Enzo Biochem announces joint program to develop DNA medicine for hepatitis.Inc. (ASE (Adaptive Server Enterprise) A relational DBMS from Sybase that runs on Windows NT/2000, Linux and a variety of Unix platforms. ASE is a comprehensive and robust data management product with a long history dating back to the late 1980s. :ENZ) announced today that it has initiated a joint program with Dr. Jayanta Roy-Chowdhury, Professor of Medicine and Molecular Genetics molecular genetics n. The branch of genetics that deals with hereditary transmission and variation on the molecular level. , Director of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, and Director of the Gene Therapy Core Laboratory at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) is a graduate school of Yeshiva University. It is a private medical school located in the Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus of Yeshiva University in the Morris Park in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , aimed at the development of a specific 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. medicine for the treatment of hepatitis B Hepatitis B Definition Hepatitis B is a potentially serious form of liver inflammation due to infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It occurs in both rapidly developing (acute) and long-lasting (chronic) forms, and is one of the most common chronic based on the company's novel gene regulation and delivery technologies. Enzo also said that the program will include the exploration of approaches to control genes involved in organ rejection for the purpose of developing universal organs for transplantation. Roy-Chowdhury, an expert in the field of gene expression in liver and other tissues will collaborate in the studies. Enzo is also exploring the use of its technologies targeted towards the development of products for lowering cholesterol levels. The hepatitis program is geared to the development of a directly injectable "DNA medicine" and differs from the company's AIDS program, in which cells are removed from the patient, altered ex vivo ex vivo /ex vi·vo/ (eks´ ve´vo) outside the living body; denoting removal of an organ (e.g., the kidney) for reparative surgery, after which it is returned to the original site. -- outside the body -- and reinfused into the patient. "The use of an injectable `DNA medicine' represents a major milestone in Enzo's expanding program of developing therapeutic solutions to healthcare problems based on gene regulation and delivery and demonstrates the commitment of the company to commercialize products using this innovative new technology," said Dean Engelhardt, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Enzo. Infection by the hepatitis B virus is a public health problem of worldwide significance with both acute and chronic clinical consequences. The virus, which is spread through infected blood and other body fluids, infects and damages the liver. It can lead to chronic infection, cirrhosis of the liver Cirrhosis of the liver A type of liver disease, most often caused by chronic alcohol abuse. It is characterized by scarring of the liver, which leads to an increase in the blood pressure in the portal veins. Mentioned in: Bleeding Varices , liver failure liver failure Clinical medicine Liver insufficiency that results in death, requires a liver transplant, or is characterized by recovery after encephalopathy, or while awaiting a transplant; also defined as a condition with ≥ 3 of following: albumin < 3. , liver cancer Liver Cancer Definition Liver cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer but has a high mortality rate. Liver cancers can be classified into two types. and death. According to health officials at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, an estimated one million people in the United States carry the virus in their blood. Worldwide, as many as 300 million may be carriers of the disease, for which there is currently no treatment. Engelhardt said that this collaborative research program will utilize Enzo's gene regulation technology combined with the company's proprietary GenSert(TM) universal gene delivery system. "We believe that the implications of these combined technologies are vast and highly promising," continued Engelhardt. "The efficacy of this hepatitis therapeutic will be enhanced by the incorporation of several novel features, including genetic constructs (genes) that can direct the medicine to the cell nucleus where viral production occurs and where the virus is more susceptible to attack." Engelhardt said that the same approach will be utilized to control genes involved in graft or organ rejection after transplantation. During the rejection process, specific products (antigens) of the histocompatibility genes are expressed. Rejection has been shown to be affected by the presence of these gene products. To prevent organ rejection, Enzo's technology will be applied to inhibiting the production of these undesired products within the cell. This approach may also have applications in the treatment of diabetes and autoimmune diseases Autoimmune diseases A group of diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, in which immune cells turn on the body, attacking various tissues and organs. Mentioned in: Complement Deficiencies, Premature Menopause . "With the demand for transplants increasing and the difficulty of finding matching organs, the ability to prevent rejection at the genetic level would have a significant impact on human healthcare," Engelhardt declared. "At the present time organ rejection is treated with immunosuppressive drugs that are not always successful and may have the undesirable effect of increasing the patient's susceptibility to infection. Enzo's approach would provide universal organs that would not elicit an immune response after transplantation and therefore could be tolerated by the patient without immunosuppressive therapy." Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of innovative healthcare products based on molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services to the medical community. CONTACT: Barry Weiner, 212/856-0876 or Steve Anreder, 212/421-4020 |
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