Engineering News (GEN) (www.genengnews.com).
A number of novel products are already arising from regenerative medicine, including tissue engineered cartilage, skin and bladder, and bioengineered organs that deliver therapeutic protein therapeutics represent a key goal for the future, according to the May 1, 2000, issue of GEN.
"As the population continues to age in the U.S. and other countries, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine will provide significant therapeutic solutions to meet the needs of the elderly," said John Sterling, managing editor of GEN. "We can also expect to see breakthroughs in work on telomeres and stem cells as they relate to slowing various aspects of the aging process."
One of the leading companies in the regenerative medicine field is Human Genome Sciences (Nasdaq:HGSI). The company has repifermin (keratinocyte growth factor-2), which repairs damaged mucosal tissues and heals chronic skin wounds, and vascular endothelial growth factor-2, which promotes revascularization as a possible treatment of limb ischemia and coronary artery disease, in Phase II trials. William Haseltine, Ph.D., president, chairman and chief executive officer, cites three major areas for R&D: stimulating the body to perform better by administering genes, proteins and antibodies as drugs; the use of microdevices to create neuromechanical interfaces that act on the nervous system; and the reconstructing of organs outside the body, as in xenotransplantation and tissue engineering.
Another pioneering company is Organogenesis (AMEX:ORG), whose "living human skin cell" substitute, Apligraf, has been approved for the treatment of venous leg ulcers. AN FDA advisory panel recently recommended approval of the product for use in diabetic foot ulcer therapy.
Some other companies involved in tissue engineering or regenerative medicine are Genzyme Tissue Repair (Nasdaq:GZTR), Curis, which was formed through the merger of Reprogenesis, Ontogeny and Creative Biomolecules (Nasdaq:CBMI), Stryker Biotech (NYSE:SYK), Genetics Institute (NYSE:AHP) and Cell-Based Delivery Inc.
Genetic Engineering News is published 21 times a year by Mary Ann Liebert Inc. For a copy of the magazine, please call 914/834-3100, ext. 623, or email: ebicovny@liebertpub.com.
Distributed via COMTEX.
Copyright (C) 2000 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
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CONTACT: Mary Ann Liebert Inc.
John Sterling, Managing Editor, 914/834-3880
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