Yale and Columbia Expand Applications of CytoGenix Inc.'s Single-Stranded DNA Expression Systems.Business Editors & Health/Medical WritersHOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2001 CytoGenix Inc. (CYGX) has executed Sponsored Research Agreements (SRAs) with two leading universities, Yale University Yale University, at New Haven, Conn.; coeducational. Chartered as a collegiate school for men in 1701 largely as a result of the efforts of James Pierpont, it opened at Killingworth (now Clinton) in 1702, moved (1707) to Saybrook (now Old Saybrook), and in 1716 was School of Medicine and Columbia University Columbia University, mainly in New York City; founded 1754 as King's College by grant of King George II; first college in New York City, fifth oldest in the United States; one of the eight Ivy League institutions. . The principal investigators leading these studies are Peter Glazer, MD, Ph.D. at Yale and Cy A. Stein, MD, Ph.D. at Columbia University. CytoGenix Inc, is a Houston-based, early-stage, biotechnology company involved in the research, development, and commercialization of ssDNA expression vectors (TroVec(TM) & EnzSyn(TM)). The CytoGenix platform technology is an intracellular expression system that produces unmodified strands of ssDNA designed specifically for therapeutic interventions related to antisense antisense, DNA or RNA manipulated in a laboratory so that its components (nucleotides) form a complementary copy of normal, or "sense," messenger RNA (mRNA; see nucleic acid). , triplex triplex /tri·plex/ (tri´pleks) triple or threefold. triplex triple or threefold. , aptamer and DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. enzyme applications. CytoGenix Vice President of Research and Development Jonathan F. Elliston, Ph.D., J.D., directs the in-house research at the CYGX Laboratory in Houston and coordinates the SRAs with the various universities and medical research facilities throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Dr. Elliston negotiated the Yale and Columbia SRAs to provide research towards proof-of-principle of the company's proprietary single-stranded DNA expression technology in animals and the development of therapeutic products based on the technology. Regarding the most recently executed SRAs, Dr. Elliston commented, "I am very pleased to have Drs. Glazer and Stein involved in the advancement of CytoGenix's single-stranded DNA expression technology in the areas of triplex and antisense therapies. Together with the other on-going SRAs, we have a stellar group of Principal Investigators committed to driving the research from basic research studies to studies that will develop therapeutic products based on our platform ssDNA expression technology." Dr. Glazer's research team at Yale will focus on the use of triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) to modify gene function in mice. Dr. Glazer is a professor in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Genetics, and has been a member of CYGX's scientific advisory board since 1999. Dr. Glazer is a named inventor on several patents related to the modification of genes using TFOs. Dr. Glazer's research project with CYGX was initiated as a "beta test" kit project under a Material Transfer Agreement, and has evolved into a funded Sponsored Research Agreement to provide proof-of-principle studies in animals of the CytoGenix ssDNA expression technology designed specifically for therapeutic intervention using TFOs. Dr. Stein's study, at Columbia University in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , will focus on antisense therapies in human prostate and bladder cancer bladder cancer Malignant tumour of the bladder. The most significant risk factor associated with bladder cancer is smoking. Exposure to chemicals called arylamines, which are used in the leather, rubber, printing, and textiles industries, is another risk factor. . Dr. Stein, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine and Pharmacology at Columbia, is a well-published investigator in the world of antisense therapies, in particular 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. . He is a named inventor on several patents in the field, and is co-editor of the Antisense & Nucleic Acid nucleic acid, any of a group of organic substances found in the chromosomes of living cells and viruses that play a central role in the storage and replication of hereditary information and in the expression of this information through protein synthesis. Drug Development Journal. Dr. Stein's study will provide proof-of-principle studies of CYGX's ssDNA expression technology designed specifically for antisense therapies. Triplex and antisense therapeutics, although similar in structure since both are formed basically of ssDNA, differ markedly in the way they prevent expression of harmful proteins. It has been shown in triplex therapies that TFOs recognize and bind to specific double-stranded DNA sequences in the genome of a cell to alter a particular gene's ability to make messenger RNA mes·sen·ger RNA n. See mRNA. (mRNA). Thus the TFOs immediately block the production of disease causing proteins at the genomic level. In contrast, antisense therapies recognize and bind directly to mRNA expressed by the gene, thus blocking the production of disease causing proteins at a later part of the protein production process. SAFE HARBOR Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. : Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, risks associated with the acceptance of new products, competition, and other factors more fully detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional information about CytoGenix and its technology can be found on the Web site at www.cytogenix.com or call Dell Gibson at 281/988-6118, Investor Relations/Corporate Communications. |
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