STRASBOURG, France, June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Transgene (Nasdaq: TRGNY - news; Nouveau Marche: TRANSGENE), announced today that it has been issued European patent 901 463 entitled ``Glycerolipid compounds useful for transferring active substances into target cells'' covering the use of the Company's pcTG90 cationic lipid based non-viral system for the delivery of genes into cells.
pcTG90 is a newly designed cationic glycerolipid that binds with plasmid DNA and can efficiently deliver genes to target organs in vivo. In addition to its efficiency, this synthetic vector is attractive because it is easily manipulated and is less likely to cause the patient's immune system to mount an immune response to it than vectors containing protein components. The absence of an immune response is advantageous as it may enable repeated administration and extend the duration of gene expression in the target cells.
Transgene has developed pcTG90 formulations for intravenous delivery by optimizing the electrical charge, the plasmid DNA content and the size of the glycerolipid/DNA complex. These formulations can be used to deliver therapeutic proteins into the bloodstream, an approach with potential advantages over direct injection of the protein in terms of efficacy and toxicity. Transgene's scientists have shown in animal models that intravenous administration of a pcTG90-based vector formulation results in therapeutic levels of interferon-beta in the blood. Interferon-beta, a potent immuno- stimulatory agent which is currently used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, has potential for use in cancer therapy.
``We are very pleased to see our advances in the field of non-viral gene delivery systems recognized by this patent,'' said Bernard Gilly, President and Chief Executive Officer. ``It covers new technology that allows high levels of gene transfer, as we observed in our pre-clinical animal models. Our ongoing program with this vector aims at developing clinical applications for its use, with an emphasis in the field of oncology.''
Transgene, based in Strasbourg, France, with an office near Boston, Massachusetts, is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of gene delivery technologies and gene therapy products for the treatment of acquired or inherited diseases for which there is no cure or adequate therapy at present. The Company's proprietary technology platform consists of multiple vector families with a special emphasis on vaccinia virus, adenovirus, and synthetic vectors. Transgene has five products in clinical development to treat a variety of cancer indications, including two in phase II clinical trials and three in phase I clinical trials. |
