Kimeragen and Roslin Bio-Med unite to
develop methods for precise genetic modification procedures of livestock.
Deal unites Roslin Bio-Med's cloning technology
with Kimeragen's precise genetic modification procedures in research targeting genes
important in xenotransplantation and product safety.
Roslin, Midlothian, (Scotland and Newtown., P.A, - October 20, 1998 - Roslin
Bio-Med Ltd. and Kimeragen, Inc. announced today that they have entered into an exclusive
collaboration to develop methods for the precise genetic modification of livestock. Using
Kimeragen's proprietary chimeraplasty technology, the collaborators will seek to modify
two genes - ovine PRP, the gene associated with scrapie, the sheep form of 'Mad Cow
Disease' and Ovine alpha 1-3 Gal associated with hyperacute transplant rejection of animal
organs transplanted into humans, a major technical hurdle for xenotransplantation. The
research team will apply chimeraplasty and nuclear transfer technology to demonstrate the
ability to produce animals carrying the modified genes. The two companies believe that the
combination of these two technologies offers the potential to 1) eliminate the disease
causing gene from sheep and cattle and 2) support the creation of transgenic animals whose
organs will be suitable for human transplants. Following the initial experiments, the
collaboration will focus on research necessary for the creation of elite founder herds for
biomedical production.
The nuclear transfer technology which gave the world the first animal cloned from an
adult cell - Dolly - was co-invented by Professor Ian Wilmut, Ph.D., Scientific Director,
Roslin Bio-Med Ltd. Simon G Best, Chief Executive Officer of Roslin Bio-Med commented,
'Roslin Bio-Med has exclusive rights to use the Roslin Institute's cloning technology in
almost all biomedical applications. Xenotransplantation and the exclusion of disease
causing prions are our first priorities and the research agreement with Kimeragen is an
important step in our strategy to provide the technology to allow the production of organs
for transplant which are safe and overcome rejection problems.'
'We believe that the successful chimeraplasty and cloning of these modified animals
will be another example of the mission of biotechnology, to utilise the most current
scientific methodologies to prevent disease at the genetic level' stated Gerald L
Messerschmidt, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Kimeragen. 'If successful, this mutual and
long-term collaboration will create animals free of prions and progress to other
applications with significant impact on human health. We believe our chimeraplasty
technology in combination with Roslin Bio-Med's cloning is a key approach to solving what
are otherwise intractable problems and we are excited about the opportunity to meet the
challenge.'
During the research the chimeraplasty procedure will be used to alter target genes in
cultured cells. The modified nucleus (that part of the cell which contains the genes) will
then be transferred to an animal egg which has had its nucleus removed and then implanted
in a mother animal - in this case a sheep.
'The combination of these two powerful technologies can change the way we think about
eradicating disease' said Clifford Steer, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Cell Biology at
the University of Minnesota Medical Center. Nine months ago Dr Steer published the first
use of chimeraplasty to change the sequence of the genes for Haemophilia B in rats. 'The
specificity of gene modification through chimeraplasty in combination with cloning should
truly benefit society.'
Kimeragen's enabling technology platform, known as chimeraplasty, allows targeted
repair or replacement of DNA without the use of viral or other conventional gene delivery
vectors. In this site-specific technique, a desirable sequence of DNA is combined with
RNA, forming what is known as a chimeraplast. When used in clinical applications, this
molecule is packaged with a delivery system and then administered into the subject and
ultimately the chimeraplast binds selectively to the portion of the target DNA to be
corrected. Once bound, chimeraplasty activates the body's own gene-correcting mechanism,
which mediates the DNA sequence change, Chimeraplasty is referred to as 'precise genetic
surgery' because DNA is corrected without affecting the rest of the genome or altering
normal protein expression and cell function.
Kimeragen, Inc., is a privately held company headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania,
engaged in the discovery, development and marketing of unique products for human health,
plant and animal/veterinary applications. The Company is developing chimeraplasty as an
enabling technology for three distinct business areas: pharmaceuticals to repair genetic
abnormalities implicated in a broad array of human diseases; plants and industrial
products to enhance genetic traits in plants; genomic and transgenic animal technologies
aimed at developing higher value applications and products for human health and veterinary
care.The company plans to commercialise many of those applications through partnerships
with global leaders in these fields.
Roslin Bio-Med, Ltd, (RBM) is a new life science company which was established in April
1998 to develop the Roslin Institute's unique nuclear transfer technology for biomedical
applications. Using nuclear transfer technology RBM alms to produce elite founder herds of
genetically modified livestock which will provide human healthcare products such as
xeno-organs for transplant, blood components and antibodies.
The majority shareholders in RBM are the Roslin Institute (Edinburgh) and 3i Group plc,
Europe's leading venture capitalist.
For further information, please contact:
Simon Best
Chief Executive Officer
Roslin Bio-Med Ltd
Tel: 44 131 527 4272
