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:asklepios: gene therapy featured firm! Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (Chapel Hill, NC) is developing cellular-based, protein therapies using its proprietary biological nanoparticle ("BNP") delivery technology to deliver a broad variety of biological material to a cell, including therapeutic genes, monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, vaccines and potential RNAi applications. The company is currently developing gene therapy treatments for Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy and Congestive Heart Failure. |
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:sig interviews 2005 venture firms on his "successtoday" program, famous business interviewer sig hutchinson talks with leaders from the 10 tech companies (menu listed at right) selected to present at the ced's 2005 venture event in pinehurst, nc. the firms talk about their unique technologies, business strategies, and some of their plans for the future. |
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:asklepios: gene therapy featured firm! Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (Chapel Hill, NC) is developing cellular-based, protein therapies using its proprietary biological nanoparticle ("BNP") delivery technology to deliver a broad variety of biological material to a cell, including therapeutic genes, monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, vaccines and potential RNAi applications. The company is currently developing gene therapy treatments for Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy and Congestive Heart Failure. |
:back to venture 2005 page |
Biological Nano Particle (BNP) Platform DNA, which is the blueprint for the human body is organized into segments called genes. Each individual gene provides specific instructions to the body's cells on how to manufacture proteins which are critical to maintaining normal body functions. Occasionally, the DNA's genes can be corrupt causing aberrant protein expression in the cells. Many of the disease states in humans today are caused by improper production or the absence of these proteins. Isolating and then transporting a corrected gene safely into the cells can increase or decrease protein production, as well as introduce a replacement gene which can express a missing therapeutic protein. Historically there have been varying delivery methods and vehicles used in the attempt to safely deliver therapeutic genes. Use of viruses, called viral vectors, takes advantage of a viruses' natural ability to introduce DNA to cells. Viral vectors have been the more recent delivery vehicle employed to safely and efficiently deliver a therapeutic genetic payload. Several different recombinant viral vectors have been harnessed for the delivery of genes, including adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, lentivirus, and adeno-associated virus. However due to its non-pathogenic properties and absent immune response, ability to maintain efficient and long-term expression, and ease of genetic manipulation, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has quickly become the gene-delivery vector of choice for a multitude of targets. Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc., has now developed a library of rAAV Biological Nano Particles (BNP), the next generation of gene delivery platform technology. These synthetically designed particles provide unsurpassed safety, transduction efficiency, "ramp-up" expression capabilities, with multiple tissue targeting transcapsidation. The proprietary rAAV BNP technology combined with the company's complimentary enabling technologies, (which includes proprietary gene, clinically proven production protocols, regulation system, scaleable production, proprietary purification system, and bio-stint technology), poises Asklepios as the company to bridge the current technical gap of reliable, safe, and efficient genetic cargo delivery (e.g. genes, RNAi, transcriptional targeting promoters, etc.). |
:asklepios ceo sheila mikhail |
