Tuesday October 23, 7:30 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Collateral Therapeutics, Inc.
Collateral Announces Issuance of Patent Directed To Gene Therapies for Treating Congestive Heart Failure
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Collateral Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLTX - news) today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,306,830, entitled ``Gene Therapy for Congestive Heart Failure'' by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. The patent relates to methods of in vivo gene transfer via non-surgical administration for the potential treatment of congestive heart failure. The technology covered by this patent was exclusively licensed by the Company from the University of California.
The patent is directed to methods employing a gene delivery vector and a therapeutic gene encoding a beta-adrenergic signaling element, particularly a cardiac adenylylcyclase (AC) gene to enhance cardiac function for patients with congestive heart failure. In the Company's preclinical studies, use of a cardiac AC gene to enhance the myocardial adrenergic signaling pathway resulted in statistically significant increases in cardiac function as reported in the journal Circulation last year.
``This patent expands Collateral's intellectual property position in the important therapeutic area of congestive heart failure and provides opportunities for applying our technologies to the development of new cardiovascular gene therapies,'' said Jack W. Reich, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Collateral Therapeutics.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the body's needs. According to the American Heart Association, in 2001, there are an estimated 4.7 million patients in the U.S. with congestive heart failure. Due to the progressive nature of this disease, only about half of patients with congestive heart failure are expected to survive for more than five years from diagnosis. CHF is also currently considered the leading cause of hospitalization among older Americans. Present treatment usually involves a program of rest and proper diet and the use of diuretics to help eliminate excess salt and water. Other available drug therapies designed to increase the strength of heart contraction or decrease stress on the weakened heart have been variably effective. However, these drugs may have associated side effects and generally only treat symptoms rather than the disease process. Gene therapy for heart failure could ultimately circumvent some of these problems by directly affecting cardiac function.
Collateral Therapeutics, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, is a leader in the discovery and development of innovative gene therapy products for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Collateral Therapeutics is developing non-surgical cardiovascular gene therapy products focused on: (1) angiogenesis, as a treatment approach for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and congestive heart failure; (2) myocardial adrenergic signaling, as a treatment for congestive heart failure; and (3) heart muscle regeneration, to improve cardiac function for patients who have suffered a heart attack. <snip> |
