Techulon receives U.S. patent protection for Glycofect Discovery and Therapeutic Delivery Platform

May 16 2011

Techulon, Inc. announced today that its Glycofect™ Discovery and Therapeutic Delivery Platform has been awarded United States patent protection. The patented invention provides a new class of non-viral transfection vectors based on synthetic carbohydrate containing polyamides that can be used for both in vivo and in vitro applications. The patented material was created by Theresa Reineke, associate professor of chemistry in the College of Science at Virginia Tech while she was on faculty at the University of Cincinnati and is exclusively licensed to Techulon. Prof. Reineke's group has spent years developing new carbohydrate-based polymers for the delivery of genetic drugs to diseases. "This patent encompasses a family of synthetic polymers which are non-toxic and highly effective at delivering nucleic acids into mammalian cells. The major crux in nucleic acid therapies that alter or control gene expression and treat diseases at the genetic level is safely getting nucleic acids into cells. This suite of molecules gets us one step closer to overcoming this complex delivery problem and enabling customized powerful therapeutics capable of treating a myriad of devastating diseases," Reineke said.

"The University of Cincinnati is proud of our partnership with Techulon and believes that the patent strengthens Techulon's ability to commercialize our innovative technology," stated Geoffrey Pinski, Director of the Office of Entrepreneurial Affairs and Technology Commercialization at the University of Cincinnati.

Joshua Bryson, Principal Scientist at Techulon and a former student of Prof. Reineke added: "The patent confirms the unique characteristics of the Glycofect platform both as a discovery delivery system as well as opening the realm of therapeutic opportunities that could provide treatments for cancers, heart diseases and other genetic disorders."

Techulon's current DNA delivery reagent, Glycofect™, demonstrates unparalleled delivery efficacy with low cytotoxicity largely due to the biodegradable nature of this series of molecules. The granted patent also covers the entire Glycofect Delivery Platform providing vast therapeutic potential for customized and highly targeted nucleic acid based therapeutics.

Frank Akers, Techulon's president notes, "Granted patent protection fully enables Techulon to leverage this platform of unique and effective nucleic acid carrying polymers for both the in vitro reagent market and in partnership towards major pharmaceutical endeavors." Techulon is securing partners and collaborators to pursue the myriad of therapeutic possibilities that are contingent upon non-toxic and highly efficacious delivery systems.