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January 15, 2001
MedGene Bioscience, Inc.
Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
MedGene and
Daiichi Pharmaceutical Have Entered
into Collaboration to Distribute HGF Gene Drug |
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MedGene Bioscience, Inc. (Osaka, Japan) and Daiichi
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) have signed the agreement
that both parties cooperate to distribute a new pharmaceutical
product named hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene drug. MedGene
Bioscience plans to conduct fundamental and clinical studies
of the HGF gene drug in Japan to develop the drug for the treatment
of peripheral artery disease. Daiichi Pharmaceutical will exclusively
distribute the drug for peripheral artery disease in Japan.
The HGF gene drug will become the first domestically developed
gene drug using the gene coding the HGF, which is an angiogenic
protein, for gene therapy. Since the use of the HGF gene drug
in the ischemic lesion induces the regeneration of blood vessels
and thereby increases blood flow, the drug is expected to be
effective for peripheral artery disease such as arteriosclerosis
obliterans and Buerger's disease. The unique mechanism of action
of HGF medicine could also be helpful in patients who are resistant
to conventional drug therapy or who are not candidates for any
surgical procedure.
MedGene Bioscience was founded in December 1999 to contribute
to better healthcare through the R&D of gene drugs, nucleic
acid drugs, and novel vector technology. This bioventure company
and Osaka University have cooperated to seek commercialization
of the fundamental technology for gene drugs established by
the university.
Under the terms of the agreement, MedGene Bioscience grants
Daiichi Pharmaceutical the exclusive rights to distribute the
HGF gene drug in Japan, with expectation of big sales based
on Daiichi Pharmaceutical's rich marketing experience of cardiovascular
agents. Daiichi Pharmaceutical intends to take its first step
into the regenerative medicine business and to add new products
to its ticlopidine hydrochloride (PanaldineR) and argatroban
(SlonnonR) for peripheral artery disease.
For more information, please call or fax inquiries to:
AnGes MG, Inc. Tokyo Office
Phone: +81-3-5730-2630 Fax: +81-3-5730-2635
Public Relations Office, Daiichi Pharmaceutical
Phone: +81-3-3273-7107 Fax: +81-3-3281-8427 |
| Reference |
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 Clinical
Advantages and Significance of the HGF Gene Drug
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to be a potent
angiogenic protein acting on hepatic cells. The HGF gene drug
will become the first domestically developed gene drug using
the HGF gene to produce HGF. The drug uses naked DNA technology
in which no viral vectors are used, resulting in avoidance of
adverse reactions associated with the vectors. The use of the
HGF medicine in the ischemic lesion induces regeneration of
blood vessels and thereby increases blood flow. The unique mechanism
of action of this innovative drug could be helpful in patients
with peripheral artery disease resistant to conventional treatment.
Glossary
1. Gene drug
A pharmaceutical produce containing the partial or entire gene
as an active ingredient.
2.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)
A growth factor found in hepatic cells that plays a role in
angiogenesis, organogenesis in embryonic development, and regeneration
of damaged organs or tissues.
3.
Peripheral artery disease
Any of a group of ischemic disorders resulting from ischemia
of muscles and skin due to constriction or obstruction of the
arteries in the extremities, which may cause numbness, coldness,
intermittent claudication, rest pain, and ulceration; it includes
arteriosclerosis obliterans and Buerger's disease.
4. Naked DNA
Cyclic plasmid DNA. The HGF gene drug uses this type of DNA
as a vector (vehicle) that carries the HGF gene into a host
cell for gene expression (naked DNA delivery technology). Conventional
methods for introducing a foreign gene into a host cell use
recombinant viruses or liposomes containing the therapeutic
gene as a vector. Since plasmid DNA alone cannot penetrate through
the cell membrane, gene expression does not occur with simple
adherence of the DNA to the cell surface. Intramuscular administration
of the DNA enables the gene to enter into the cells and express
HGF. The naked DNA delivery technology is considered highly
safe because of no concerns about cytotoxicity or infectiosity
of viruses or liposomes used as a vector. |
| Company
Profile |
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MedGene Bioscience, Inc.
| Head office : |
1-24 Kamishinden #C-1101, Toyonaka, Osaka |
| President : |
Kensuke Tomita |
| Establishment : |
December 1999 |
| Capital : |
11 million yen(as of November 2000) |
| Employees : |
12 persons (as of January 1, 2001) |
| Business line : |
Research, development, and manufacture of gene drugs |
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Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd.
| Head office : |
3-14-10 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
| President : |
Kiyoshi Morita |
| Establishment : |
January 1918 |
| Capital : |
45,246 million yen (as of September 2000) |
| Employees : |
3894 persons (as of September 2000) |
| Sales : |
247,506 million yen (for the March term 2000) |
| Business line : |
Business lineResearch, development, import, manufacture,
and distribution of pharmaceutical products. |
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