ATLANTA, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced today the presentation of preclinical data from its ZFP Therapeutic(TM) program in nerve regeneration at the 2006 Annual Meeting of The Society for Neuroscience. The meeting is being held on October 14-18 in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael Fehlings, M.D., Ph.D., Sangamo’s collaborator, gave the presentation, entitled “Examination of The Therapeutic Effect of An Engineered Transcription Factor Promoting Activation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Spinal Cord Injury”. Dr. Fehlings, Krembil Chair in Neural Repair and Regeneration at the Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a Christopher Reeve Foundation Scientific Advisory Council member and a leading expert in the molecular mechanisms and treatment of spinal cord injury.
In collaboration with Dr. Fehlings, Sangamo is evaluating a zinc finger DNA-binding protein transcription factor (ZFP TF(TM)), designed to upregulate the expression of the gene encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in nerve crush and spinal cord injury (SCI) models. VEGF-A has been demonstrated to have direct neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties in several models that assess nerve integrity and health. Sangamo is currently developing SB-509, a plasmid formulation of this same ZFP TF, for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and intends to announce the initiation of a Phase 2 study later this year.
The data presented by Dr. Fehlings demonstrate that treatment of the spinal cord at the time of injury with a VEGF ZFP TF had a statistically significant effect on a number of measures of nerve integrity and health in an animal model of SCI. Dr. Fehlings and his colleagues observed that administration of the ZFP TF resulted in increased levels of the three major isoforms of the VEGF protein that resulted in a neuroprotective effect with a statistically significant decrease in nerve fiber degradation and post-injury nerve cell death. They also noted an increase in blood vessel density around the injury.
“We are very excited by these data,” stated Dr. Fehlings. “These experiments, carried out in collaboration with Sangamo, demonstrate a significant neuroprotective effect of the ZFP Therapeutic and suggest that upregulation of VEGF expression using a ZFP TF holds promise as a unique therapy for spinal cord injury and other forms of nerve trauma. “
“These initial data obtained in Dr. Fehling’s studies are very encouraging,” said Dale Ando, M.D. Sangamo’s vice president of therapeutic development and chief medical officer. “These studies support other data from a variety of models that suggest that our ZFP TF activator of VEGF expression has a positive effect on the health of nerves injured by both mechanical means as in spinal cord injury and the toxicity that results as a function of diabetes. We are very pleased to be working with Dr Fehlings who is world- renown for his work on SCI and has significant clinical trial experience in this area.”
About Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) estimate that there are approximately 11,000 new cases each year primarily in young adults. The spinal cord is the major bundle of nerves that carry nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body. The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of function to occur. In fact, in most people with SCI, the spinal cord is intact, but the damage to it results in loss of function.
About Sangamo
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. is focused on the research and development of novel DNA-binding proteins for therapeutic gene regulation and modification. The most advanced ZFP Therapeutic(TM) development programs are currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for evaluation of safety in patients with diabetic neuropathy and peripheral artery disease. Other therapeutic development programs are focused on ischemic heart disease, neuropathic pain, cancer and infectious and monogenic diseases. Sangamo’s core competencies enable the engineering of a class of DNA-binding proteins known as zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs). By engineering ZFPs that recognize a specific DNA sequence Sangamo has created ZFP transcription factors (ZFP TF(TM)) that can control gene expression and, consequently, cell function. Sangamo is also developing sequence-specific ZFP Nucleases (ZFN(TM)) for therapeutic gene modification as a treatment for a variety of monogenic diseases, such as X-linked SCID and hemophilia, and for infectious diseases, such as HIV. Sangamo has established several Enabling Technology Agreements with companies to apply its ZFP Technology to enhance the production of protein pharmaceuticals. For more information about Sangamo, visit the company’s web site at www.sangamo.com .
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on Sangamo’s current expectations. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, references to the research and development of novel ZFP TFs and ZFNs as ZFP Therapeutics, applications of Sangamo’s ZFP TF technology platform and clinical trials of ZFP Therapeutics. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including technological challenges, uncertainties relating to the initiation and completion of stages of ZFP Therapeutic clinical trials, Sangamo’s ability to develop commercially viable products and technological developments by our competitors. See the company’s SEC filings, and in particular, the risk factors described in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its most recent 10-Q. Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D. of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.,+1-510-970-6000, ext. 271, or ewolffe@sangamo.com; or media, Justin Jacksonof Burns McClellan, Inc., +1-212-213-0006, or jjackson@burnsmc.com, forSangamo BioSciences, Inc.
Web site: http://www.sangamo.com//
