Genentech Inc. announced Wednesday that it has been issued aU.S. patent relating to human nerve growth factor (NGF) madeby recombinant DNA technology. Patent No. 5,169,762 coversnucleic acids, vectors and host cells used to make recombinantNGF.

The South San Francisco, Calif., company (NYSE:GNE) alreadyhas a counterpart European patent on NGF, the validity ofwhich it successfully defended earlier this year in oppositionproceedings brought by Syntex Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif.

"The patents we have received on NGF are significantmilestones in Genentech's efforts to develop therapeutics forhuman neurological diseases and disorders," said G. Kirk Raab,Genentech's president and chief executive officer.

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