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Hi all. I am under the impression that if potassium levels are limited in the
spinal cord, it helps the myelin repair its self. Wonder if this new drug
might be applicable?
Bob from Houston
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From: AOL News <AOLNews(AT)aol.com>
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Subject: ICAgen Issued Two Key Patents On Novel Ion Channel Drug...
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 08:36:55 EST
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ICAgen Issued Two Key Patents On Novel Ion Channel Drug Discovery Technology
- Technology Exclusively Licensed to ICAgen from University of California -
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- ICAgen today announced
that the U.S. Patent Trademark Office has issued two patents, U.S. 5,492,825
and U.S. 5,670,335 for its potassium ion channel technology. The patents are
based on inward rectifier potassium channels of the Kir2 gene family, which
were exclusively licensed to ICAgen in 1994 by the University of California
and the laboratories of Dr. Lily Jan and Dr. Yuh Nung Jan. This technology
allows ICAgen to perform complex functional assays and has broad therapeutic
applications, especially in the central nervous system, heart and
neuroendocrine organs.
The broad patents, titled, "Mammalian Inward Rectifier Potassium Channel
cDNAs, Host Cells Expressing Them and Screening Assays Using Such Cells,"
cover nucleic acids, degenerative sequences, amino acids comprising the gene
products, host cell expression systems and potassium channels of this family
that are at least 70% homologous to the first member of the Kir2 family cloned
by Drs. Jans.
"We are pleased that the U.S. Patent and Trademark office has recognized our
pioneering efforts in this important area of molecular targets," said P. Kay
Wagoner, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ICAgen. "Through our novel ion
channel assay technology, we have been able to discover drug candidates
rapidly and cost effectively in months, rather than years. Our technology
allows for the testing of thousands of compounds on multiple targets,
simultaneously obtaining data on potency and target selectivity."
Wagoner continued, "The granting of these patents only further validates our
work in the critical area of ion channel technology, and we look forward to
continuing our relationship with the University of California and Drs. Lily
and Yuh Nung Jan. As one of the first scientists to clone potassium channels,
Dr. Lily Jan continues to be a leading expert in the ion channel field."
"These rectifying molecular targets easily allow potassium ions to flow into
cells, but limit their flow out of cells. This capability is critical to
maintaining a cell's resting potential and in controlling cell excitability,"
said Dr. Neil Castle, Chief Scientist at ICAgen. "Drugs designed to modulate
inward rectifier potassium channels should have profound effects in various
disease areas."
Ion channels are cellular membrane proteins that regulate the flow of ions
such as potassium and chloride into and out of cells. They affect every
physiological process in the human body. Compounds, which can increase or
decrease this flow of ions by selectively blocking or opening specific
channels should be beneficial in treating a wide variety of diseases.
ICAgen, based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, is a privately held
company involved in the research, discovery and development of drugs which
work by opening and closing ion channels. It is the first biopharmaceutical
company to integrate combinatorial biology with combinatorial chemistry
focused exclusively on ion channel drug discovery and development. The
Company, which has proprietary biological targets and gene family chemical
libraries, has discovery programs in cardiovascular, central nervous system,
gastrointestinal, urinary and immunological disorders. ICAgen has
partnerships with Eli Lilly & Co., ArQule, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb and
Abbott Laboratories for the discovery of novel ion channel modulating drugs.
SOURCE ICAgen, Inc.
CO: ICAgen, Inc.
ST: North Carolina
IN: MTC
SU: PDT
02/27/98 08:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
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