Benitec secures further rights to HIV Therapeutic
Collaboration with City of Hope in HIV trial
Benitec Limited has secured further intellectual property rights that underpin its HIV/AIDS lymphoma therapeutic currently undergoing clinical trials at City of Hope in Duarte, California. The therapeutic uses RNAi technology covered by Benitec's patent portfolio.
City of Hope has granted Benitec an option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license to a suite of patent rights held by City of Hope. If the option is exercised, City of Hope will grant Benitec an exclusive, worldwide royalty-bearing license under pre-defined terms to research and develop, manufacture, use, offer for sale, import and sell products in the field.
This pilot study is Benitec's first human trial and uses a triple therapy delivered using a lentiviral vector for the treatment of HIV. The rHIV7-shl-TAR-CCR5RZ vector suppresses HIV by expressing three therapeutic nucleic acids that are directed against key steps in HIV replication.
Under the agreement, Benitec has secured an option to exclusive rights to the following five US patents and patent applications:
1. United States Patent 6,995,258 entitled "Nucleolar targeting of therapeutics against HIV";
2. United States Patent 6,100,087 entitled "Ribozymes targeted to human CCR5 mRNA" and foreign equivalents;
3. United States patent application and foreign equivalents of serial number 10/630,968 entitled "Methods and kits for synthesis of siRNA expression cassettes";
4. United States patent application and foreign equivalents of serial number 10/356,643 entitled "Methods for producing interfering RNA"; and
5. United States patent application and foreign equivalents of serial number 10/629,895 entitled "Adenoviral VA1 Pol III".
Other news from the department research and development
