TransMolecular, Inc. Announces Issuance of Three U.S. Patents.Business/Health Editors BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 25, 2000 TransMolecular, Inc., a neuroscience biotechnology company developing products to treat central nervous system disorders Nervous system disorders A satisfactory classification of diseases of the nervous system should include not only the type of reaction (congenital malformation, infection, trauma, neoplasm, vascular diseases, and degenerative, metabolic, toxic, or deficiency , reported today the issuance of U.S. Patents No. 5,905,027 and No. 6,028,174, which cover the use of peptide and recombinant toxins, based on chlorotoxin a component of scorpion venom, and monoclonal antibodies, which specifically bind to glial-derived or meningioma-derived tumor cells. Also provided are various methods of screening and treating malignant gliomas and meningiomas, including glioblastoma multiforme glioblastoma mul·ti·for·me n. A virulent brain cancer that is usually fatal. and astrocytomas. Separately, the Company announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,013,672, covering the use of agonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors, which are potent drugs that modulate extracellular glutamate glutamate /glu·ta·mate/ (gloo´tah-mat) a salt of glutamic acid; in biochemistry, the term is often used interchangeably with glutamic acid. glu·ta·mate n. 1. A salt of glutamic acid. levels in ways that provide for neuroprotection in various brain disorders. All three patents were issued to the University of Alabama The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as 'Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1831, UA is the flagship campus of the University of Alabama System. Research Foundation and describe technology licensed exclusively to TransMolecular, Inc. About TransMolecular Founded in July 1996 by Dr. Stephen G. Waxman of Yale University and Dr. Harald W. Sontheimer of the University of Alabama at Birmingham UAB began in 1936 as the Birmingham Extension Center of the University of Alabama. Because of the rapid growth of the Birmingham area, it was decided that an extension program for students who had difficulties which prevented them from studying in Tuscaloosa was needed. Medical Center, TransMolecular is developing therapies and diagnoses for diseases of the central nervous system and related tissues. Matthew A. Gonda, Ph.D. joined the company in January 1999 as its President, Chief Executive Officer, and also serves on the board of directors. Dr. Gonda has over 28 years of experience in the biotech and life sciences industries where he held senior management and executive positions. The company has targeted three diseases applicable to its technology platforms - cancer, edema edema (ĭdē`mə), abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body tissues or in the body cavities causing swelling or distention of the affected parts. , and neuropathic pain. It has a number of products for treating primary brain tumors in various stages of research and development, and expects to be in clinical trials next year. TransMolecular's technology platforms are based on ion channels that have been mined from and are selectively expressed in the central nervous system and related tissues; the company has exclusively licensed this technology from Yale University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. TransMolecular's molecular targeting approach for cancer is unique in that it identifies pathways or targets on tumor cells and destroys them without harming the normal cells. The company is using chlorotoxin, a component of the venom obtained from the giant yellow Israeli scorpion, Lerius quinquestriatus, as a drug delivery vehicle that binds specifically to ion channels found on primary brain tumors or gliomas, but not normal tissues. Various therapeutic entities can be attached to the 36-amino acid chlorotoxin peptide, including radioisotopes used in radiotherapy, cytotoxic chemicals, and cytolytic cytolytic pertaining to or emanating from cytolysis. cytolytic reactivity type II hypersensitivity. molecules. With its focus on brain cancer, the company is targeting a disease for which there is an unmet medical need. TransMolecular's products are likely to receive Orphan Drug status as only 20,000-24,000 patients are diagnosed with glioma glioma /gli·o·ma/ (gli-o´mah) a tumor composed of neuroglia in any of its states of development; sometimes extended to include all intrinsic neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord, as astrocytomas, ependymomas, etc. each year. The company will apply for Fast Track development for its therapies for glioma with 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. . TransMolecular received its first round of financing in September 1997 from Tullis-Dickerson & Co., Inc., a prominent health care venture capital firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Tullis-Dickerson also participated in a recent Series B financing totaling $9 million. Additional participants in the second round were TVM TVM Time Value of Money (business, finance, economics) TVM Ticket Vending Machine TVM Thanks Very Much (logging abbreviation) TVM Transmission Voie Machine Techno Venture Management GmbH of Munich, Germany; President Life Sciences Co., Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan; Pacific Horizon Partners III, Seattle, Washington; and Portrush Group and Suttle Brothers Investments, both of Gadsden, Alabama. The company's board of directors consists of Gert Caspritz (TVM), Lyle Hohnke (Tullis-Dickerson), Matthew Gonda (CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. ), Stephen Waxman (Yale University), and Thomas Barton (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips). TransMolecular's corporate offices and R&D laboratories are located in Birmingham, Alabama. For more information, contact the company at (205) 870-3555. |
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