Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Eurogene Ltd today announced the first successful in vivo gene transfer in mammals using a baculovirus-mediated vector system. This was achieved using a second-generation engineered baculovirus and Eurogene's proprietary collar-reservoir local delivery device. The results of the work, published today in the leading journal Gene Therapy, may pave the way for a new vector system for human gene therapy, offering the potential for improved safety and greater utility (1). This is the first time in the history of gene therapy that baculovirus-mediated gene transfer has been achieved in mammals. If the remaining pre-clinical experiments are successful, human trials with this new system could begin before the end of 2001.
The work was carried out by a team of scientists in Finland under the supervision of world-leading gene medicine scientist, Professor Seppo Yla-Herttuala, Head of Molecular Medicine at the University of Kuopio. Professor Yla-Herttuala is also Director of Gene Therapy at Eurogene and one of the company's scientific founders.
Eurogene has filed patent applications for the baculovirus and collar technologies which offer the potential for rapid commercial development, particularly in cardiovascular, cancer and neurological applications.
Commenting on the research, Professor Yla-Herttuala said:
``Until now the use of baculoviruses to transfer genes in mammalian systems has not been successful as they are immediately broken down by the immune system when they come into contact with serum. Whilst this should make them very safe, in that they are quickly destroyed, the destruction is so fast that they do not have time to transfer genes. The use of Eurogene's collar-reservoir device in these trials has enabled the baculovirus to deliver the gene locally via the adventitial (outside) surface of blood vessels, thus avoiding contact with serum. The efficacy of transfer was comparable to adenoviruses, which are currently the most efficient delivery vectors for arterial Human gene therapy.
The advantages of using this baculovirus system are clear, particularly in terms of safety profile, ease and speed of baculovirus construction, and their ability to expand to accommodate very large DNA fragments. This is a major step forward in gene transfer.``
Dr Alan Boyd, Development Director at Eurogene said:
``We are excited by these results. The system has the potential to advance significantly the field of gene therapy by extending the use of genes into medical areas where existing vectors may not be suited. We are working to apply this research in our own human gene medicine programme -- the first step will be to refine and test a series of vector constructs before commencing human trials within one to two years. The addition of the baculoviral technology further strengthens the Company's gene based Rand D portfolio''
Eurogene is engaged in the business of combining novel discoveries in vascular gene science and endothelial molecular biology with focused clinical development programs. The new treatments under development are targeted at the increasingly prevalent diseases of blood vessels and of circulatory system origin, where there is significant unmet clinical need.
Reference: ``Baculovirus mediated periadventitial gene transfer to rabbit carotid artery'', KJ Arienne, MO Hiltunen, MP Turunen, A-M Turunen, OH Laitinen, MS Kulomaa and S Yla-Hertuala, Gene Therapy 717:17 pp 1499-1504, 5 September, 2000.
Notes:
Eurogene Limited, a private company with headquarters in London, England, and operations also at Kuopio, Finland, was founded on a platform of 10 years of world leading scientific research in the field of vascular gene science and endothelial molecular biology.
Eurogene currently has a broad portfolio of therapeutic opportunities from discovery, through genes and small molecules in the early stages of pre-clinical testing, to drugs in later-stage clinical development. Initial treatment targets include vascular disease and disease-associated cachexia.
The Company raised 15 million pounds sterling in a European private equity placement earlier in 2000 following seed finance of 3 million pounds injected at inception in 1997. Current investors include Biofund, Merlin Biosciences, Nomura and Technoventure Management. |
