Lentigen Corporation Announces Second Collaborative Research Agreement With The University of Pennsylvania
Dr. June is currently Director of Translational Research at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Dr. June is world renowned for his work in T-cell biology and testing novel forms of immunotherapy as treatments for cancer and chronic infections.
Dr. June and the translational team's strategy of developing one or more pharmaceutical agents is based on enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. This strategy includes "adoptive immunotherapy," which uses a patient's own white blood cells to attack cancer cells.
The team is also evaluating another approach called customized vaccination, which uses the patient's own tumor tissue to create an individually customized vaccine. Dr. June's Program in Translational Research has resulted in more than 10 phase I trials involving biologic and cellular therapies for cancer and chronic infections.
Dr. Boro Dropulic, Lentigen founder and CEO, commented, "We are very happy to be collaborating with Dr. June to develop cutting-edge therapies for serious diseases such as cancer. The integration of lentiviral vector technology with ex vivo cell technologies resident at Dr June's laboratory offers exciting possibilities for the development of a range of novel therapies."
About Lentiviral Vectors
Lentiviral vectors (LV) are vehicles that can deliver genes or RNAi into cells with up to 100% efficiency and stability. Previous viral vector systems such as non-viral, adenoviral and adeno-associated viral vectors could achieve high, but not stable gene delivery into cells. Other vectors such as murine retroviral vectors can deliver genes stably, but not efficiently.
Gene delivery is accomplished by the binding and fusing of the LV pseudotyped envelope protein to the target cell membrane. The LV RNA containing the gene or gene silencing sequence is then incorporated into the cell via reverse transcription creating a DNA complex. This complex enters the nucleus incorporating into the chromosomal DNA creating a stable molecule. The gene sequence is integrated in the chromosome and is copied along with the DNA during ongoing cell division.
About Lentigen Corporation
Lentigen Corporation is a privately owned biotechnology company focused on the manufacturing and development of lentiviral vectors using its proprietary gene delivery technology for a wide range of applications in biotechnology and medicine. Lentiviral vectors are highly adapted delivery vehicles that can transport genes or gene silencing sequences into cells with high efficiency and stability. Lentigen is positioning itself to become the leading provider of Lentiviral vector products and services for academic, government, biotechnology and pharmaceutical researchers. For further information, visit www.Lentigen.com.
Contacts: Lentigen Corporation Greg Feulner, VP Business Development 443-543-5318 greg.feulner@lentigen.com
Media Contact: Investor Contact: Gregory Tiberend Tara Spiess Richard Lewis Communications, Inc. TS Communications Group, LLC 212-827-0020 914-921-5900 gtiberend@rlcinc.com spiess@biotechirpr.com
Source: Lentigen Corporation