RICHMOND, Calif. and LEXINGTON, Mass., June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO - news) and ZYCOS Inc., a privately held drug development company, today announced a collaboration to assess the utility of ZYCOS' gene transfer technology for the delivery of Sangamo's zinc finger DNA-binding protein transcription factor (ZFP TF) genes in vivo. Sangamo will evaluate the effectiveness of ZYCOS' proprietary gene expression system and biopolymer delivery system technologies for delivering its ZFP TFs in several preclinical model systems. Sangamo's engineered ZFP TFs are capable of binding to specific DNA sequences and regulating genes of therapeutic interest.
Under the collaboration, ZYCOS' Biotope® vectors, composed of plasmid DNA, and Gencap(TM) microparticles for DNA delivery will be used to deliver a proprietary Sangamo ZFP TF. In addition to its DNA-based technologies, ZYCOS has formulation chemistry and manufacturing-scale capabilities designed to support and accelerate the preclinical product development process for gene-based therapeutic drug candidates.
``Continuing to increase the number of delivery options for our ZFP TF technology is an important part of advancing our therapeutic product development strategy,'' said Edward Lanphier, Sangamo's president and chief executive officer. ``If this evaluation is successful, ZYCOS' gene transfer technology and infrastructure may accelerate the development of Sangamo's ZFP TF therapeutic candidates.''
``We are excited to work with Sangamo, a leader in the development of ZFP transcription factors for gene regulation,'' commented Mark A. Philip, ZYCOS' president and chief executive officer. ``Delivery of ZFP TFs is another example of the broad potential of ZYCOS' core nucleic acid based expression and delivery technologies.''
Transcription factors, which are found in the nucleus of every cell, bind to DNA to regulate gene expression. Zinc finger DNA-binding proteins are the dominant class of naturally occurring transcription factors in humans, as well as other organisms. Though there are many kinds of transcription factors, only zinc finger DNA-binding proteins are amenable to being engineered in order to target a particular gene or genes of interest. Since the over-expression or under-expression of individual genes is the basis for many diseases, the ability to regulate genes with engineered ZFP TFs has significant therapeutic potential.
About Sangamo
Sangamo is focused on the research and development of novel transcription factors for the regulation of gene expression. Sangamo's Universal Gene Recognition(TM) technology enables the engineering of transcription factors known as zinc finger DNA-binding proteins, or ZFP TFs. By engineering ZFP TFs so that they can recognize a specific gene, Sangamo has created ZFP TFs that can control gene expression and, consequently, cell function. The company intends to establish Universal Gene Recognition as a widely used technology for commercial applications in pharmaceutical discovery, human therapeutics, clinical diagnostics, agriculture and industrial biotechnology. Over twenty leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have utilized ZFP TFs. In addition, Sangamo is developing novel ZFP TF-based therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. For more information about Sangamo, visit the company's web site at www.sangamo.com.
About ZYCOS
ZYCOS Inc. (www.ZYCOS.com) is a privately held company located in Lexington, Massachusetts that is focused on converting genetic information into drugs, faster. ZYCOS' core technology platform includes an antigen identification and optimization system, plasmid DNA vectors to deliver genes encoding for proteins or peptides, and polymer-based drug delivery systems. The integration of these technologies has led to the development of a new category of therapeutic medicines targeting multi-billion dollar markets in the area of cancer, viral infections, inflammation, and autoimmune disease. The company's first drug candidate targeted at the human papillomavirus is in Phase II clinical studies. ZYCOS is also applying its technologies to help partners evaluate gene targets and develop gene-based products... |
