Novel GTU® technology for out-licensing to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
FIT Biotech has developed a novel gene transport vehicle [Gene Transport Unit (GTU®)], a naked DNA plasmid. It is applicable to DNA vaccination as well as to immuno- and gene therapies for a variety of indications, including the modulation of the immune system by antigens or cytokines (e.g. in infectious diseases, cancer, allergies), and the expression of specific genes in order to complement a genetic defect (e.g. in diseases caused by mutations in a single gene, Parkinson's disease, or dermatological diseases).
In comparison to other DNA plasmids, the key advantage of the GTU® is its utilization of the multi-domain GTU-nuclear anchoring protein (NAP) ("nuclear anchoring") encoded by the GTU®:
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NAP protein binds and carries the plasmids to the active part of the nuclear chromatin, where the transcription of the gene of interest occurs; |
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when bound to the nuclear chromatin, the plasmids segregate with the dividing cells, subsequently increasing the number of the gene expressing cells up to 50 times more compared to that witnessed with conventional DNA plasmids; and |
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NAP activates the promoters driving gene expression, thereby resulting in increased production of the protein of interest ("transcription enhancement");. |
Together, the transcription enhancement and nuclear anchoring features have been shown to contribute to an expression up to 100 times stronger than that seen for the same gene inserted in a conventional control plasmid in a cell culture. Due to expression in a larger number of cells, the duration of the expression with GTU® has also been shown to be significantly longer.
Clinical proof for the GTU® plasmid has been obtained from a Phase I/II trial. Thus the GTU® is ready for pre-clinical and clinical development and can be applied commercially to a broad range of indications.
To FIT Biotech's best knowledge, no other DNA plasmid is equipped with corresponding transcription enhancement and nuclear anchoring features.
GTU® Technology Business Opportunity (PDF)
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