Business Wire
GenVec, Inc. (
Nasdaq:GNVC) today announced pre-clinical research
demonstrating the ability of the Company's new adenovector, Ad35, to
induce and sustain protein production in the eye. Lisa L. Wei, Ph.D.,
GenVec's Director of Pre-Clinical Research, presented a poster,
Alternate Serotype Adenovector Gives Long-Term Expression in the Eye,
at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology ("ARVO")
Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Currently available treatments for ocular neovascular diseases
such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) involve
intravitreal injections to the eye. Both patients and doctors desire
less frequent injections into the eye to deliver such therapeutics. A
possible strategy is the use of gene delivery systems to achieve
sustained production of therapeutic proteins in the eye over a period
of several months.
GenVec researchers compared the duration of expression in the eye
of two different adenovectors, Ad5 and Ad35. The results showed
sustained protein expression beyond 4 months in eyes treated with the
Ad35 vector. With the Ad5 vector, expression diminished substantially
by day 7. These results indicate that changes in the adenovector can
lead to potentially important advantages in the delivery of proteins.
In the case of AMD, less frequent drug administration would be of
clear benefit to patients.
"It is now clear that delivery of anti-angiogenic agents to the
eye can be effective in treating AMD by blocking abnormal blood vessel
formation," stated Dr. Wei. "Our studies reported today demonstrated
delivery of PEDF, a potent factor capable of both blocking and
reversing animal models of AMD. We believe that sustained delivery of
other therapeutic proteins to the eye should be possible using this
technology."
About AMD
AMD affects almost thirty percent of adults between the ages of 75
and 85. New therapies to treat AMD have demonstrated benefit but these
therapies must be injected every four to six weeks. GenVec believes
its gene transfer approach may provide an effective and more
convenient treatment for AMD.
About GenVec
GenVec, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel
gene-based therapeutic drugs and vaccines. Each of the Company's
product candidates uses patent-protected technology to deliver genes
that produce beneficial proteins. GenVec's lead product, TNFerade(TM)
is currently in a pivotal Phase II/III study (PACT) in locally
advanced pancreatic cancer; Phase II studies are in progress in rectal
cancer and melanoma; and Phase I/II studies are in progress in head
and neck cancer. GenVec also uses its proprietary adenovector
technology to develop vaccines for infectious diseases including HIV,
malaria, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV), and seasonal and pandemic flu. Additional information about
GenVec is available at www.genvec.com and in the Company's various
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.