This is a partial press release from Chiroscience today, which may portend an astounding breakthrough...
Chiroscience Announces Discovery of Gene That
Activates Human Autoimmune System -- Provides
Novel Target for Drug Discovery
SEATTLE and CAMBRIDGE,
England (BUSINESS WIRE) -
Sept. 29, 1998--Chiroscience
Group plc (LSE: CRO) announced today the discovery of a gene
that is responsible for the control of an immune response. The
gene has been discovered in both mice and humans, and the gene
product regulates the activity of CD4 T-cells, a cell-type central
to many immune responses. The company has filed patents for the
gene, which provides a novel, proprietary target for drug
discovery for a number of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,
as well as cancer. The announcement was made today in London
during the company's Research and Development Update.
"We have validated that this gene is a virtual 'off/on switch' for the
immune system," said Robert Jackson, PhD, Chiroscience
Director of Research, "and, depending on the disease, there are
times when we need to turn the system off, and times when we
need to turn it on. We now have a new pathway to use in the
discovery and development of drugs for unmet medical need."
Diseases in which the immune system must be turned down
include rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, psoriasis, Crohn's disease,
ulcerative colitis and allergy. Diseases in which the immune system
should be increased include cancer and AIDS.
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