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GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct 01, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Lentigen Corporation announced today that it has established a contract with the United States Army to extend the programs established in the initial agreement announced in 2006. This contract is for a further phase of Lentigen Corporation's programs, which focus on protein expression and biodefense applications of lentiviral vectors. The research work is to be undertaken in collaboration with the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC).
"This second contract with the U.S. Army ECBC is another important milestone for Lentigen. It represents a further validation of the lentiviral vector technology platform and its utility in a diverse range of biologics applications," remarked Tim Ravenscroft, CEO of Lentigen Corporation.
"We have been able to successfully use Lentiviral vector technology to take an existing hybridoma that poorly produces a highly valued monoclonal antibody targeted to the Anthrax bacillus and create a new cell line that produces the antibody at high levels. The technology can therefore be used to salvage highly valued antibodies from hybridomas that are poor producers or are at risk. The technology has also been successfully used to produce difficult-to-express proteins at levels suitable for further development and potential commercialization," said Boro Dropulic, Founder and CSO of Lentigen.
Dr. James Valdes, Scientific Advisor for Biotechnology, U.S. Army, observed, "The Army has a strategic interest in biotechnology for a wide range of applications. The unique capabilities of these extraordinary vectors could enhance the production of cellular products used in so many aspects of our development programs. This partnership leverages Lentigen's and ECBC's strengths in viral vectors and biomanufacturing, respectively."
About Lentigen Corporation
Lentigen Corporation is a privately owned biotechnology company focused on the development of lentiviral vector technology for a wide range of therapeutic, vaccine, and research applications in biotechnology and medicine. Lentiviral vectors are the most efficient vehicles for the delivery of genes or gene silencing sequences stably into cells. Lentigen is a highly collaborative company, co-developing lentiviral vector-based products across a broad spectrum of bench to clinical applications. Collaborations include The National Institutes of Health, The University of Pennsylvania, Invitrogen, ThermoFisher Scientific and The U.S. Army. For further information, visit
www.lentigen.com
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