Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire - 21 December 1995
The research team has characterized a portion of the non-mutating cellular protein, beta-2-microglobulin (beta2m), on the surface of replicated HIV which will be the target of the antibody-based assay. Beta2m is situated differently on the surface of HIV than on normal mammalian cells and, as a cellular protein, does not mutate like viral proteins. It is believed that antibodies to this repositioned protein, or epitope, will selectively target HIV regardless of viral strain. An ELISA assay incorporating this technology could potentially enhance the treatment and prognosis of HIV patients by providing clinicians with a widely accessible tool that could more accurately pinpoint the status of the disease and help them make appropriate treatment decisions.
"Hemagen's expertise in developing ELISA assays makes it a logical partner to help develop a research and clinical diagnostic assay based on Sheffield's HIV vaccine research," said Douglas R. Eger, Chairman of Sheffield Medical Technologies. "Our combined efforts to develop a diagnostic kit for HIV may provide Sheffield with an additional marketable product from the vaccine program. Also, this assay would be highly useful in anticipated human clinical trials for our vaccine."
Previous worldwide attempts to develop an HIV vaccine producing antibodies to viral proteins have failed due to the highly mutational characteristics of the virus and its native antigenic proteins and the diversity of HIV strains. The research team is working on a vaccine to produce antibodies against the non-mutating beta2m epotope they believe exists on all strains of HIV. Sheffield plans to begin testing in animal models in the U.S. prior to filing an investigational new drug application with the FDA to begin human clinical trials.
Sheffield Medical Technologies provides development funding for select medical projects in late-stage research and addresses large or unmet market needs. The Company currently has five projects in its technology portfolio: anti-proliferative therapies; a therapeutic and diagnostic for prostate cancer; two HIV/AIDS therapeutics; and an HIV vaccine.
CONTACT: James Heins, Media, or Susan Burnett, Investors, both of Burns McClellan, Inc., 212-505-1919
Copyright (c) 1995/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
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