Viral Genetics to develop drug therapies for immune-related disorders and diseases

Dec 4 2009

The University of Colorado and Viral Genetics Inc., (Pink Sheets: VRAL) recently executed an exclusive license agreement that expands on its previous agreement allowing Viral Genetics to develop treatments for autoimmune diseases, graft rejection, HIV, and cancer based on the work of M. Karen Newell, Ph.D., a professor of biology at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Newell's recent work has uncovered a drug target that may offer a new strategy in treating a wide variety of immune-related disorders and diseases. Cancer, HIV, lupus, Type I diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are all among the disorders that may be treatable using this approach. Newell's work targets an early interaction in the cascade of events that results in T cell activation, a central component of the body's immune response. This approach allows for more targeted control over the body's immune response against its own and other cells.

"We are confident that Viral Genetics has the capacity to develop these technologies into products with significant impact in these fields," said David Allen, CU associate vice president for technology transfer.

"This agreement enables us to work towards bringing a diverse array of drug therapies to the market, all based on technology developed by Dr. Newell," said Viral Genetics CEO Haig Keledjian. "The synergy between our current work with Dr. Newell and this new line of research made this agreement a natural fit."