CYGS Expands Antisense Patent Portfolio.HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 1999-- Cryogenic Solutions Inc. (OTCBB OTCBB See OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB). :CYGS) and InGene Inc have together filed a total of three new U.S. patent applications, all of which enhance and expand the single stranded DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. intracellular expression vector expression vector n. A vector, such as a plasmid, yeast, or animal virus genome, used to introduce foreign genetic material into a host cell in order to replicate and amplify the foreign DNA sequences as a recombinant molecule. (ssDNAev) technology that is the centerpiece of the CYGS patent portfolio. Two of the patent applications were filed by InGene Inc., the principal research facility for the ssDNAev technology licensed exclusively to CYGS. One patent application was filed for an improved ssDNA expression vector invented jointly by CYGS and InGene personnel. In January 1999 the USPTO USPTO abbr. United States Patent and Trademark Office sent notice of allowance of all the claims in the original patent application which is expected to be issued shortly. Studies now in progress at several universities, independent laboratories, and biotech companies continue to demonstrate the ability of the CYGS vector to synthesize single strands of sequence specific DNA in the nucleus of selected cell lines for Antisense antisense, DNA or RNA manipulated in a laboratory so that its components (nucleotides) form a complementary copy of normal, or "sense," messenger RNA (mRNA; see nucleic acid). purposes. The success of genetically based Antisense Therapy depends on the ability to "deliver" specific oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) into the nucleus of infected or impaired cells where they intercept and disable messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. The role of mRNA is to program the cytoplasm cytoplasm: see protoplasm. cytoplasm Portion of a eukaryotic cell outside the nucleus. The cytoplasm contains all the organelles (see eukaryote). to produce the harmful proteins that actually cause the symptoms and the damage that characterizes the disease. Antisense Therapy differs from Gene Therapy in that the Antisense ODNs do not in any way alter the human genomic structure. Antisense and other genetically based therapies have the potential to shift the emphasis of healthcare from palliative to prevention; that is, from simply treating symptoms to actually eliminating disease. There are already over six hundred Antisense ODNs that have been identified and patented by various biotech companies and universities that can be used to treat over a thousand diseases. The principal limiting factor has been the problem of "delivering" the ODN ODN Oligodeoxynucleotide ODN Optical Distribution Network ODN Optical Data Network ODN Ordnance Datum Newlyn (UK mapping coordinate system) ODN Online Dictionary of Neuroscience ODN Olathe Daily News into cells intact and in sufficient quantities to be effective. The CYGS vectors solve this problem by actually synthesizing the designated ODNs in the nucleus of the targeted cells. Research is ongoing to continue expanding the scope and effectiveness of the CYGS vectors as well as new technologies. |
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