Dendreon Corporation Receives Patent for Novel Cancer Gene; Internal Discovery Efforts Yield Target for Development of Multi-Cancer Vaccine.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K SEATTLE--(BW HealthWire)--April 5, 2001 Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq:DNDN) today announced that it has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a gene displayed in high incidence in a variety of prevalent cancers, most notably lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. . It is hoped that the gene, discovered in Dendreon's research laboratories, will lead to the development of new classes of immunotherapy products that can treat more than one type of cancer. With this new patent, number 6,194,152, Dendreon now owns or has licenses to 87 U.S. and foreign patents covering its technology. "We are very excited about this new gene, called trp-p8, that is found in more than 90 percent of small cell carcinomas small cell carcinoma n. See oat cell carcinoma. small cell carcinoma Small cell undifferentiated carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma A highly aggressive malignancy, usually of lung, which arises in proximal bronchi of the lung -- the deadliest form of lung cancer that quickly becomes resistant to standard therapies. Additionally, trp-p8 is found in many other cancers, including a majority of colon, breast and prostate cancers, offering the opportunity to develop single products for multiple cancers," said David Urdal, Ph.D., Dendreon's President and Chief Scientific Officer. "Trp-p8 provides Dendreon with a variety of novel product development opportunities. Firstly, it is being engineered with our Antigen Delivery Cassette(TM) technology in order to develop a new therapeutic vaccine therapeutic vaccine Immunology A vaccine–eg, Salk's Remune™ intended to treat a viral infection by stimulating the immune system. See Vaccine therapy. , designated APC (1) (American Power Conversion Corporation, West Kingston, RI, www.apcc.com) The leading manufacturer of UPS systems and surge suppressors, founded in 1981 by Rodger Dowdell, Neil Rasmussen and Emanual Landsman, three electronic power engineers who had worked at MIT. 80TR. Our strong intellectual property position in this gene also allows us to develop monoclonal antibody therapies against it. These could prove to be separate and stand-alone therapeutic products." Dendreon's vaccine technology is designed to stimulate the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. to fight cancer. Dendreon's method begins with the identification of antigens that are expressed in diseased tissue. Selected antigen targets are then engineered into an Antigen Delivery Cassette(TM), which introduces the tumor antigen tumor antigen n. Any of several antigens present in tumors induced by certain types of adenoviruses and papovaviruses or in cells transformed in vitro by those viruses. Also called neoantigen, T antigen. to dendritic cells isolated from a cancer patient. The antigen-loaded dendritic cells are then infused into the patient to stimulate the development of T-cell immunity. Dendreon Corporation (www.dendreon.com) is dedicated to the discovery and development of novel products for the treatment of cancer through its innovative manipulation of the immune system. Dendreon currently has three vaccine candidates in clinical trials -- Provenge(TM), for the treatment of prostate cancer, in Phase III Noun 1. phase III - a large clinical trial of a treatment or drug that in phase I and phase II has been shown to be efficacious with tolerable side effects; after successful conclusion of these clinical trials it will receive formal approval from the FDA trials; Mylovenge(TM), for the treatment of multiple myeloma multiple myeloma A malignant proliferation of abnormal plasma cells that populate the marrow-containing bones of the body. The affected plasma cells produce myeloma protein, a monoclonal antibody that replaces normal antibodies in the blood, thereby increasing susceptibility , in Phase II trials; and APC8024, for the treatment of breast, ovarian and colon cancers, in Phase I trials. Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce our patents and other proprietary rights, the potential for our products to conflict with patent rights of others, the impact of competition and technological change in the cancer vaccine industry, risks related to adverse clinical results as our products move into and advance in clinical trials and possible delays in obtaining, or inability to obtain, FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. approval for our products. Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Dendreon's business, financial condition and results of operations are contained in the company's public disclosure filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. , which are available at www.sec.gov. www.dendreon.com |
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