Press Releases
01/28/02
CEREGENE-LICENSED ALZHEIMERS GENE THERAPY FEATURED IN CNN COVERAGE
SAN DIEGO, CA, January 28, 2002 - Ceregene, Inc., a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on gene therapies for neurological disorders, announced that on Friday, January 25, 2002, Cable News Network (CNN) featured on their website a Phase 1 clinical trial for Alzheimers disease which is underway at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Ceregene is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the technology and product rights for the therapy being evaluated in this trial.
The CNN article, which highlighted a patient enrolled on the study, was published on CNNs website as the "section highlight" of the health section. While the article focused on the experiences of one patient treated on this trial, no data were discussed in the article. Preliminary data have not been reported from this study but are expected to be released during the next year. Additionally, CNN Television aired a segment highlighting the same story on the January 26th edition of the "Your Health" program.
As reported by CNN, Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D., a UCSD neurologist, developed the procedure used in the Alzheimers disease trial. The study in early-stage Alzheimers disease patients involves surgical implantation of cells producing nerve growth factor (NGF), a naturally occurring protein that maintains survival of nerve cells in the brain. The primary goal of this study is to determine that the gene therapy procedure is safe. The secondary goal is to determine whether NGF produced by the cells implanted into the brain can prevent the death of some nerve cells that are affected by Alzheimer's disease and whether it can enhance the function of certain remaining brain cells.
Ceregene, Inc. is a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of gene therapies for neurological disorders including Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease. Ceregene was launched in January 2001 as a majority-owned subsidiary of Cell Genesys, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEGE), which is headquartered in Foster City, CA.