TMF Announces its Portfolio Company, AMBA Biosciences, is Awarded Core Patent for Gene Delivery.

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 1997--Technology Management & Funding, L.P. (TMF), announced today that its portfolio company, AMBA Biosciences, LLC, has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its technology on peptide mediated gene transfer. The technology protected in this core patent is related to the introduction of a variety of genes into mammalian cells, using a proprietary synthetic peptide to carry the DNA into the cell's nucleus. This patent forms the foundation for AMBA's platform drug discovery technologies which are used to accelerate the identification, screening, and development of drugs, cytokines, and gene/cell therapy products.

"The allowance of this cornerstone patent serves as validation for the unique and proprietary nature of AMBA's approach to gene delivery," said Dr. Anthony Warren, president of TMF. "We are pleased with the broadness and scope of this initial patent, and we continue to broaden the intellectual property base to provide AMBA and its partners a solid foundation in the drug discovery and gene therapy fields."

AMBA's patented vectors serve as the vehicle for gene delivery. In this capacity, they have been used to create novel cell lines for drug and cytokine discovery, as well as for gene and cell therapy applications. The vectors are utilized to introduce genes into different cell types by virtue of the following unique characteristics:

1) A proprietary peptide which binds electrostatically to one or more genes (DNA).

2) A nuclear localization signal (NLS), present on the peptide, which directs the peptide-DNA complex into the target cell nucleus thereby promoting high-efficiency gene transfer.

3) Proprietary combinations of one or more genes which are used together with the peptide to facilitate the development of the desired cell lines for drug discovery.

"We have demonstrated the flexibility of our highly efficient peptide-mediated gene transfer technology by introducing genes into a wide variety of human and non-human cell types," said T. Venkat Gopal, Ph.D., author of the allowed patent, and chairman of AMBA. "The unique design of our proprietary gene delivery technology makes it possible to effectively introduce genes into many difficult to manipulate cells, including hematopoietic cells and endocrine cells. We look forward to continuing to explore a number of very exciting opportunities for the Company."

AMBA Biosciences, LLC, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel biotherapeutics and gene/cell therapy products, primarily for viral diseases and cancer. The Company has developed proprietary, platform technology which it believes will redefine and accelerate the drug discovery process. In early 1996, AMBA launched a business partnership with Technology Management and Funding, L.P. to pursue strategic alliances and financial partnering in order to rapidly commercialize AMBA's technologies.

Technology Management & Funding, L.P., based in Princeton, New Jersey, accelerates the process of building equity value in emerging high-technology companies, while minimizing investment risk. TMF bridges the gap between technological innovation and commercialization by establishing both corporate and financial strategic alliances between small companies and established firms. TMF's rapidly expanding portfolio consists of companies worldwide in industries ranging from software, electronics and industrial components to environmental, telecommunications and biotechnology.

CONTACT: Cristal Downing

Technology Management & Funding, L.P.

[phone]

[e-mail]

http://www.tmflp.com