HOME > Projects > Glossary ABC [Antisense nucleotides] The information in DNA has to be transcribed to mRNA for protein synthesis to begin, and thus - for a genetic expression to "work". The antisense nucleotides supplement mRNA; when introduced to the body, these nucleotides bond to mRNA, thereby regulating the transcription process. [Atopic dermatitis] Atopic dermatitis is a skin disorder with itchy eczema, which often persists for a long time with cyclic deterioration and improvement of symptoms. The disorder is thought to be caused by allergic reactions (exaggerated immune responses). It may also be caused by food and drink such as eggs or milk, by environmental factors such as dust and mite, and by stress. The number of patients is increasing and it is estimated that there are about 1.4 million sufferers of Atopic dermatitis now in Japan. [ Basic Patent ] A basic patent is a patent that covers fundamental and indispensable technology to make or use a product.  Surrounding patents cover neighboring technologies, for example additional or new usage of the product, drug formulation, improved invention. [Cachexy] Cachexy is pathological dystrophic general prostration caused by cancer and involves such symptoms as total debilitation, emaciation, edema of the eyelids or lower limbs, and anemic pallor. AnGes has verified the effect of NFB decoy oligo on cachexy improvement in animal tests and inhibitory effects in metastasis models. DEF [Decoy nucleotides] A genetic expression features a switch - genetic factor - bonded to a genome. A decoy is a "compressed" nucleic acid of the same array as the aforementioned genetic factors, which when introduced to the body, neutralizes those "switches" by preventing their bonding to a genome, thereby regulating the transcription process. GHI [Gene medicine] A medicine, wholly, or partially comprising a genetic expression. [Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)] A growth factor developed from hepatocytes; in addition to blood vessel regeneration, it initiates various processes necessary for tissue / organ regeneration during organ formation (organogenesis). [HVJ Envelope Vector] HVJ (Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan) is one of the pneumonia virus found in mice (no infectivity to humans). There are two types of glycoprotein (F and HN) for the outer membranes of the virus, and these are able to fuse together two kinds of cells (cell fusion). The HVJ envelope vector uses only the outer membrane by removing all the genomes from HVJ. The vector can swiftly carry in genes and nucleic acids with high efficiency as it includes the two cell-fusing proteins on its outer membrane. As the viral genome has been completely removed, the safety of the vector vis-a-vis humans is quite safe. Also, the envelope can hold a large amount of genes and nucleic acids mass at one time. The HVJ envelope vector is therefore considered another powerful tool for the functional analysis of RNAi, in addition to genes. [High-throughput Functional Analysis System] The high-throughput functional analysis system is a device that uses the HVJ envelope vector to conduct functional analysis. The system was developed through joint research conducted by Prof. Yasufumi Kaneda of Osaka University, GenomIdea and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Kansai (AIST Kansai). With this high-throughput functional analysis device, the HVJ envelope vectors enveloping the object substances (genes or nucleic acids) to be examined are prepared in large variety, and each kind is deposited in solid form on a plate. The plates are sprinkled with cells and cultured. The cells absorb the test substances, and any changes in the cells are observed. In this way, it is possible to make a high-throughput analysis of various kinds of substances of interest simultaneously. [Ischemic heart disease (IHD)] Vessels supplying the heart (coronary blood vessels) become contracted (or constricted) to a certain extent resulting in insufficient blood flow after physical activity; characteristic symptoms are angina pectoris accompanied with a tightness in the chest and chest pains, and myocardial infarction causes by disorders of coronary blood vessels becoming completely clogged-heart muscle tissue becoming ischemic. There are approximately 100,000 patients in Japan who experienced angioplasty due to severe ischemic heart disease, and 1,800,000- in the U.S.A. [IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)] Diseases of unknown causes which cause chronic inflammations or ulcers to the mucous membranes of the large or small intestines; ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease to be specific. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease which causes erosions or ulcers to the mucous membranes in the large intestine. Crohn's disease, an inflammatory disease which occurs more often in younger people, can affect all digestive organs, from the buccal capsule to the anus, frequently occurring at the end of the small intestine in particular. It is estimated that there are about one hundred thousand patients in Japan and more than one million in the United States. MNO [Naked DNA] For a genetic expression to work properly, genes have to enter a cell; in conventional practice, however, genes may only come as close as to be attached to the cell membrane, unable to penetrate it. A carrier, an agent to introduce the genetic expression to a cell, becomes necessary at this point. An improved virus vector (i.e., purified not to pose danger to the host cell) is usually used for these purposes, and the method features a genetic expression introduced to a cell by a ribosome. Our methodology of the HGF genetic medication, by contrast, has genes spiraling in "plasmid DNA" (a naked DNA technology). Plasmid DNA alone may not be able to penetrate the cell membrane, it can, however, generate genes if injected intra-muscularly. The technology is extremely safe with no danger of contamination and cytotoxicity due to ribosomes or viruses. [NFB (nuclear factor-kappa B)] NFB is a genetic factor enabling regulation of cytokines and adhesion factors - related to immunological reactions. Bonding NFB to a genome causes excessive transcription of immunization-related genetic expressions. This is why NFB has been indicated as one of the causes of atopic dermatitis and rheumatic arthritis. [NFB decoy oligo (NF kappa B decoy oligodeoxynucleotide)] A genetic expression features a switch - transcriptional factor - bonded to a genome. A decoy is an artificial gene (also referred to as nucleotide) in which a "compressed" nucleic acid of the same genetic sequences as the aforementioned transcriptional factor is artificially synthesized, which when introduced to the body, neutralizes those "switches" by preventing their bonding to a genome, thereby regulating the transcription process. It is a decoy nucleotide against NFB. AnGes MG is developing therapeutic agents on the basis of its properties to treat patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, rheumatic arthritis, and restenosis - conditions caused by excessive immunological response. [Nucleotide] A fraction of a genetic expression, since it is extracted from nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), it is referred to as nucleotide. Nucleotides can be artificially synthesized. [Nucleic acid Medicines] These drugs are called "nucleic acid medicines" as they are made of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), of which genes are composed. Nucleic acid medicines can be synthesized using a device known as a nucleic acid synthesizer. The capability of siRNA to repress target genes is stronger than that of antisense RNA, a typical nucleic acid medicine, so siRNA is now considered to be a promising next-generation nucleic acid medicine. PQR [Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)] Since peripheral blood vessels of the four limbs can become clogged, so that the supply of blood to muscle and skin tissues is not adversely affected, causing the following symptoms: a feeling of paralysis, coldness, arrest of blood flow (intermittent claudication), ulcer of lower limbs (thrombic disease), pain even when there is no motion. A condition characteristic of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO), Buerger's disease. There are approximately 100,000 patients in Japan and 1,000,000 - in the U.S.A. [Psoriasis] Psoriasis is a skin disease classified as an inflammatory keratosis, and features thick silver-white scale surrounded by bright red inflammation (erythema). There are more patients affected with this disease in Europe and in the U.S.A. than in Japan. Today, the total number of patients with psoriasis is estimated to be around 5 million in the U.S.A. and 100,000 in Japan. [PTCA(Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty), stent] PTCA is a technology to dilate narrow areas of blood vessels by using a balloon catheter for occlusive lesions of coronary artery. It is also referred to as the "balloon catheter technique" because a balloon is used. PTCA is an excellent technology, but has a defect rate of approximately 40% occurrence of restenosis, reocclusion of the lesions. In contrast, a technique in which a stent (mesh tube mainly made of stainless steel) is implanted in the blood vessels dilated by PTCA is frequently used in recent years. The rate of restenosis in this stent therapy is approximately 30%, and drug-coated stents that are coated with anticancer drugs or immunosupressants on the surface, are being developed mainly in the U.S. as a next generation treatment. [Reperfusion disorder] Blood vessels or internal organs may suffer serious damage when blood flow resumes after blood vessels had been clogged from thrombus/arteriosclerosis, or after a temporary blocking of blood flow during operations or organ transplants - this condition is called reperfusion disorder. STU [Shima-JET] The nation's first needleless injector for insulin, Shima-JET uses a nozzle instead of a needle to achieve a high-pressure injection in which atomized insulin is sprayed through the skin into subcutaneous fatty tissues. Diabetic patients have to receive insulin injections on a regular basis in order to control their blood-sugar levels. This needleless injector alleviates injection pain and suppresses the hardening of skin often caused by hypodermic needles. Moreover, it can also prevent accidental injection directly into veins, and wards off the infections and other potential accidents that may be caused by needles. [siRNA (small interfering RNA)] siRNA is a double-stranded RNA made up of about 20 base strands. The double-stranded RNA has the same sequence as part of a target gene (mRNA), and once introduced into a cell, is known to repress the action of the target gene. The phenomenon known as RNA interference (RNAi) was considered to be a phenomenon seen only in nematodes or flies as it initiates immunological responses in mammals, including humans. In 2001, however, a researcher in Germany announced that a sequence as short as about 20 bases can vigorously repress the expression of a target gene even in mammals. From then on, this discovery has raised hopes for the development of nucleic acid medicines from siRNA. [Utility patent] In pharmaceutical industry, the patent for the medicine's scope of applications is generally called utility patent or medical patent, which claims a strong right to monopolize manufacture, sales and import of the medicine for the disease. There are also composition of matter patent for medicine itself, process patent for the manufacturing method of medicine and pharmaceutical patent for the preparation of medicine. VWX [Wound dressing materials] The dressing is used to cover a wound while maintaining a moderately moisturized healing environment. In addition to general wounds and burns they are also being used for the treatment for bedsores and skin ulcers. Today the size of the wound dressings market in Japan is estimated at approximately 5 billion yen.

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