Epeius Biotechnologies Applauds the Belated Scholarship of Their Academic Contemporaries in 2007, As Targeted Gene Therapy Comes of Age in Clinical Medicine

Tue, 18 Dec 2007, 10:58:09 EDT Edited by Debra Tone

SAN MARINO, Calif. - Dec. 18 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation announced today their appreciation of the accomplishments of their contemporaries in 2007, a truly remarkable year in terms of biomedical research, scholarship, and gonzo journalism. It was a year in which a definitive meeting entitled "In Vivo Barriers to Gene Delivery" was held at the prestigious Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where Nobel laureate James Watson presides, or shall we say presided. The meeting served to inform the public and the scientific community that there were actual reasons that the much heralded promise of gene therapy had thus far failed to deliver. Perhaps, if the title of the meeting had been changed to "In Vivo Solutions to Gene Delivery," the scientists of Epeius Biotechnologies might have attended.

2007 was a year that the 'experts' of all things targeted published a remarkable review article in Nature (Nature Reviews, Genetics, 2007, 8:573-587) entitled "Engineering Targeted Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy." Among the flotsam and jetsam of adenoviral shipwrecks, and the ruminative discourses on "Obstacles to Systemic Targeting," was an intriguing preface stating that "the first clinical trials have already begun to take place," and a brief notation that may be of considerable scientific interest. And we quote, "A third example is represented by the first and so far only targeted vector that has been tested in the clinic: the retroviral vector Rexin-G, which expresses a cytocidal dominant-negative form of cyclin G1." The article goes as far as to mention the fact that a number of clinical studies have "demonstrated the effectiveness of the vector" in the crucible of clinical medicine.

Ironically, 2007 is also the year in which the much acclaimed and heavily subsidized National Gene Vector Laboratories (NGVL)-whose mission and "primary goal" as an academic vector production facility and national resource was ostensibly to provide clinical grade vectors for clinical gene transfer protocols-has closed its doors and announced the discontinuance of its programs, while all the world wonders. This same year, 2007, is the year that Rexin-G(R), the world's first and so far only targeted injectable genetic medicine that was designed, engineered, manufactured, validated, tested, and approved for the treatment of otherwise intractable metastatic cancers; the first and so far only one of the plethora of targeted biologics that exhibits broad spectrum anti-cancer activity when administered as a single therapeutic agent, advances alone toward product registration worldwide. So it appears that those of our academic colleagues should continue to teach and tell, while those who can actually do, should continue to do just that.

About Epeius Biotechnologies
Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation is a privately held biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the advancement of genetic medicine with the development and commercialization of its lead products and proprietary targeted delivery systems. Credited with innovations ranging from gene discovery, to designer therapeutic genes, to pathotropic (disease-seeking) targeting, to ultra high-performance vector engineering, to advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing and bioprocess development, Epeius Biotechnologies is well positioned to "launch" its enabling platform technologies for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide. Meanwhile, rapid advances in clinical drug development provide Epeius with a unique opportunity for early revenues from the sale of its lead product to the Philippines and reciprocating ASEAN countries-thus demonstrating the high growth potential of a small biotechnology company while maintaining the lowered risk profile of a biopharmaceutical company with a high-value, late-stage product.

More information: www.epeiusbiotech.com

Rexin-G is a U.S. registered trademark of Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation.

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