Journal of Virology Publication Highlights Antiviral Activity Of AVI BioPharma's NEUGENE Antisense Compound.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2004 AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVII), today announced publication of positive preclinical data relating to its NEUGENE(R) antisense compound in the June issue of the Journal of Virology The Journal of Virology is an academic journal that covers research concerning viruses, using cross-disciplinary approaches including biochemistry, biophysics, cell and molecular biology, genetics, immunology, morphology, physiology and pathogenesis. . The study, conducted in cooperation with The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI TSRI The Scripps Research Institute TSRI Taiwan Sugar Research Institute ), evaluated the ability of AVI's NEUGENE agent to inhibit replication of the mouse hepatitis virus Mouse hepatitis virus is a virus of the family Coronaviridae, genus coronavirus. References
mouse hepatitis virus. ). MHV is a member of the coronavirus family, Coronaviridae, which includes the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Definition Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is the first emergent and highly transmissible viral disease to appear during the twenty-first century. (SARS), as well as many viruses associated with the common cold. "This paper describes a truly rigorous analysis of how AVI's NEUGENE antisense compounds block viral replication in cell culture," said Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and development at AVI. "These results suggest that our NEUGENE antisense compound has therapeutic potential for the control of coronavirus infection. Our preclinical work in MHV provides additional preparation for our expanded antiviral program." The paper, titled "Antisense Morpholino-Oligomers Directed against the 5' End of the Genome Inhibit Coronavirus Proliferation and Growth," describes research evaluating the inhibition of MHV using several NEUGENE compounds in cell culture. This study tested several NEUGENE compounds to determine the sequence-specific antiviral efficacy against MHV. The best NEUGENE antisense compounds were delivered to more than 80% of cells in culture and were found to inhibit virus titers by tenfold to a hundredfold in a sequence-specific and dose-responsive manner. About AVI BioPharma AVI BioPharma develops therapeutic products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases using two technology platforms: third-generation NEUGENE antisense drugs and cancer immunotherapy. AVI's lead NEUGENE antisense compound is designed to target cell proliferation disorders, including cardiovascular restenosis, cancer and polycystic kidney disease Polycystic Kidney Disease Definition Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common of all life-threatening human genetic disorders. . In addition to targeting specific genes in the body, AVI's antiviral program uses NEUGENE antisense compounds to target single-stranded RNA viruses, including West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. , SARS coronavirus, calicivirus and hepatitis C. AVI's second technology, AVICINE(R), is a therapeutic cancer vaccine with late-stage trials planned for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. More information about AVI is available on the company's Web site at http://www.avibio.com/. "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995: The statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the results of research and development efforts, the results of preclinical and clinical testing, the effect of regulation by the 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. and other agencies, the impact of competitive products, product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. |
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