Convergen LifeSciences Announces Patent Award
By Convergen Lifesciences Inc., PRNEWednesday, July 13, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas, July 14, 2011 -
Composition of Matter Patent Covers Broad Therapeutic and
Diagnostic Applications
Convergen
LifeSciences, Inc. announced today that another United
States Patent 7,977,468 has been awarded by the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office jointly to
Board of Regents and The Secretary, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. The
pending or issued worldwide, licensed exclusively to Convergen
LifeSciences, Inc. The patent covers CNVN202, a targeted
molecular cancer therapy undergoing clinical evaluation in lung
cancer patients.
The ‘468 patent is based upon important discoveries made by a
team of researchers from The
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,
Southwestern Medical Center and the
discovery of the 3p21.3 family of tumor suppressor genes has been
the subject of more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications
demonstrating the genes’ ability to control key anti-cancer
mechanisms. CNVN202 harnesses TUSC2 (FUS1), the most
potent inducer of apoptosis among the family of 3p21.3 cancer
suppressor genes.
“The patent further solidifies our growing IP portfolio,” stated
Greg Heinlein, Chief Operating and Financial Officer,
Convergen LifeSciences. “Broadly speaking, this patent
expands the application of CNVN202 to virtually all cancers and
extends the use of our patented technologies to include cancer
diagnostic and screening tools.”
Data from a phase I clinical study presented at the 2011 annual
meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research showed for
the first time that a tumor suppressor gene can be delivered
intravenously and selectively to human cancer cells using a
nanoparticle vector, express high levels of mRNA and protein in
cancer cells in the primary tumor and distant metastatic sites,
alter relevant pathways in the cancer cell and mediate clinically
beneficial anti-cancer activity.
A phase II clinical trial is planned to evaluate CNVN202
in combination with Tarceva® (erlotinib) in lung
cancer patients who would not be expected to benefit from erlotinib
alone. CNVN202 has shown synergy when combined with
erlotinib in both EGFR mutation positive and negative cancers.
Tarceva® is a registered trademark of the
and Astellas Pharma.
Contact:
Greg Heinlein
Convergen LifeSciences, Inc.
+1-512-372-4422
Email:
.
Tags: Austin, Convergen Lifesciences Inc., July 14, texas
