Genteric Awarded Key Gene Therapy Patent.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 11, 2000

Technology Enables the Expression and Secretion into Blood of

Therapeutic Levels of a Desired Protein Using

Patient's own Secretory Gland Cells

Genteric Inc. announced today it has been awarded U.S. Patent 6,004,944 covering methods for expressing desired proteins having therapeutic value from genes placed in a patient's own secretory glands.

Three company co-founders invented the patented technology, which provides a new method of drug delivery using cells of the pancreas, liver and salivary glands to produce and release therapeutic proteins into the bloodstream.

"This patent describes an innovative cell-based drug delivery system, which the company believes holds great promise for new gene therapy treatments of a number of important diseases, including diabetes, anemia, and single gene defects such as, hemophilia," said Stephen S. Rothman, D.D.S., Ph.D., scientific co-founder of Genteric. "Importantly, Genteric's approach makes it possible to confine non-viral gene therapy constructs within specific sites -- the organs of the gastrointestinal system -- without distributing them elsewhere in the body."

Dr. Rothman explained that confinement of the gene construct shields it from the bloodstream, thereby minimizing the risk of inflammatory responses or toxicity that have been associated with other current gene therapies. The company's patented technology enables the production of desired proteins from gene constructs that are inserted into gastrointestinal organs (pancreas, liver and salivary glands). Once the protein is produced, it is secreted naturally by gland cells and distributed into the bloodstream providing the desired benefit.

"This is the third patent awarded to Genteric's gene therapy delivery system technology, and is another step toward solidifying the company's position as an emerging leader in the field," said Martin D. Cleary, president and chief executive officer of Genteric. "When viewed together with six issued patents covering our extensive cationic lipid library, we see ourselves in an outstanding proprietary position. Our focus will now be to establish that the Genteric Method will perform with the same robustness as viral-based systems without the side effects."

Genteric is a privately held biotechnology company with a new method of drug delivery that employs gene therapy and the secretory organs of the patient's gastrointestinal system to produce and release therapeutic proteins into the bloodstream. Genteric's product candidates target disease indications, including diabetes, growth hormone deficiency, hemophilia, Gaucher's disease, autoimmune disease, cancer and bacterial and viral infections. The company encourages inquiries regarding both private investment and licensing opportunities for its current and future technology. Investment inquiries may be directed to Martin D. Cleary, president and chief executive officer.