Cytogenix (fka CYGX)

[downregul8]

Paulness - In theory

the cygx technology could be used slow the progress of Madcow-like diseases (prion based) by blocking the production of the affected proteins (dowregulating). (The theory is that once a misshapen protein is in the cell the subsequent stands stick to it in a way that gums up the works. We might be able to slow the gumming but not eliminate the cause.) However, as you noted, because the cause of Madcow is a protein that has gone bad – as opposed to a bad protein – stopping the production of these proteins might not help because the proteins may be essential for the cell. One way to stop the car that burns oil from smoking is to stop putting oil in it – but that is not a good idea. The issue with Madcow disease is to eliminate the misshapen proteins already in the cell and at this point that’s not what the plasmids are intended to do – maybe someday.

From a business standpoint, Madcow is very rare and probably not a good choice to go after even if we could cure it. Cytogenix technology can be applied to over 800 conditions by their own account – the problem is a not shortage of conditions it is a shortage of solutions getting to market.