Avigen Inc. announced on Tuesday that U.S. Patent No.5,252,479, for a hybrid gene therapy vector derived fromadeno-associated virus (AAV) and a related virus from thesame family, has issued to Research Corporation Technologies(RCT). Avigen of Alameda, Calif., which is developing genetherapy products utilizing AAV vectors, has exclusiveworldwide rights to the patent.

The patented AAV vector targets hematopoietic cells for cell-specific expression of a desired gene product; cell-specificexpression will allow the hybrid vector to be safelyadministered to patients by direct injection.

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