TARGETING LENTIVIRAL VECTORS TO SPECIFIC CELLS AND TISSUES
UCLA Technology Available For Licensing

BACKGROUND:  The main obstacle facing the use of gene therapy as a successful therapeutic modality for humans is the inability to accurately target vectors to organs and cells. Adenoviral and adeno-associated vectors have been associated with mutagenesis and liver toxicity. Other vectors have suffered from ineffective entry and failure to provide stable long term expression.

INNOVATION:  The current technology proposes the use of a lentiviral vector to target specific human immune cells as well as certain types of cancer cells. The approach has been validated using a mouse model for metastatic melanoma [Morizono K, et. al, 2005. Lentiviral vector retargeting to P-Glycoprotein on metastatic melanoma via intravenous injection. Nat Med. 11(3):346-52.] and for prostate cancer in a bone metastatic model. Current work is being done on central nervous system targeting in a mouse model which is directed to the blood brain barrier. [In principle, the approach can be generally applied to direct gene therapy to any desired cell or tissue in the body.]

DEVELOPMENT TO DATE:  Dr. Irvin Chen's lab is currently engaged in the further development of this technology through a five year, $1 million dollar federal grant.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 2000-128 PCT Patent Number: WO 2005/118802

For additional technical details and current licensing
availability, please contact the following UCLA office:

UCLA Office of Intellectual Property
11000 Kinross Avenue, Suite #200
Los Angeles, CA 90095-7231
Tel: 310-794-0558 Fax: 310-794-0638
email: ncd@research.ucla.edu
NCD URL:   http://www.research.ucla.edu/tech/ucla00-128.htm

Lead Inventor: Irvin Chen

UCLA Technologies Available for Licensing
http://www.research.ucla.edu/tech

Copyright © 2004 The Regents of the University of California.

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