Targeted Genetics Corp. (TGC) is moving out of its incubationspace at Immunex Corp. and into a leased building in Seattle.

TGC, a gene therapy research and development company spunoff from Immunex in 1989, will now occupy a 25,000-square-foot complex, said H. Stewart Parker, chief executive officer.The complex will house research, administration and a GoodManufacturing Practice (GMP) plant to help prepare for moreclinical trials, she said.

TGC has entered Phase I/II trials with an ex vivo gene transferapproach to modifying the CD8 component of T cells of HIV-infected patients. The company has filed patent applications ona fusion protein, Parker said, that is being evaluated in thetrial.

TGC last year became the first commercial company to receivepermission from the National Institute of Health's RecombinantAdvisory Committee (RAC) to conduct this gene transfer trialthat combines a marker gene and a "suicide" gene that can beused to eliminate the altered cells if they present anyproblems. The trial is being carried out in conjunction with theFred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

The company is also developing approaches to infectiousdisease, cancer, cytomegalovirus, non-viral vectors for in vivogene transfer and adeno-associated virus, Parker said, addingthat the larger space will allow the company to pursue moreresearch and development projects. TGC plans to grow from 31employees to 43 by the third quarter.

-- Nancy Garcia Associate Editor

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