By Donald Zuhn --
Last week, CellCyte Genetics announced that it had been granted U.S. Patent No. 7,282,222, which relates to methods for delivering stem cells to a target tissue in a mammal using glycoconjugate to traffic the cells to a desired organ. According to CellCyte's press release, the Kirkland, Washington based biotech company, which has exclusively licensed the '222 patent from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, plans to use the patented technology to develop stem cell enabling therapeutic products for efficient delivery and significantly increased retention of adult stem cells to target organs such as the heart.
CellCyte's first product in development, CCG-TH30, is designed to target autologous bone-marrow-derived (adult) stem cells to the heart of patients after a heart attack/ CellCyte Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Ronald Berninger noted that CCG-TH30 has been shown in preclinical models to increase stem cell retention to 77% as opposed to the 6% retention level of conventional methods. In addition, unlike conventional methods that require an invasive procedure, CCG-TH30 can be delivered intravenously. A video outlining the CellCyte's technology can be viewed here.
The '222 patent issued from U.S. Application No. 10/388,964, filed March 14, 2003, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/364,498, filed March 15, 2002. Representative independent claims 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the '222 patent recite:
1. A method for targeting a hematopoietic stem cell to the heart of a mammal comprising administering an asialoorosomucoid to the mammal prior to administration of the cell to the mammal, whereby the cell is directed to the heart.
3. A method for targeting a mesenchymal stem cell to the heart of a mammal comprising administering an orosomucoid to the mammal prior to administration of the cell to the mammal, whereby the cell is directed to the heart.
5. A method for targeting a hematopoietic stem cell to the liver of a mammal comprising administering an orosomucoid to the mammal prior to administration of the cell to the mammal, whereby the cell is directed to the liver.
7. A method for targeting a mesenchymal stem cell to the liver of a mammal comprising administering an asialoorosomucoid to the mammal prior to administration of the cell to the mammal, whereby the cell is directed to the liver.
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