Lentigen Corporation and the University of Pennsylvania Enter Intellectual Property License Agreement for Lentiviral Vector Technology

On May 19, 2011 Lentigen Corporation reported an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with the University of Pennsylvania relating to lentiviral vector technology (Press release Lentigen, MAY 19, 2011, View Source [SID:1234501067]).
The intellectual property, which was developed at Penn’s School of Medicine, has been granted to Lentigen to develop and commercialize products for both research reagents for laboratory research purposes and potentially, therapeutic purposes. No financial terms of the agreement were disclosed.

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Dr. Boro Dropulic, Founder and CEO of Lentigen, commented, "Lentigen’s license agreement with the University of Pennsylvania is part of our goal to continue licensing lentiviral technology from both academic research institutions and the private sector, which we will then work to commercialize."

About Lentiviral Vectors
Lentiviral vectors (LV) are vehicles that can deliver genes or RNAi into cells with up to 100% efficiency and stability. By comparison, other viral vector systems such as non-viral, adenoviral and adeno-associated viral vectors have not been shown to achieve both high and stable gene delivery in dividing cells.
Gene delivery is accomplished by the binding and fusing of the LV pseudotyped envelope protein to the target cell membrane. The LV RNA containing the gene or gene silencing sequence is then incorporated into the cell via reverse transcription creating a DNA complex. This complex enters the nucleus incorporating into the chromosomal DNA creating a stable molecule. The gene sequence is integrated in the chromosome and is copied along with the DNA during ongoing cell division.