BALTIMORE, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Lentigen Corporation, a privately owned biotechnology company focused on manufacturing and developing research and therapeutic grade lentiviral vectors, announced today the launch of the first website devoted to providing custom lentiviral vector manufacturing services for academic, government, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical researchers. Lentiviral vectors are highly adapted delivery vehicles that can transport therapeutic genes into cells with high efficiency and stability. Utilizing its proprietary LentiMax(TM) vector, an HIV-1 based lentiviral vector system synthetically optimized for high titer and safety, Lentigen will manufacture custom lentiviral vectors. Alternatively, Lentigen can manufacture any lentiviral vector with constructs provided by the researcher.
Through the Company’s website (http://www.Lentigen.com), researchers can design a custom vector using the proprietary LentiDesign(TM) web application tool. LentiMax, with its modular design, can accommodate any desired gene, gene silencing sequence, promoter, post-transcription or insulator element. Researchers have the option of sending in their gene sequence DNA, or simply typing in their sequence for custom design. In addition, LentiMax can also be pseudotyped with any desired envelope gene, providing the potential to target vectors to almost any cell type. The LentiMax production system has similarly been synthetically constructed with numerous safety features to provide maximum safety in the laboratory and for clinical research.
Dr. Boro Dropulic, Founder and CEO of Lentigen, commented, “The Lentigen team has considerable experience in the design, construction, manufacture and clinical translation of lentiviral vectors, and several of our team members were involved in the first lentiviral vector clinical trial in humans. This trial was recently completed at the University of Pennsylvania. The value-added benefit in using the web-based service is that the researcher can leverage Lentigen’s expertise in lentiviral vector technology and focus on the key task of evaluating their gene of interest.”
Lentigen will construct, manufacture, test, certify and deliver the custom lentiviral vector to the researcher starting at $1,995. This includes the first vial of a custom LentiMax vector. The researcher can purchase additional vials for $500 each. For more information about this service please visit the Company’s website or call toll free at 1-877-MY-LENTI.
The website also contains technical information on the types of lentiviral vectors offered and information on how the customer can order a particular type of vector containing a gene-of-interest.
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 http://www.Lentigen.com .
About Lentiviral Vectors
Lentiviral vectors (LV) are delivery vehicles that can stably deliver genes or RNAi into primary cells or cell lines with up to 100% efficiency. Previous viral vector systems such as non-viral, adenoviral and adeno-associated viral vectors could achieve high, but not stable, gene delivery in dividing cells such as blood cells. On the other hand, vectors such as murine retroviral vectors can deliver genes stably, but not efficiently.
Gene delivery is accomplished by the binding and fusion of the LV pseudotyped envelope protein to the target cell membrane. The LV RNA containing the gene or gene silencing sequence is released into the cell and an enzyme called reverse transcriptase converts the RNA into DNA by a process called reverse transcription. The DNA pre-integration complex enters the nucleus, enabling the DNA to integrate into the target cell’s chromosomal DNA. Gene delivery is stable because the target gene or gene silencing sequence is integrated in the chromosome and is copied along with the DNA of the cell every time the cell divides.
Lentigen Corporation
CONTACT: Greg Feulner of Lentigen Corp., VP Business Development,+1-443-543-5318, greg.feulner@lentigen.com; Media: Gregory Tiberend ofRichard Lewis Communications, Inc. for Lentigen Corp., +1-212-827-0020,gtiberend@rlcinc.com; Investor: Tara Spiess of TS Communications Group, LLCfor Lentigen Corp., +1-914-921-5900, spiess@biotechirpr.com
