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CytoGenix Announces Testing of Synthetic DNA Vaccine Against Smallpox
HOUSTON
CytoGenix, Inc., Houston
Juan Ferreira, 800-677-5707
CytoGenix, Inc. (OTCBB:CYGX) announced that it has entered into an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania for animal studies using the company's proprietary synDNA technology to test a DNA vaccine against small pox.
Dr. David B. Weiner, Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, a leading expert in DNA vaccines, will conduct these proof-of-concept studies to determine the immunological activity of the synthetic DNA vaccine compared to a plasmid DNA vaccine.
Smallpox has been eradicated by inoculation programs since 1949 in the U.S. and since 1977 worldwide when the last case was reported in Somalia. Recent threats to national security, however, have caused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to include the smallpox-causing variola virus as a "Category A" agent (highly dangerous) in the U.S. government's list of bioterrorism biological agents.
The CDC reports in its web site, www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox, "Because smallpox was wiped out many years ago, a case of smallpox today would be the result of an intentional act. A single confirmed case of smallpox would be considered an emergency." The CDC and other government agencies have plans in place to counter an outbreak of smallpox.
Dr. Weiner comments, "For the past fifteen years, we have worked to bring DNA vaccines into the public health mainstream. One of the chief impediments has been the high cost of pure clinical grade DNA. We are eager to conduct these experiments to determine if vaccines made by this method are as effective or more effective than current DNA vaccines."
Dr. Malcolm Skolnick, CytoGenix President and CEO commented, "We believe that there is an opportunity to develop a smallpox DNA vaccine that will be safer and more effective than the live cowpox vaccine currently available. This important scientific collaboration with Dr. Weiner, a pioneer in this field, demonstrates our strong commitment to advancing DNA vaccine technology to the forefront of clinical use."
CytoGenix, Inc. is a Houston-based biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets innovative products and services based on its proprietary ssDNA expression technology. The company has developed a breakthrough synthetic process for large-scale production of high purity DNA at a fraction of the cost of traditional fermentation methods. CytoGenix currently has one issued U.S. patent and 40 international or U.S. pending patent applications claiming methods and materials in connection with this platform technology.
SAFE HARBOR: Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, risks associated with the acceptance of new products, competition, and other factors more fully detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Additional information about CytoGenix and its technology can be found on the website at www.cytogenix.com.
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