Essential has rebounded nicely--doubling off of
the $1 shareprice low of a couple weeks ago.
I was shook out in July, after something on the
order of a 30% loss.
Working my way down the things I follow...looks
like Lynx has bottomed out below $1/2....I probably
own it at three times that, and am trying to forget
about the paper loss: Funny how the ones you get
shook out of pop up, and the ones you dig in on
really punish you!
Here is a Tgen PR...the shares are pretty flat.
Press Release Source: Targeted Genetics Corporation
New Patent Covers Targeted Genetics' Approach to Increasing Carrying Capacity of AAV Vectors
Thursday August 22, 8:30 am ET
SEATTLE, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Targeted Genetics Corporation (Nasdaq: TGEN - News) today announced the issuance of another patent related to the Company's leading adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology platform. U.S. patent #6,436,392, titled "Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors," was issued to the University of Iowa Research Foundation and is exclusively licensed to Targeted Genetics. The patent covers the use of two AAV vectors to deliver DNA sequences that, once inside a cell, are used to make a single protein. This approach allows AAV vectors to be used to deliver genes that ordinarily would be too large to fit inside a single vector, expanding the potential applications of AAV-based gene delivery.
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"We believe that the combined attributes of persistent expression and a good safety profile make AAV vectors the vector of choice in the gene-transfer treatment of a wide variety of chronic diseases and for the development of viral vaccines," said Barrie J. Carter, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Targeted Genetics. "To date we have been able to address the size constraint of AAV vectors for our product development programs by utilizing small promoter elements or by modifying DNA sequences to reduce their size without affecting the protein that ultimately is produced. While these approaches can be applied to some genes, the technology covered by this patent significantly expands the potential application of AAV vectors by providing a more flexible method to deliver genes that are larger than the normal carrying capacity of these vectors. This method works by delivering two separate DNA sequences and having the RNA from these sequences come together to form the template for making a single protein. This is the first patent to issue out of our Licensing Agreement with the University of Iowa Research Foundation covering the work of Dr. John F. Engelhardt, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Director for the Center for Gene Therapy at the University of Iowa. We are very excited about the work that John is pursuing, and believe that this patent is just the first that will cover a number of promising next generation AAV technologies."
Dual vector systems are used to overcome the size constraint of AAV vectors by splitting the DNA needed to make a protein of interest into two pieces. In the technique described by this patent, the DNA molecules produced by each vector are joined together to form the template for producing a full-length, functional protein. Other dual vector approaches lead to the independent production of smaller proteins that must then assemble properly inside the cell in order to produce the protein of interest. These other approaches can only be applied to proteins that consist of more than one subunit, limiting their utility.
"My laboratory focuses on understanding basic mechanisms of recombinant AAV infection, including how AAV vectors enter cells, how the viral genome gains access to the nucleus and how these genomes are used to make protein," said Dr. Engelhardt. "Much of what we learn through elucidating these pathways may help to enhance the use of AAV vectors as delivery systems for treating a variety of diseases. In the case of this patent, my lab first recognized that RNA processing provided an interesting mechanism to join together RNA sequences derived from two different AAV vectors. We then engineered vectors in a manner that causes this assembly to join two pieces of RNA that together serve as a template for making a single protein. We recognized that this approach is very powerful because it allows us to double the size of the genes one can deliver with AAV vectors. We are excited to be actively working with Targeted Genetics to apply this technology toward the development of novel therapies for cystic fibrosis and other genetic diseases."
Targeted Genetics Corporation develops gene therapy products for the treatment of acquired and inherited diseases. The Company has a clinical product development program targeting cystic fibrosis, and a promising pipeline of product candidates focused on hemophilia, arthritis, cancer and AIDS prophylaxis. The Company has a broad platform of gene delivery technologies and, through its majority-owned subsidiary, CellExSys, a promising body of technology for cellular therapy. For more information about Targeted Genetics Corporation please visit the Company's web site at targetedgenetics.com .
NOTE: This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the development of our product candidates, which are based on the opinions and estimates of our management at the time the statements are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Inaccurate assumptions and known and unknown risks and uncertainties can affect the accuracy of these forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect our actual results include, but are not limited to, the timing and nature of the results of our clinical trials, the success of our research and development programs, our ability to protect our intellectual property, and the validity of our patents, as well as the other risk factors described in the section entitled "Factors Affecting Our Operating results, Our Business and Our Stock Price" included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as of June 30, 2002 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not rely unduly on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect new information, circumstances or events after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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Source: Targeted Genetics Corporation |
