Out-licensing

The gene for HSV-1 TK is currently in wide use as a conditionally toxic gene in combination with ganciclovir for gene therapy trials targeting different types of cancer. Researchers have designed a novel herpes simplex virus type I thymidine (HSV-1 TK) mutated protein that can be used as an effective and safer gene therapy tool. This mutation results in an enzyme with loss of normal thymidine and thymidylate kinase activities, but retains the ability to phosphorylate the anti-herpes virus drugs, acyclovir and ganciclovir. By eliminating the thymidine metabolizing activities of the wild-type HSV-1 TK protein, efficiency for ganciclovir/acyclovir metabolism results in improved tumor cell killing. Additional, HSV-TK mutants that are designed to increase the metabolism of GCV (by lowering the Km) while retaining minimal deoxypyrimidine kinase activities are currently being generated and evaluated.

98-19

U.S. PATENT #6,610,289

U.S. PATENT#7,018,834

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License Status: Available for Exclusive Licensing