June 7, 2001. Raleigh, North Carolina
Intronn LLC has been awarded a two year Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant for 2.5 million dollars from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of Bethesda Maryland. The grant is to develop the therapeutic potential of Intronn's patented spliceosome mediated RNA trans-splicing (SMaRTTM) technology in cystic fibrosis.
Gerard J. McGarrity, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Intronn said, " This endorsement and support of Intronn's technology is very important to us. We have been encouraged by the laboratory results we have had in applying our SMaRTTM technology to repair the cystic fibrosis gene. This new grant will greatly speed our progress and should culminate with the initiation of clinical trials."
Intronn previously received a Phase I SBIR award from the NIDDK for cystic fibrosis. In Phase I, NIDDK funded Intronn at nearly twice the amount that Intronn had requested, based on the recommendation of the peer review panel that reviewed Intronn's application. The present award continues and expands the Phase I work. The NIH review panel that evaluated Intronn's Phase II application described it as "one of the most innovative, thoughtful and exciting ones they ever read."
Intronn's SMaRTTM technology reprograms genes at the RNA level. SMaRTTM has the ability to repair a wide range of defective genes. Intronn is also the recipient of a grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for related work on cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease which affects an estimated 30,000 people in the United States. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease characterized by thick mucus secretions throughout the body, leading to life threatening lung infections and other complications.
For additional information:
Gerard J. McGarrity, Ph.D.
Intronn LLC
Phone: 919-831-2239
Fax: 919-831-0880
E-mail: gmcgarrity@intronn.com
Website: www.intronn.com |
