Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have improved a method of delivering genes to liver cells in a system that might one day facilitate using DNA to treat metabolic disorders. Led by Savio Woo, the research team in Houston created 1,000 times the previous amount of an easily visualized "marker" gene product, beta galactosidase, by hitching the gene to an adenovirus. Adenoviruses cause the common cold and have attracted interest as a vehicle to introduce genes to cells for gene therapy
Two teams of researchers report in today's issue of Nature that they have successfully introduced large segments of human DNA into mice using yeast artificial chromosomes, or YACs. The DNA remains intact, its presence doesn't interfere with the development of the engineered embryonic stem cells into adults, and it is passed through the germline. It now becomes feasible -- at least in theory -- to study precisely the regulation and expression of human immunoglobulin genes, for instance, or to
GenPharm International Inc. announced Wednesday that it has received a $5.3 million, three-year grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support the development of its transgenic technology using yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) to insert large genes into transgenic animal models. GenPharm has incorporated the sequences, including human DNA, into its YACs via lipofection. In this method, "the lipid micelles containing the YACs are cultured with mouse embryonic
WASHINGTON -- U.S. lawmakers are considering two pieces of biotechnology-related legislation. The Biotechnology Patent Protection Act is expected to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee next Thursday, and voted on shortly thereafter. And Rep. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is floating a bill that would require the federal government and its private grantees to negotiate a pricing formula before signing grant agreements. The bill would also require the National Institutes of Health, whenever
In an attempt to protect the position of the first product it took to market, Genentech Inc. has filed a patent infringement complaint against two other producers of recombinant human growth hormone. Protropin, the South San Francisco, Calif., company's (NYSE:GNE) first product, was approved in 1985, but lost its seven years of market exclusivity under the Orphan Drug Act in October 1992. Genentech still controls 75 percent of the hGH market in the U.S., however, and is developing a second
Initial Phase III clinical trial results on Centocor Inc.'s heart drug, CentoRx, are promising enough that the Malvern, Pa., company intends to file a product license application (PLA) with the FDA this year. Researchers associated with the multicenter, 2,100-patient Phase III trial reported Tuesday at the American College of Cardiology Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., that CentoRx can reduce by nearly 40 percent the occurrence of heart attack and the need for emergency repeat angioplasty in
Gensia Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Tuesday announced detailed results of two Phase III clinical trials testing its drug Arasine as a protective agent against the sometimes fatal complications of coronary artery bypass graft surgery. A U.S. trial showed that Arasine provided a statistically significant reduction in heart attacks and other adverse cardiac events, including strokes, while an international trial did not produce statistically significant results in the primary endpoints measured. Using
Centocor Inc. said it has terminated all but one trial for its anti- infective, HA-1A. The Malvern, Pa., company (NASDAQ:CNTO) had suspended its second Phase III trial on Jan. 18 due to excessive deaths, and announced it would decide whether to continue after analyzing the data. The company's monoclonal antibody to the endotoxin that causes an immune overreaction in patients whose blood is infected with Gram-negative bacteria, HA-1A, was intended to help some 200,000 Americans who develop Gram
Therion Biologics Corp. is joining forces with the Harvard researcher who first isolated a strain of HIV in monkeys to develop a live, attenuated AIDS vaccine. Privately held Therion was formed in 1991 when Oncogene Sciences Inc. purchased the cancer therapy and diagnostics components of Applied bioTechnology Inc. Therion of Cambridge, Mass., has spent the past 18 months searching for vaccines that can mimic a live, attenuated virus that Harvard researchers have shown has protected six rhesus
The Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday announced a new policy exempting emerging biotechnology companies, as well as other research and development intensive companies, from the Investment Company Act of 1940. The new policy will enable biotechnology companies to invest funds in higher-yielding investments than previously allowed, without becoming regulated as investment companies, the Industrial Biotechnology Association said. The SEC made the announcement in a letter mailed
Repligen Corp. on Tuesday started enrolling patients in its Phase I clinical trial on recombinant platelet factor-4 (rPF4) to evaluate its safety in neutralizing heparin in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Upon completion of certain cardiovascular procedures, including angioplasty and cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, it's necessary to reverse the anti-coagulant effects of heparin "before the surgeon can close," explained Sanford Smith, Repligen's president and chief executive officer
Women are more likely to die from heart attacks than men, according to results discussed Tuesday at the American College of Cardiology Meeting in Anaheim, Calif. Researcher Nisha Chandra reached this conclusion after analyzing data collected by the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (NMRI), a registry of more than 100,000 heart attack patients sponsored by Genentech Inc. Chandra, an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, found that
Amersham International plc announced Monday that it will acquire United States Biochemical Corp. (USB) for up to $69 million, of which it will pay $51.75 million upon completion of the agreement, expected for April 2. This date coincides with the start of Amersham's new fiscal year. Any necessary shareholder approvals, as well as those of the boards of directors, "have been obtained on both sides," said Tom Mann, USB's chief executive officer. Amersham will issue 4.64 million new shares of
Argus Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Monday that it has postponed its follow-on public offering "due to current market conditions for biomedical company stocks." The Houston company announced Jan. 14 its intention to sell 2.5 million shares of common stock (NASDAQ:ARGS). The underwriters are S.G. Warburg Securities and Kidder, Peabody & Co. Inc. Argus, which is developing therapeutic drugs based on properties of macrophages, has one compound ready for Phase I clinical trials. In January the
Celltech Group plc announced Monday that it has raised $5 million by issuing convertible redeemable cumulative preferred shares to American Cyanamid Co. of Wayne, N.J. These shares will carry a 6.9 percent coupon and will be convertible at any time before 2003 into ordinary shares at 6 pounds (about U.S.$8.58 at the current exchange rate) per share. American Cyanamid also has recently purchased 709,601 shares of the Slough, England, company's common stock from existing shareholders. If it
Chiron Corp. expects to receive a patent today covering its methods of quickly preparing and screening millions of potential drugs. U.S. patent No. 5,194,392 applies to the Emeryville, Calif., company's (NASDAQ:CHIR) mimotope technology. Developed by Chiron Mimotopes Pty. Ltd. of Clayton, Australia, the system entails synthesizing up to 1,000 peptides a day on special pins. The peptides can be used to "map" regions called epitopes in any protein of interest, such as antigen regions that trigger
Canguard Health Technologies Inc. on Monday announced a second agreement with Athena Neurosciences Inc. The South San Francisco, Calif., neuroscience company (NASDAQ:ATHN) made a private payment and an additional payment to secure a right of first refusal on certain future products for the U.S. Athena signed an agreement in January to develop and commercialize two unidentified Canguard products in the U.S. Canguard (VSE:CGD) of Vancouver, British Columbia, also announced its first venture
Cor Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has completed its Phase II clinical trial of Integrelin, an anti-thrombotic compound, for treating unstable angina. Cor of South San Francisco, Calif., began the 200-patient, multisite trial in February 1992. "Now that all patient treatment has been completed, we will gather, review and analyze the data from this double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial over the next several months," said Vaughn Kailian, Cor's president and chief
A refocused Xoma Corp. is back in the clinic. The company announced Monday that it has begun Phase I testing of a second-generation product to treat sepsis. Xoma (NASDAQ:XOMA) of Berkeley, Calif., shifted course last year after FDA refused marketing approval for its E5 treatment for sepsis following a Phase III trial. This monoclonal antibody targeted the endotoxin produced by Gram-negative bacteria that lead to an often-fatal blood infection in some 200,000 Americans annually. The new product
Oncogene Science Inc. announced Monday that it has agreed with Hoechst A.G. of Frankfurt, Germany to jointly develop gene transcription-based drugs to treat certain inflammatory diseases, viral infections and metabolic diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Hoechst will have the exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture and market pharmaceuticals resulting from the research program. Oncogene Science (NASDAQ:ONCS) of Uniondale, N.Y., will receive royalties on product sales and will retain
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have improved a method of delivering genes to liver cells in a system that might one day facilitate using DNA to treat metabolic disorders. Led by Savio Woo, the research team in Houston created 1,000 times the previous amount of an easily visualized "marker" gene product, beta galactosidase, by hitching the gene to an adenovirus. Adenoviruses cause the common cold and have attracted interest as a vehicle to introduce genes to cells for gene therapy