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http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/980528/ca_cell_ge_1.html Thursday May 28, 1998 Company Press Release Cell Genesys Demonstrates Long Term Treatment of Parkinson's Disease With Single Injection of Gene Therapy Effective AAV-Based Gene Therapy Observed in Preclinical Studies FOSTER CITY, Calif., May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Cell Genesys, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEGE - news) today announced that company scientists have demonstrated long term production of L-dopa, a drug currently used to treat Parkinson's disease, following just a single gene therapy treatment in Parkinson's disease animal models. An adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene delivery system was used to deliver human genes responsible for the production of L-dopa to the appropriate region of the brain, resulting in stable production of the enzyme responsible for L-dopa synthesis for one year, the duration of the study. This study was published by a team of scientists led by Ronald J. Mandel, Ph.D., in the June issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. ``The potential for gene therapy to provide long term correction of Parkinson's disease after just a single injection may represent a new approach to treating this disease,'' stated Mitchell H. Finer, Ph.D., vice president, research at Cell Genesys. ``We have used AAV vectors to deliver genes to several types of tissue including brain, muscle, liver and cardiovascular tissues, and have observed long term gene expression in each. This broad applicability allows for a wide variety of potential disease targets including hemophilia, cardiovascular disorders and neurologic disorders.'' In this published work, Cell Genesys scientists utilized AAV vectors to deliver two human genes to the specific area of the brain affected by Parkinson's disease in Parkinson's disease rat models. Following gene transfer, the chemical synthesis of L-dopa was demonstrated and the expression of the L-dopa producing enzyme was stable for one year, the duration of the study. There were no observable toxicities after treatment, and importantly, there were no other regions of the brain affected by the gene delivery. Parkinson's disease is a chronic degenerative neurologic condition affecting control of voluntary movement. The disease is most commonly treated with pharmaceutical products containing L-dopa and then in more advanced cases, with neurosurgical procedures. Cell Genesys is currently seeking a corporate partner for the further development of its Parkinson's disease gene therapy program. <snip> SOURCE: Cell Genesys, Inc. -- Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada [log in to unmask]