Another contestant on non-viral gene therapy, also private:
>>CLEVELAND--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 28, 2001--Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the United States Patent Office has issued Automated Nucleic Acid Compaction Device, US Patent Number 6,281,005.
Mark J. Cooper, M.D., Senior Vice President of Science and Medical Affairs said, ``This patent provides very broad coverage for scale-up manufacture of compacted nucleic acids for gene therapy. Our non-viral formulation consists of single molecules of nucleic acid that are condensed to their minimal possible size using polycationic carriers. These compacted nucleic acid complexes have a diameter of approximately 18-25 nm as visualized in electron micrographs, and are especially effective in transfecting post-mitotic, differentiated cells. The automated compaction device permits a several log production scale up in manufacturing these complexes, and yields a very homogeneous population of condensed nanoparticles. We are currently preparing compacted DNA for a planned phase I trial in patients with cystic fibrosis in early 2002.''
``Copernicus has established a very broad and enabling position in the field of gene therapy,'' said Robert C. Moen, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Copernicus. ``Our intellectual property positions us uniquely in this field. Given the dangers inherent with viral vectors, our technology enables us to access the favorable aspects of viral vectors while providing the safety and pharmaceutical qualities inherent in non-viral gene delivery systems. This patent covers our scale-up and manufacture of compacted DNA, and effectively extends our patent protection for production of gene therapy clinical trial reagents. We expect to broadly partner this gene transfer platform with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies wishing to exploit the advantages of our proprietary technology.''
Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc. is advancing novel targeting and delivery systems with broad applications in human therapeutics and vaccines. Copernicus' technologies include a multi-component delivery platform that can be applied to nucleic acids to develop therapies for a variety of human diseases and a targeting platform enabling the efficient uptake of drugs by specific cells and tissues. The Company's targeting and delivery platforms are complementary and can be combined to enhance the efficacy and safety of existing drugs or to create novel therapeutics. <<
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Cheers, Tuck |
