Elizabeth A Austin

US Patent:

20020055482, May 9, 2002

Filed:

Sep 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/947925

Inventors:

Brian Huber - Durham NC, US
Cynthia Richards - Durham NC, US
Elizabeth Austin - Raleigh NC, US

International Classification:

A61K048/00
C12N015/63

US Classification:

514/044000, 435/320100, 424/093210

Abstract:

Novel molecular chimaeras produced by recombinant DNA techniques are described. They comprise a target-tissue specific transcriptional regulatory sequence (TRS) linked and controlling the expression of a heterologous enzyme, for example Varicella Zoster Virus Thymidine Kinase (VZV TK) or non-mammaliam Cytosine Deaminase (CD). A molecular chimaera is packaged into a synthetic retroviral particle that is capable of infecting mammalian tissue. This, in turn, may be administered to a host, and the TRS will be selectively transcriptionally activated in the target tissue (for example cancerous cells). Administration of compounds that are selectively metabolised by the enzyme produce cytotoxic or cytostatic metabolites in situ thereby selectively killing or arresting the growth of the target cells.

US Patent:

63004909, Oct 9, 2001

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/481968

Inventors:

Brian Huber - Durham NC
Cynthia A. Richards - Durham NC
Elizabeth A. Austin - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Glaxo Wellcome Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

C07H 2104
C12N 1585

US Classification:

536 237

Abstract:

Novel molecular chimaeras produced by recombinant DNA techniques are described. They comprise a target-tissue specific transcriptional regulatory sequence (TRS) linked and controlling the expression of a heterologous enzyme, for example Varicella Zoster Virus Thymidine Kinase (VZV TK) or non-mammaliam Cytosine Deaminase(CD). A molecular chimaera is packaged into a synthetic retroviral particle that is capable of infecting mammalian tissue. This, in turn, may be administered to a host, and the TRS will be selectively transcriptionally activated in the target tissue (for example cancerous cells). Administration of compounds that are selectively metabolised by the enzyme produce cytotoxic or cytostatic metabolites in situ thereby selectively killing or arresting the growth of the target cells.