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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.

(Press release, PlasmaTech Biopharmaceuticals, MAY 10, 2011, View Source [SID:1234506207])

(Press release, Aegis Therapeutics, MAY 10, 2011, View Source [SID:1234504477])

Advanced Cancer Therapeutics to Acquire Antisoma Drug

On May 3, 2011 Advanced Cancer Therapeutics (ACT), a privately held company dedicated to bringing new anti-cancer therapies to market, reported that it has signed an agreement to acquire 100% rights to AS1411 from Antisoma plc, a biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel drugs for the treatment of cancer (Press release, Antisoma, MAY 3, 2011, View Source [SID1234532622]).

AS1411, now to be renamed ACT-GRO-777, is the first DNA aptamer developed as an anti-cancer agent that has shown activity against a range of solid and blood cancer lines; positive results were obtained in acute myeloid leukemia and renal carcinoma Phase I and II clinical trials combined with an excellent safety profile.

"Based on the positive results seen in early stage clinical trials both in terms of anti-cancer activity and demonstrated safety in more than 150 patients, we are excited to acquire this drug from Antisoma and believe it could have utility in a variety of cancers types," said Randall Riggs, President & CEO of ACT. "We intend to work closely with Dr. Don Miller at the Brown Cancer Center, Louisville, KY, to evaluate new potential indications or uses for ACT-GRO-777, including neuroblastoma in children, and believe it will be a strong addition to our preclinical pipeline."

ACT-GRO-777 is believed to bind specifically to a protein called nucleolin, which is found on the surface of many cancer cells. Once bound, the AS1411 aptamer is taken into the cancer cell, where it leads to cancer cell death. Louisville-based Aptamera, co-founded by Dr. Miller, originally sold this novel aptamer drug to Antisoma in 2005.

(Press release, Cancer Research Technology, MAY 2, 2011, View Source [SID:1234503926])