Vical announces issuance of patent for gene-based cancer therapy.Vical, Inc. (San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , CA; 858-646-1127) announced the issuance of United States Patent 6,297,219, to which Vical has licensed exclusive commercial rights from the University of Michigan (body, education) University of Michigan - A large cosmopolitan university in the Midwest USA. Over 50000 students are enrolled at the University of Michigan's three campuses. The students come from 50 states and over 100 foreign countries. (Ann Arbor, MI), and which broadly covers direct injection of genetic material into tumors or surrounding tissue using viral, lipid-based or other non-viral gene delivery compositions. Vijay B. Samant, Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Vical's patents now cover both viral and non-viral methods of gene delivery for the treatment of cancer, extending our leading position in gene-based therapies. I am excited by the opportunities this patent presents for development of new cancer therapies by Vical and our partners." Vical's two lead product candidates, Allovectin-7 and Leuvectin, both involve direct injection of genetic material into tumors or surrounding tissue using lipids to facilitate delivery. Vical holds additional patents covering specific aspects of these product candidates. Overall, the company has more than 400 issued or pending patents worldwide, with extensive coverage in the field of naked DNA gene delivery for DNA vaccination and gene-based protein delivery. This new patent broadens Vical's coverage for gene delivery beyond naked DNA to include other methods currently in use by Vical and others for potential cancer therapeutics. Vical is focused on the development of pharmaceutical product candidates based on its patented gene delivery technology. A number of therapeutic and vaccine product candidates are currently under development for the prevention or treatment of cancer, infectious diseases and metabolic disorders by Vical and its collaborative partners, including Merck & Co., Pfizer Inc., Aventis Pasteur, Aventis Pharma, Human Genome Sciences Human Genome Sciences NASDAQ: HGSI is a biopharmaceutical corporation founded in 1992. Its stated purpose is to "discover, develop, manufacture and market innovative drugs that serve patients with unmet medical needs, with a primary focus on protein and antibody drugs. , Centocor Inc., Merial and Boston Scientific Corporation. Allovectin-7, which uses a lipid-DNA complex to help the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. recognize and attack cancer cells, is in Phase II and Phase III testing in certain patients with metastatic Metastatic The term used to describe a secondary cancer, or one that has spread from one area of the body to another. Mentioned in: Coagulation Disorders metastatic pertaining to or of the nature of a metastasis. melanoma and in Phase II testing in patients with head and neck cancer. Leuvectin, which uses a lipid-DNA complex to stimulate an immune response immune response n. An integrated bodily response to an antigen, especially one mediated by lymphocytes and involving recognition of antigens by specific antibodies or previously sensitized lymphocytes. against cancer cells, is in Phase II testing in patients with prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. . |
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