Another Avigen press release to keep us moving till partnership:
Patent for Epidermal Gene Promoter Boosts Avigen's Portfolio
PR Newswire, Monday, September 08, 1997 at 08:22
ALAMEDA, Calif., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly-patented human epidermal
gene promoter further strengthens the position of Avigen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGN)
as a developer of tissue-specific gene therapies.
U.S. Patent No. 5,643,746, was issued on July 1 to Research Corporation
Technologies in Tucson, AZ. Avigen has an exclusive license to use the
technology in viral vector delivery systems for gene therapy.
The patent covers specific gene promoter elements that enable
tissue-specific expression of genes in human epidermis (the outer layer of
skin and lining of the gastrointestinal tract). Such promoter elements may be
useful for human gene therapy aimed at treating diseases of the epidermis or
delivering drugs to specific genes. Epidermal gene promoters may also be
employed to produce artificial skin and to test pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Tissue-specific promoters will be important for a number of gene therapy
applications because they allow fine control over gene expression and/or
provide the ability to turn genes on or off depending on the medical
application of interest. Avigen believes tissue-specific promoters will be
uniquely potent with adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, as such vectors
allow the tissue-specific promoters to behave as predicted. In contrast,
non-AAV approaches to gene therapy based on retroviruses can be self-defeating
since retroviral vectors contain remnants of viral genetic information that
typically override the controls provided by tissue-specific promoters.
"This new patent further enhances Avigen's intellectual property position,
which includes licenses to patent applications covering the use of
adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors with tissue-specific promoters," said
John Monahan, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Avigen. "By
expanding our rights to a wide variety of such gene promoters, we are building
a strong patent estate with which to protect our eventual commercial
franchise."
Avigen, Inc. is a biotechnology company involved in the development of
gene therapy products derived from adeno-associated virus for the treatment of
inherited and acquired diseases. The Company's proposed gene therapy products
are designed for in vivo administration to achieve the production of
therapeutic proteins within the body. Avigen is focusing its efforts on
developing products to deliver genes for the treatment of brain, liver and
prostate cancer, anemia, hemophilia, hyperlipidemia, metabolic storage
diseases and blood cell-related diseases including sickle cell anemia,
beta-thalassemia and HIV.
NOTE: Except for the historical information contained herein, this news
release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, including the Company's preclinical and clinical efforts, the
anticipated timing of regulatory filings and approvals, and other risks
detailed from time to time in documents filed by Avigen with the SEC,
including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1996 and the
report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1997.
SOURCE Avigen Inc.
-0- 09/08/97
/CONTACT: Thomas J. Paulson, Chief Financial Officer of Avigen, Inc.,
510-748-7150/ |
