|
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. Announces Presentation of Positive Clinical Data from Novel ZFN Therapeutic Approach for the Treatment of HIV/AIDs
PRNewswire
RICHMOND, Calif., Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) announced today the presentation of positive preliminary clinical data from its Phase 1 trial (SB-728-902). The trial is being conducted in immunologic non-responders, HIV-infected subjects who are currently on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and have undetectable levels of virus but suboptimal CD4+ T-cell counts. The study is designed to evaluate safety and clinical outcomes of Sangamo's zinc finger nuclease (ZFN)-generated CCR5-modified, autologous T-cell product (SB-728-T) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. CCR5 is the major co-receptor used by HIV to infect cells of the immune system.
"These compelling data provide a mechanistic 'proof of concept' for this novel approach to HIV therapy which shows the most promise of any yet tested," stated Carl June M.D., Director of Translational Research at the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and an investigator in a second SB-728-T Phase 1 trial that is led by Pablo Tebas, M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania.
"From a single infusion of ZFN-modified cells, substantial and sustained increases in total CD4+ T-cell counts were observed in most subjects. This improvement is greater than we have seen in any previous adoptive T-cell approach. The data are consistent with CCR5-ZFN-modified T-cells being resistant to HIV infection and having a selective advantage in the presence of the virus just as we saw in the preclinical studies. This is very encouraging as we continue to evaluate the drug in HIV-infected subjects with active infections."
| 
