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Targeted Genetics Announces Issuance of Patent for Immunotherapy Technology
Strengthens Patent Portfolio in Area of Cell-Based Technologies
SEATTLE--(BW HealthWire)--July 11, 2000--Targeted Genetics Corporation (Nasdaq:TGEN - news) today announced that the Company has received notification from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office regarding the issuance of a patent relating to its Targeted Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) platform technology.
The patent, U.S. No. 6,083,751, titled ``Chimeric receptors for the generation of selectively-activatable TH-independent cytotoxic T cells'' covers a specific type of immune cell engineered to express a novel receptor. These receptors allow disease-specific CTLs to be activated directly by malignant or virally infected cells without the need for ``helper'' immune cells. The technology covered by this patent expands Targeted Genetics' intellectual property portfolio in the development of therapeutic CTLs to treat a variety of diseases including cancer and viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis B.
``While our recent focus has been on the expansion of our product pipeline and clinical programs in the area of gene therapy, we believe that our cell-based technologies will provide additional ways to add value for our shareholders,'' said H. Stewart Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Targeted Genetics. ``This patent builds on a growing estate of intellectual property covering the production and application of antigen-specific CTLs, technologies that we believe will have broad utility in the development of therapeutics as well as in the areas of antigen identification, functional genomics and drug development. The Company's intellectual property in the area of cell-based technologies dovetails quite nicely with our expertise in gene-based technologies and we intend to leverage both platforms to create new growth opportunities.''
Under normal conditions, CTLs are stimulated by ``helper'' cells of the immune system to attack diseased or virally infected cells. This interaction is mediated through receptors on the surface of the CTL and on the helper cell. The chimeric receptors covered by this patent provide a mechanism by which disease-specific CTLs can be engineered to respond directly to malignant or infected cells, even in the absence of helper cells. Such engineered cells may significantly enhance the immune response to a variety of malignant and infectious diseases. Transfer of cells expressing receptors engineered to recognize specific disease-related antigens may increase the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy approaches to treating a variety of diseases.
Targeted Genetics Corporation develops gene therapy products for the treatment of acquired and inherited diseases. The company has lead clinical product development programs targeting cystic fibrosis and cancer, and a promising preclinical pipeline of product candidates focused on hemophilia A, arthritis, cancer and AIDS prophylaxis. The company has a broad platform of gene delivery technologies, as well as a promising body of technology for cellular therapy. For more information about Targeted Genetics Corporation please visit the Company's web site at www.targetedgenetics.com.
NOTE: This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's products under development, technologies and future operating results that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The words ``believes,'' ``expects,'' ``intends,'' ``anticipates,'' variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect the Company's actual results include the need for additional capital, the early stage of product development, uncertainties related to clinical trials, and uncertainties related to patent position. Reference is made to the Company's latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for a more detailed description of such factors. Readers are cautioned not to place an undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Editor's Note: This release can also be found at www.noonanrusso.com.
Targeted Genetics Announces Issuance of Patent for Immunotherapy Technology
Strengthens Patent Portfolio in Area of Cell-Based Technologies
SEATTLE--(BW HealthWire)--July 11, 2000--Targeted Genetics Corporation (Nasdaq:TGEN - news) today announced that the Company has received notification from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office regarding the issuance of a patent relating to its Targeted Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) platform technology.
The patent, U.S. No. 6,083,751, titled ``Chimeric receptors for the generation of selectively-activatable TH-independent cytotoxic T cells'' covers a specific type of immune cell engineered to express a novel receptor. These receptors allow disease-specific CTLs to be activated directly by malignant or virally infected cells without the need for ``helper'' immune cells. The technology covered by this patent expands Targeted Genetics' intellectual property portfolio in the development of therapeutic CTLs to treat a variety of diseases including cancer and viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis B.
``While our recent focus has been on the expansion of our product pipeline and clinical programs in the area of gene therapy, we believe that our cell-based technologies will provide additional ways to add value for our shareholders,'' said H. Stewart Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Targeted Genetics. ``This patent builds on a growing estate of intellectual property covering the production and application of antigen-specific CTLs, technologies that we believe will have broad utility in the development of therapeutics as well as in the areas of antigen identification, functional genomics and drug development. The Company's intellectual property in the area of cell-based technologies dovetails quite nicely with our expertise in gene-based technologies and we intend to leverage both platforms to create new growth opportunities.''
Under normal conditions, CTLs are stimulated by ``helper'' cells of the immune system to attack diseased or virally infected cells. This interaction is mediated through receptors on the surface of the CTL and on the helper cell. The chimeric receptors covered by this patent provide a mechanism by which disease-specific CTLs can be engineered to respond directly to malignant or infected cells, even in the absence of helper cells. Such engineered cells may significantly enhance the immune response to a variety of malignant and infectious diseases. Transfer of cells expressing receptors engineered to recognize specific disease-related antigens may increase the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy approaches to treating a variety of diseases.
Targeted Genetics Corporation develops gene therapy products for the treatment of acquired and inherited diseases. The company has lead clinical product development programs targeting cystic fibrosis and cancer, and a promising preclinical pipeline of product candidates focused on hemophilia A, arthritis, cancer and AIDS prophylaxis. The company has a broad platform of gene delivery technologies, as well as a promising body of technology for cellular therapy. For more information about Targeted Genetics Corporation please visit the Company's web site at www.targetedgenetics.com.
NOTE: This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's products under development, technologies and future operating results that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The words ``believes,'' ``expects,'' ``intends,'' ``anticipates,'' variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect the Company's actual results include the need for additional capital, the early stage of product development, uncertainties related to clinical trials, and uncertainties related to patent position. Reference is made to the Company's latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for a more detailed description of such factors. Readers are cautioned not to place an undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Editor's Note: This release can also be found at www.noonanrusso.com.
