Supratek announces DNA delivery breakthrough at ACS Meeting

At the American Chemical Society annual meeting in Washington on August 24, Supratek Pharma (Montreal) presented data suggesting that SP1017, its non-viral gene delivery system, significantly increases gene expression in muscle, dermal, and tumor tissues and attracts dendritic cells to the site of transgene expression. This discovery is expected to lead to better gene-based medicines and therapies.

Valery Alakhov, vice president of research at Supratek, showed that SP1017 formulated with naked DNA coding for cancer specific genes produced a strong anti-cancer effect through a strong cellular immune response.

"We observed that both the humoral and cellular responses were improved when SP1017 formulated DNA is used," Alakhov said during his talk. "Most likely this is due to a unique ability of the carrier to attract dendritic cells that are known as the most efficient antigen presenting cells. Essentially, this means that SP1017 based genetic vaccines can assure a much more effective immunization."

Oleg Romar, president and CEO of Supratek, commented that his results were "of fundamental importance, since dendritic cells form the primary foundation for the body to mount an effective immune response. These results, combined with our earlier discoveries on SP1017, show that an important set of new tools have been created for safe, efficient and effective delivery of DNA vaccines and therapeutic proteins for gene therapy. We believe that our SP1017 Biotransport technology will have a significant role to play in successfully translating genomics information, from the recently completed draft of the human genome, to effective gene-based medicines and therapies."

Supratek has developed a set of drug delivery technologies, called Biotransport, which increases drug availability and safety. Most importantly, Biotransport improves biological response to drugs thereby increasing efficacy and reducing side effects. SP1017 is one of Supratek's novel Biotransport carriers, which enhances the efficiency gene expression used in genetic medicines.

For more information: Oleg Romar, CEO, Supratek, 275 St-Jacques Ouest, Suite 700, Montreal, PQ, Canada H2Y 1M9. Tel: 514-849-6094. Fax: 514-282-1338.

Edited by Angelo DePalma
Managing Editor, Drug Discovery Online