INVESTMENTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 1993

 


BIOVST.ZIP release 1.7  


October 30, 1993







           INVESTMENTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY






TABLE OF CONTENTS:



INTRODUCTION............................................2

GOALS OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY...........................2

STRUCTURE OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.................3

CURRENT INTERESTS OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.........9

  Drug discovery...................................10

  Biomedicine:Diagnosis............................12

  Biomedicine:Antibodies...........................13

  Biomedicine:Immunology...........................15

  Biomedicine:Interleukins and other cytokines.....20

  Biomedicine:Nervous system.......................23

  Biomedicine:Cancer therapy.......................26

  Antisense........................................31

  Transcription....................................32

  Splicing.........................................34

  Cell cycle.......................................34

  Biomedicine:Virology.............................35

  Biomedicine:Cardiovascular drugs.................39

  Biomedicine:Wound healing........................39

  Drug production..................................40

  Drug delivery....................................41

  Improvement of agricultural products.............42

  Biological control...............................45

  Marine biotechnology.............................45

  Improvement of the environment...................46

ECONOMICS OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.................48

INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY.........................51

INVESTING IN BIOTECHNOLOGY..............................53

SELECTED READING........................................54

APPENDIX A..............................................58

APPENDIX B..............................................59

APPENDIX C..............................................60

SHAREWARE...............................................62

REGISTRATION............................................63

INDEX...................................................64

UPGRADE CHANGES.........................................81







                           1






INTRODUCTION............................................#


INTRODUCTION


 


     The biotechnology industry has suffered serious setbacks in 


1993.  A drop in stock prices for the biotechnology industry has 


resulted from several blows to the industry: test results and the 


political climate.  A successful biotechnology industry is neces 


sary, however, for the treatment of human disease,  competitive 


agriculture, and efficient management of the environment.  The 


biotechnology industry has developed with controversy since it's 


inception in the 1970s.  Recombinant DNA technology, patenting 


life, and patenting DNA sequences have all been monumental deci 


sions for society and its laws which were induced by the emer 


gence of the biotechnology industry.  The recent setbacks in the 


industry provokes a reassessment of the industry in the United 


States of America in order to maintain a fertile biotechnology 


industry and the potential for profitability of investment in 


biotechnology.






GOALS OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY...........................#


GOALS OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY




     Manipulation of biology is desired to produce new drugs for 


the treatment of human and animal disease, better agricultural 


products, and a better living environment.  Examples of new 


desired products include: new drugs to treat and prevent infec 


tious diseases, new drugs to treat cancer and aging, new and 


improved agricultural products,  new pesticides, and new products 



                           2








to control environmental insults.


     


STRUCTURE OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.................#


STRUCTURE OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY




     Genentech, the founder company of modern biotechnology, has 


grown to one of the largest of these firms with the development 


of recombinant human insulin.   Robert Swanson and Herbert Boyer 


began Genentech in the early 1970s and it now has the "largest 


center devoted to biotechnology", an $85 million facility."  


Genentech was begun on the premise that "there was money to be 


made in recombinant DNA".   Genentech invests 50% of its revenues 


on research and development compared to the average for the 


pharmaceutical industry of 16.7%.  The price of Genentech stock 


has fared well during the recent slump in the prices of biotech 


nology stocks, actually increasing.  It has developed: recombin 


ant human growth hormone (BioTropin), human recombinant insulin, 


transforming growth factor-á-1 (TGF-á1), Activase to prevent 


blood clotting which has decreased death rates by 25.9% in heart 


attack patients, monoclonal antibodies to the HER-2 oncogene of 


breast cancers, ç-Interferon (Actimmune has FDA approval for the 


treatment of chronic granulomatous disease),  Pulomzyme (DNAse 


for the treatment of cystic fibrosis),  a version of soluble CD4 


for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) treatment, insulin 


growth factor-1 (IGF-1), recombinant tumor necrosis factor and 


others.    A significant new product that they have recently 


unveiled is a genetically modified human recombinant insulin that 


can be processed by any cell in the body.  This will lead to 



                           3






novel gene therapy approaches to the treatment of diabetes and 




other disorders.


     Several organizations protect the interests of the biotech 


nology industry.  The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 


has recently been formed by the merger between the Industrial 


Biotechnology Association (IBA) and the Association of Biotech 


nology Companies (ABC).  BIO has taken the 500 employees from the 


Industrial Biotechnology Association and formed this organization 


of biotech companies, educational institutions, and state bio 


technology centers.  Dr. G.K. Raab, president and CEO of Genen 


tech, is now the head of this organization as the elected  chair 


man of the board.  The president, Carl B. Feldbaum, will involved 


in battles with BIO  against environment protection groups over 


issues of food labeling and the use of new plant varieties.  This 


organization will serve to protect the interests of the biotech 


nology companies.  These interests will include concerns about 


the patenting process and patent infringements.  The ABC repre 


sented the interests of smaller biotechnology companies and these 


two organizations have differed on policy.  They differed on 


legislation for orphan drugs, for example.  The Pharmaceutical 


Manufacturers Association (PMA), which has some members in common 


with BIO, is another interest group of biotechnology.  


     The biotechnology industry has recently been given competing 


stock indices on the AMEX and the CBOE.    On October 9, 1992 the 


Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and the American Stock 


Exchange (AMEX) simultaneously launched competing index options 


to track the volatile biotechnology industry.    The Amex's (BTX, 


biotechnology stock index) is made up of 15 stocks and the CBOE's 



                           4






(BGX) is made up of 20 stocks.  The overlapping stocks of these 




indices and the complete list of the AMEX's index are listed in 


appendix A.  The AMEX's (BTK) is "equal dollar weighted" to avoid 


dominance of any one stock.  At inception, it had a market capi 


talization of about 16.8 billion.  The CBOE's is "price 


weighted", like the Dow, and at inception had a market value of 


about 19.2 billion.  


     Because of the discovery nature of the biotechnology indus 


try, it has induced monumental changes in patent laws and the 


patent process.  Since its inception in the 1970s, these changes 


have occurred in: the patentability of a discovery, the patenting 


process, the patentability of life, and orphan drug act legisla 


tion.  The Intellectual Law Association and the organizations of 


the biotechnology industry (which includes BIO) protect the 


interests of the patents.  The patentability of genetically 


engineered organisms was upheld in Diamond v. Chakrabarty in 1980 


and transgenic plants and animals have since been deemed "patent 


able".  Harvard University received the first patent for a 


genetically altered  mouse, the "oncomouse", in 1988.  The li 


cense was sold to Dupont.   This has allowed the rapid  develop 


ment of recombinant DNA in biotechnology.  The patent process is 


still in upheaval, however, several issues are still not settled, 


first to invent versus the "first to file" and the usefulness of 


an invention.  In the United States of America, most university 


scientists publish first and file for a patent application later.  


This is not true in most countries.  In Europe and most foreign 


systems, once a discovery is published, the inventor loses the 


right to a patent.  An invention must be "useful, novel, and non- 



                           5






obvious" in order to be patentable.  Novelty in United States 




patent law is: "An invention not known or used by others in USA 


or described in a printed publication...before the invention date 


and not described in a printed publication or in public use or on 


sale in the United States of America more than one year before 


the United States application date".   In such a case, the patent 


obtains a 17 year monopoly for the invention.  The United States 


of America has been negotiating a universal patent agreement with 


the  with the World Intellectual Property Organization with a 


move toward the "first to file" rather than "first to invent" 


principle.   In a recent case, however, the "first to invent" 


rule was upheld.  On February 17, 1993, the U.S. Patent and 


Trademark Office determined that claims in a Regeneron patent 


application involving human ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) 


protein and their pharmaceutical compositions containing it were 


allowable since they were the first to make the invention.  This 


is despite the fact that Synergen was the first to receive a 


patent for CNTF in May 1991.  CNTF is now in clinical trials for 


treatment of Lou Gehrig's disease.  In the last couple of years, 


there has been a dispute about the patentability of DNA sequenc 


es.  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) sought to patent DNA 


sequences that were found with expression tags.  This would allow 


NIH to patent DNA sequences for proteins with unknown functions.  


If NIH had won this patent, it was argued that it would stifle 


future research on those genes.  A similar case is under scrutiny 


yet.  Researchers at Stanford want to patent sequences of the T 


cell receptor.  This is because mutations in these genes may lead 


to autoimmunity, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.  



                           6






They seek to patent only specific uses, however, and the problem 




of ownership is therefore avoided.   The Orphan Drug Act is a 


recent addition to laws brought about by the modern biotechnology 


industry.  The United States Orphan Drug Act was established in 


1983 to promote the development of drugs for rare diseases.  


Fifty drugs have since been approved for 59 conditions.  There 


are still a number of scientific and legal aspects of this act 


which need to be refined.  But this act will allow no other 


patents on the same structure for the same condition for seven 


years.  If it is of a similar structure, it must be shown to be 


better in clinical trials.    


     The drug evaluation process is under currently under scruti 


ny in the United States of America as well.  The method of drug 


evaluation depends upon the organism for which the drug is being 


developed.  Drugs to be utilized for humans undergo pre-clinical 


trials and phase I, II, and III trials.  Pre-clinical trials 


decide upon the efficacy and safety of the approach of the drug 


and are based upon animal and in vitro studies.  Clinical trials 


occur sequentially with evaluation after each trial: Phase I 


trials establish that a drug is safe for human use on healthy 


volunteers,  Phase II trials establish that the drug is effective 


and what dose is effective with a small number of patients, and 


phase III trials establish the dose and the effectiveness of the 


drug on a large number of patients.  The data from the clinical 


trials are then submitted to the FDA for approval.  A suggestion 


has been suggested to improve the phase II studies and discontin 


ue or reduce the size of phase III clinical trials.  This would 


decrease the time required for the commercial development of 



                           7






products for therapeutic use, which is now an average of eight 




years.  Risk models for the evaluation of patients are important 


for the outcome of clinical trials of many of the newer biotech 


nology drugs.  An example of the use new methods for the analysis 


of clinical data is a risk model based upon the APACHE III(TM) 


database.  It is being used to monitor patients with systemic 


inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).   Cortech, Inc. is using 


this model in Bradycor clinical trials and describes the model 


as: "..the state of the art analytical tool for evaluating the 


benefits of sophisticated drugs in complex diseases".  The APACHE 


III model,  allows data on patients to be to analyzed according 


to their individual risk of mortality.  It is accepted throughout 


the world for scoring the severity of illness in critically ill 


people.  The APACHE method allows one to find patient subgroups 


according to their risk profiles.  Statistical methods such as 


the APACHE III method increase the power of a test.  This means 


that they are more likely to find a difference between the treat 


ment and the control groups.   Therefore, the subgroup which can 


benefit most from a drug can be determined.  In other words, a 


drug which is effective in the treatment of diseases may be found 


ineffective by some statistical methods if the power of the test 


is poor.  The Apache III (TM) risk model was derived from the 


analysis of over 100,000  patients within the APACHE III Interna 


tional Database.   







                           8






CURRENT INTERESTS OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.........# 


CURRENT INTERESTS OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY




     Modern biotechnology has made significant contributions to 


new methods of drug discovery, production, and delivery.  New 


drugs include the new antibodies, soluble receptors, recombinant 


proteins, peptides, nucleic acids and derivatives of nucleic 


acids.   These are used for treatment and for diagnosis of dis 


ease, the improvement of the environment, and better agriculture 


methods.  


HEADINGS:

Drug discovery

Diagnosis

Antibodies

Immunology: vaccines,allergies, and transplantation,

Interleukins and other cytokines 

Nervous system disorders

Cancer therapy

Antisense

Transcription

Splicing

Cell Cycle

Virology

Cardiovascular drugs

Wound Healing

Drug production

Drug delivery

Agriculture

Biological Control

Marine Biotechnology

Environment











                           9






  Drug discovery...................................#


Drug discovery


     Biotechnology requires compound discovery.  Old discovery 


methods relied on screening of a large number of compounds for a 


desired bioactivity.  Compound libraries or organisms are 


screened for the production of molecules based upon pre-deter 


mined desired criterion.  This has been used for discovering 


antibiotics in the past, and still is uses by some companies for 


drug discovery.    Screening organisms for useful drugs is still 


used by a number of drug firms.  There are basically two ap 


proaches to this: (1) screening libraries of compounds or pro 


ducts of organisms for a desired activity and  (2) The screening 


of organisms known to be resistant to certain infections or 


growth inhibit other organisms.    One of the most recent com 


pounds discovered by screening a large number of compounds for a 


desired activity is taxol.  Taxol has been approved for treatment 


of ovarian cancer and is being produced by Hauser of Boulder, 


Colorado  for ovarian cancer.  Drug screening technology itself 


is a large part of modern biotechnology.   Corporations, such as 


Pfizer, Inc., utilize high throughput screens to find novel 


compounds as well.  A more modern variation to this approach is 


being used by some companies by developing large peptide libra 


ries which are screened for binding to a structure or for bioac 


tivity.   Affymax, Selectide, and Enzon all have examples of this 


approach.  Recombinant Fab combinatorial libraries have been 


developed for this purpose as well.  Fab fragment libraries 


created from B cell RNA have been cloned into phagmid libraries 


to be screened for pre-determined binding specificities (Strata 





                           10






gene).  Isolation of drugs based upon an organism's traits, such 


as resistance to infection is also an active area of biotechnolo 


gy.  For example, the biological activity of squalamine was 


recently found this way.  The dogfish, which is resistant to in 


utero microorganism infections produces squalamine.  This com 


pound has been very active against  Streptococcus sp., Staphylo 


coccus sp.,  Escherchia coli,  and yeast.  Other companies are 


offering drug screening technologies for custom profiles of 


biomolecules after they are discovered to determine the spectrum 


of activities for it.  This is offered by Oncogene Sciences as 


the GEMS(TM) discovery system.


     Techniques for the discovery of drugs have recently been 


under scrutiny for patentability.  The patenting of the polymer 


ase chain reaction (PCR) by  Cetus has been one of the newest 


discovery methods with great impact to biotechnology.  Cetus has 


since sold the patent to Hoffman-LaRoche.  PCR, is a reaction 


where complementary DNA oligonucleotides are used to clone se 


quences from DNA or RNA.  A heat stable polymerase, taq polymer 


ase, is used to amplify the sequence in between the areas where 


the primers have annealed.  In this way, if one knows flanking 


sequences of genes, genes can be cloned right out of an organisms 


DNA or RNA with very little analysis and time required.  This all 


takes place in a computer controlled apparatus made by Perkin 


Elmer.  Cetus has allowed the use of PCR in research, but the 


availability of other polymerases (cheaper), has instigated a 


crackdown on this patent by Hoffman-LaRoche.  Hoffman-LaRoche, 


the Swiss based pharmaceutical company, has initiated a suit 


against Promega, Corp. of Madison, WI.  Promega was licensed to 





                           11






make and sell taq polymerase for a limited number of applications 


which did not include PCR.  They were undercutting Perkin-Elmer's 


prices by up to %60.  Other techniques which are likely come 


under such scrutiny in the future include methods for sequencing 


the human genome.  




  Biomedicine:Diagnosis............................#


Biomedicine:diagnosis




     Genetic techniques for disease diagnosis play an extensive 


role in modern biotechnology.  New technologies include: FISHing 


(Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization), PCR, and enzyme labeled gene 


tag reagents.  With the new technologies available, specific 


translocations of genes involved in malignant transformation can 


be found with greater precision.  Furthermore, specific disease- 


causing genes can be searched for and found in individuals for 


genetic counseling purposes.  PCR techniques can now be used to 


specifically determine the presence of viruses in tissues provid 


ing a direct link to viral infection, rather than just an asso 


ciation of the change in antibody titer of patients or victims.  


This has been used recently for the Four Corners Flu that has 


occurred in the northern New Mexico-Arizona area.  The Hantavirus 


has been found in victims.  This virus is transmitted to them by 


rodents that live in the area.  Genetic data for the presence of 


the virus was found by PCR in tissues from the victims and deer 


mice.  Biotechnology companies are also developing genetic tech 


niques for the diagnosis of the involvement of specific oncogenes 


in cancer.  For example, Oncogene Sciences has developed a hy 


bridization probe kit for chronic myelogenous leukemia and there 



                           12






are kits available for other translocations as well. 


  Biomedicine:Antibodies...........................#


Biomedicine:antibodies


     Antibodies are used for a number of purposes in  biotechnolo


gy.  Two basic types of antibody preparations are utilized,  poly


clonal  and  monoclonal.   Polyclonal  antibodies,   heterologous


antisera, immune globulin, or hyperimmune globulin  are  produced


by whole living organisms.  Monoclonal antibodies are produced by 


the fusion of a myeloma cell with immune  lymphocytes.   The  pro


duct is a cell line that produces only one antibody that binds  a


desired determinant.   Antibodies are  useful  for  a  number  of


things in biotechnology.  First, they are very useful for  prophy


laxis against known exposure to pathogens or  toxins.   MedImmune


is developing a number of antibodies for this  purpose  including


polyclonal antibodies for prophylaxis against  respiratory  synci


tia virus (RSV) and cytomegalovirus (Cytogam)  and  a  monoclonal


antibody for AIDS (Medi488).   North American  Biologicals,  Inc.


has been given rights to HIVIG by Abbott, a  polyclonal  antibody


preparation from health HIV-infected individuals.  This  will  be


used to attempt to prevent the spread of HIV to  the  infants  of


pregnant women in a trial to  begin  soon.   One  in  five  women


transmit the virus to their infant in Utero  or  at  birth.   Gen


zyme, Inc. has entered into an  aggreement  with  Univax  Biologi


cals, Inc. to produce drugs for the treatment  of  diseases  asso


ciated with cystic fibrosis.  Neozyme II will  be  given  the  li


cense and development rights for these drugs from Genzyme,  Inc..


HyperGam + CF will be used to give passive immunity  to  Pseudomo


nas infections.  Pseudomonas spp. are responsible for  life-threa


 



                           13






tening infections in cystic fibrosis  patients.     Second,  they


play a very significant role in  diagnostic  reagents.   This  in


cludes bacterial and viral pathogens as  well  as  cancers.   For


example, kits have been developed recently with  monoclonal  anti


bodies that can detect  ras  oncoproteins.   These  proteins  are


often involved in the development of aggressive cancers  and  may


be involved in as many as  one  fifth  of  all  cancers.   Third,


monoclonal antibodies have been developed for the treatment of  a


number of disease conditions and are in various stages  of  devel


opment.  These include antibodies to  tumor  necrosis  factor  (a


cytokine involved in  septic  shock)  and  antibodies  to  target


tumors with cytotoxic drugs  or  radiation  for  cancer  therapy.


Seragen is developing fusion  toxins  which  target  activated  T


cells via the IL 2 receptor.  So far, this treatment will be used 


for rhematoid arthritis, certain cancers  (chemotherap  resistant


lymphomas) type I  diabetes,  and  HIV  infection.   Furthermore,


idiotype vaccines (killed MBP-reactive T cells are used to  immun


ize against MS) have shown some promise and are in phase I trials 


Most antibodies in use are products of animals other than humans, 


therefore, because of species differences  in  their  amino  acid


sequences, they can be recognized by the immune system of another 


animal.  This is why humanized antibodies are being developed  by


a number of companies, to avoid  rejection  of  the  antibody  in


humans by the immune system.  Humanized antibodies are the result 


of the genetic engineering of antibodies of other species with  a


desired reactivity for human treatment or prophylaxis.  They have 


been modified to be as similar to natural human antibodies, while 


maintaining the desired reactivity.  Companies in clinical trials 





                           14






with  humanized  antibodies  include:  Cytogen,  Genentech,  IDEC


Pharmaceuticals, Protein Design Labs, and Scotgen  Biopharmaceuti


cals.  New methods of achieving humanized antibodies include  the


use of mice which are transgenic for a mini-human antibody locus. 


This is being are being tried by GenPharm of Mountain  View,  CA.


In this way, 


these mice can be injected with  a  desired  immunogen,  and  the


monoclonal antibodies produced  can  be  screened  for  only  the


antibodies of human sequence.  They will not have to be  modified


by further genetic engineering because they already contain  only


human sequences.  Lastly,  antibodies and derivatives of them are 


being used in medical imaging.   For  example,  they  will  allow


better localization of  areas  for  surgical  removal  of  cancer


tissue. 




  Biomedicine:Immunology...........................#


Biomedicine:immunology




     Vaccines are a large part of the biotechnology industry  and


remain the only method of combating many  diseases,  particularly


viruses.  The most  celebrated  vaccines  are  now  the  vaccines


against the human immunodeficiency  virus  (HIV)  virus.    Both,


vaccines aimed at preventing infection with  the  HIV  virus  and


AIDS and novel vaccines  aimed  at  quelling  the  disease  after


infection  are  being  developed.   Immune  Response  Corporation


released the results of its  first  clinical  trial  of  a  novel


vaccine designed to quell AIDS disease on June 13, 1993.  A whole 


virus preparation was used in which the virus has been chemically 


stripped of its envelope.  A study  of  103  patients   suggested



                           15






 


that those  who  received  the  experimental  vaccine  maintained


slightly reduced levels of  virus.    Although  the  results  are


promising, it is less of a response than is desired for  an  AIDS


treatment.  Some virologists have said that the differences  were


so  slight  that  the  results  were  impossible  to   interpret.


Several biotechnology companies have taken the same approach   to


stimulate the cellular immune response with  particular  proteins


of HIV.  Furthermore, this vaccine may be used for the prevention 


of infections.   It has been shown that  a  small  proportion  of


people who have been infected with the HIV virus do  not  develop


AIDS and their antisera never tests positive for  HIV.   Cellular


immune responses can be detected, however.  Alpha-1 Biomedical of 


Washington D.C. and Cell-Sci of  Alexandria,  VA  are  developing


these vaccines.  They are utilizing HGP30, the P17  core  protein


of HIV, which is expressed very  early  in  HIV  infection.   The


vaccine is actually being produced by Viral  Technologies,  Inc..


So far, clinical trials have detected no side  effects  for  this


vaccine.   The most  popular  approach,  and  probably  the  most


likely to succeed for protecting individuals from infection, will 


probably involve the stimulation of neutralizing antibodies or  a


combination of  stimulating  both  cellular  and  humoral  immune


responses.  If the HGP30 vaccine approach is utilized it is hoped 


that a combined vaccine will be used which  stimulates  both  the


cellular immune response and antibodies.  Neutralizing antibodies 


are directed against gp120 (or gp160, an  unprocessed  viral  pep


tide containing gp120).  This is the protein that binds  the  CD4


molecule on T cells which the HIV virus uses to enter  the  cell.


A number of companies are developing these  vaccines.   Mammalian



                           16






 


versions of the gp120 vaccine are being  developed  for  the  LAI


(French isolate first discovered) and MN strains of HIV by  Genen


tech.  This will have the  post-translational  carbohydrate  addi


tions of mammalian cells.  A mammalian version of the SF-2 strain 


is being developed by Biocine/Chiron.  MicroGeneSys is developing 


the gp120 and gp160-protein-based vaccines from the LAI strain in 


insect cells with baculovirus vectors.   These  cells  produce  a


protein with some of the carbohydrates  attached  that  mammalian


cells add.  The gp160 molecule  is  being  used  in  an  approach


similar the above cellular immunity vaccine, HGP30.  It is  being


used on HIV-infected pregnant women to prevent  transmittance  to


the fetus.  It is hoped that it will stimulate both cellular  and


humoral immunity and prevent the transplacental transfer  of  HIV


to the fetus.  This vaccine (VaxSyn) has also  been  approved  by


federal government  for  HIV-infected  armed  service  personnel.


Immuno AG has the version of this vaccine which is  expressed  in


mammalian cells.  Vaccines which stimulate the antibody  response


to prevent HIV infection   can  utilize  the  gp120  molecule  or


synthetic peptides of the gp120 molecule.  Peptides  which  corre


spond to the V3 region of  the  gp120,  a  region  which  mutates


frequently, are being developed by Repligen.   A  cocktail  of  a


number of peptides corresponding to the sequence  of  the  V3  re


gions of a number of HIV isolates is  being  developed  which  is


hoped to induce immunity to the large number of mutants  of  HIV.


Since these peptides are often  not  very  immunogenic,  powerful


adjuvants will need to be used.  One such adjuvant, Stimulon with 


QS-21, has been developed by Cambridge Bioscience.  Genentech has 


chosen this adjuvant for use with its gp120 vaccine as  well.   A



                           17






 


number of other modern vaccines are also being developed  by  the


biotechnology community.  One such approach utilizes  the  B  sub


unit of cholera toxin  which  is  a  mucosal  adjuvant.   Mucosal


immunity has  been  achieved  for  SIV  (simian  immunodeficiency


virus) in monkeys.  More "high-tech" approaches to  vaccines  are


also being developed against the AIDS virus and other  organisms.


They involve the use of live vectors for  delivering  the  immuno


gen.  Recombinant proteins, such as  gp160  or  gp120  are  being


placed in Vaccinia vectors (modified Small pox  viruses)  or  BCG


(Bacillus Calmette-Guerin).  These vectors  stimulate both  cellu


lar and humoral immunity.  Bristol-Myers Squibb has a version  of


this vaccine.  It is a gp160-vaccinia recombinant vaccine.  Other 


modern vaccines are being developed to  a  number  of  pathogens.


MedImmune itself  is  developing  a  number  of  modern  vaccines


against AIDS, parvovirus, and Lyme disease.   Abt  Associates  of


Cambridge, MA and Family Health International of  Research  Trian


gle Park have been awarded this a 6.5 million dollar contract  to


test the AIDS vaccines.


     Treatment of allergic reactions to a  number  allergens  has


been undertaken by modern biotechnology  companies.   ImmunoLogic


Pharmaceutical Corp. is developing Fel D I as CATVAX and AllerVAX 


for the treatment of two common allergies, allergies to cats  and


ragweed.  CATVAX is now in phase II clinical trials.


     Transplantation is an important area of research in  biotech


nology today.  Two of the most popular drugs  in  transplantation


immunology, used for inhibiting the rejection of transplants, are 


cyclosporin A and FK506.  These drugs can be taken orally and act 


by inhibiting the activation of T cells.   This  is  accomplished



                           18






 


mainly by the inhibition of a T cell transcription factor, NF-AT. 


Serious side effects still occur with these drugs, which  include


renal toxicity and neurotoxicity.  Adhesion molecules are now  in


vogue today and a large number  of  biotechnology  companies  are


devoted to studying these molecules.  Newly  discovered  adhesion


molecules have been targeted  to  inhibit  transplant  rejection.


Adhesion molecules can  be  classified  by  their  necessity  for


signaling by T cells the immune system,  these cells  are  respon


sible for graft rejection  and  the  initiation  of  many  immune


responses.  The LFA 1, CD5, and CD2  molecules are  not  involved


in cell signaling, but increase the avidity of the interaction of 


the lymphocytes with antigen presenting cells or targets.  CD4 or 


CD8 molecules are involved in signaling as are  the  antigen  spe


cific receptors of T cells.  A recent addition to adhesion  recep


tors of T cells involved  in  signal  transduction  is  the  CD28


molecule.  This molecule binds the B7 ligand  and   this  interac


tion is necessary  for  the  generation  of  cytotoxic  T  cells.


Cytotoxic T cells are involved in the removal  of  virus-infected


cells as well as the rejection of tumors and  grafts.   Molecules


similar to CD28 which block the interaction of CD28 with B7  have


been used for blocking allograft rejection.  CTLA4Ig is one  such


drug that has inhibited graft rejection.


     The treatment of autoimmune diseases is  being  targeted  by


modern biotechnology as well.  New MS treatments are described in 


the section on nervous  system  drugs.   Similar  treatments  are


being considered for other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid 


arthritis.  Seragen is developing new treatments  for  autoimmune


diseases and HIV by targeting activated T cells via  their  IL  2



                           19






 


receptor with fusion toxins.  




  Biomedicine:Interleukins and other cytokines.....#


     Interleukins are cytokines which allow  intracellular  commu


nication between cells of the immune system.  There  are  now  14


interleukins numbered 1-14.  Other cytokines of current  interest


in biotechnology include: TGF-à, EGF,  FGF,  TGF-á,  TNF-à,TNF-á,


CNTF, BDNF, neuroleukin, NGF, IGF,  interferons,  and  Stem  cell


factor (SCF).




The Interleukin 1s:  Interleukin 1s are a family of  structurally


related cytokines that all bind to two different receptors.  This 


family of proteins is composed of IL  1à,  IL  1á,  and  IL  1ra.


These molecules are involved the initiation  of  immune  response


(proinflammatory) and in the acute phase response of  the  liver.


Furthermore, receptors can be found  in  the  neuroendocrine  and


cardiovascular system.  It is one of  the  cytokines  responsible


for septic shock and is involved in the stress response  and  the


secretion of glucocorticoids.  




Interleukin 2:   Interleukin 2 is the first T cell growth  factor


which was characterized, isolated, and cloned by recombinant  DNA


methods.  For this reason, this cytokine has been  under  investi


gation for the treatment of immune  disorders  and  to  generated


immune cells capable of killing cancer cells.  This has worked to 


some extent with cells called "lymphokine  activated  killer"  or


LAK cells.  Immune cells are treated in the laboratory with IL  2


and then readministered to cancer patients.  Systemic use of IL 2 



                           20








has proven to have too many side effects.   Another  approach  to


kill tumor cells has  involved  transfecting  tumor  infiltrating


lymphocytes (TILS) with the IL 2 gene in the hope  of  delivering


the IL 2 to tumors locally.  These studies are being performed by 


the National Institutes of Health.




Interleukin 3:  Interleukin 3, also known  as  multi-CSF  (colony


stimulating factor) promotes the differentiation of early T  cell


precursors, supports the  establishment  of  T  cells  lines  and


supports the proliferation of a broad distribution of  hematopoie


tic stem cells.    Furthermore, it synergizes with  a  number  of


cytokines in colony formation  by  primitive  stem  cells  (CD34+


cells).




Interleukin 4:  Interleukin 4 was first characterized as a B cell 


cytokine; however, it has turned out to be an  important  T  cell


growth factor as well.   It is involved in the growth of  cytotox


ic T cells and T cells that collaborate with B cells  and  it  is


absolutely required for IgE  production.   Anti-IL  4  antibodies


have proven to be useful in some types  of  vaccination,  skewing


the development of T cell subpopulations: favoring T inflammatory 


(IL 2 producing) cells in mice.   Furthermore, renal  cancer  has


been treated in mice by the transfection of the tumor cells  with


the a functional IL 4 gene.  Genetic Therapy, Inc. has produced a 


retrovirus which produces IL 4 for the  treatment  of  melanomas,


kidney cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.




Interleukin 5: Interleukin 5 is  involved in B cell proliferation 



                           21








and differentiation.   Furthermore,  it  acts  as  an  eosinophil


growth factor and is thus involved in parasite and  tumor  immuni


ty.




Interleukin 10: Inteleukin 10 is produced by TH2 cells, which are 


responsible for the production of IL  4.   It  will  inhibit  the


production of TH1 cells (IL 2 producing).




Interleukin 12:  Inteleukin 12  is  produced  by  macrophages  in


response to stimulus, such as Listeria.  This cytokine is  respon


sible for the development of TH1 cells.  The loss of TH1 cells is 


now believed to play a role in AIDS.  




Interleukin 13: Interleukin 13 inhibits the secretion  of  inflam


matory cytokines in  response  to  sepsis  (See  Interleukin  1).


Furthermore, it synergizes with Interleukin 2 in the induction of 


interferon-ç production.






TNF: Cachectin and lymphotoxin are the  tumor  necrosis  factors,


TNF-à and TNF-á.  TNF-à is involved in septic shock  and  antibod


ies to it are being considered for  treatment  of  septic  shock.


Gene transfection experiments are also being performed with  this


cytokine which are analogous to the IL 2 transfections.  TILs are 


being transfected in the laboratory and transferred back  to  the


patient.  




TGF-ás:   TGF-ás have  pleotropic  effects  on  many  cell  types



                           22






 


including immune cells and fibroblasts.   They  are  involved  in


immune memory, immune suppression and wound healing. 


Transforming growth  factor-ás  (TGF-ás)  (Genentech:TGF-á1,  Cel


trix: TGF-á2, and Oncogene Sciences:TGF-á3),  are  members  of  a


family of over 18 proteins.  These cytokines are being  developed


to treat chemotherapy side effects, ischemic  heart  injury,  and


wound healing disorders.




Cytokine combinations: The use of combinations of  cytokines  for


the purpose of treatment of disease  or  the  growth  of  desired


cells is being performed by a number of companies.   Cell-Sci  is


one pioneering company which  is  doing  this  with  "Multikine".


Amgen has also been involved  in  this  research.   One  cytokine


combination which has proven useful for the  purpose  of  growing


stem cells (CD34+, see stem cells) is  the  combination  of  Stem


cell factor (SCF) with other synergizing cytokines such as G-CSF, 


GM-CSF, Erthyropoeitin (EPO) and IL 3.  




  Biomedicine:Nervous system.......................#




     New drugs have been found for a  number  of  nervous  system


disorders including, brain tumors, amyotrophic lateral  sclerosis


(Lou Gehrig's disease), and multiple sclerosis (MS).   Betaseron,


a form of á-interferon (IFN-á1b), has recently been approved  for


use by Chiron Corp. as the first licensed treatment for  MS.   It


is the only drug "specifically approved" for the treatment of MS. 


The drug is being produced by  Berlex,  a  unit  of  Schering  AG


(SCHG.F).  MS affects 250,000 to 300,000 Americans.  MS  is  medi



                           23






 


ated by T cells which react with the myelin basic  protein  (MBP)


of the central  nervous  system.   á-interferon  is  produced  by


suppressor T cells and it is therefore hoped that the  administra


tion of Betaseron to MS patients will suppress the MBP-reactive T 


cells.  This drug is not a cure and other  more  effective  drugs


are needed.  However, it has been claimed that this  drug  is  as


effective as other drugs at controlling the disease.   The  admin


istration of 8 million units of  Betaseron  every  other  day  de


creased the relapses and the number of patients  with  detectable


brain lesions compared to placebo controlled "relapsing-remitting 


MS".  In the one study performed so far, twenty nine  percent  of


the placebo patients had  brain  lesion  detectable  by  Magnetic


resonance imaging (MRI) while only 6% of  the  Betaseron  treated


had the lesions.  Furthermore,  the  number  of  attacks  was  de


creased, 0.9 vs 1.31 per year.  Other drugs, specifically  target


ing the MBP-reactive T cells are being developed  and  will  prob


ably be more effective.  Drugs such as  toxin-conjugated  antibod


ies which target the activated T cells and the T cells  with  the


receptors specific for MBP are being developed  by  a  number  of


companies.  The induction of  oral tolerance to  MBP  by  feeding


patients the whole protein has also shown great promise (Selected 


reading, Weiner et al.).   Similarly  this  is  being  tried  for


rheumantoid arthritis by feeding individuals collagen.


     One obstacle to  treatment  of  neurological  disorders  has


already been overcome.  Getting  drugs  across  the  blood  brain


barrier, BBB.  The BBB does not  allow  large  molecule  to  pass


across it.  T cells get there only because they are activated and 


are able to induce their transport across the barrier,  transient



                           24






 


ly.  Several companies, Alkermes and Cambridge Neuroscience, have 


been able to target receptors at the BBB with antibodies and have 


gotten drugs to pass into the brain.  Therefore,  drugs  such  as


antibodies, cytokines or peptides may be targeted across the  BBB


where they can be effective.  One cytokine which may be used  for


the treatment of neurological defects or for  the  prevention  of


neurological defects due to ischemic injury is nerve  growth  fac


tor, NGF.  NGF has been shown to protect neurons  from  apoptosis


(a form of programmed cell death).  Nerve growth factor  is  also


being explored for its ability to inhibit  neuron  death  in  the


case of brain trauma.  Cephalon produces NGF as a nerve protector 


and has been targeting the BBB as well.


     Molecular surgery for the treatment of brain tumors  may  be


possible soon as well.   Retroviruses  with  the  Herpes  Simplex


Virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk)  were  introduced  into  rat


brain tumors by HSV-tk-transfected fibroblasts.   The  rats  were


then treated with a drug that will kill  a  cell  containing  the


HSV-tk gene,  gancyclovir.   Complete  tumor  regression  was  ob


served.


     New drugs are being produced by biotechnology for the  treat


ment of peripheral nerve abnormalities  as  well.  Ciliary  neuro


trophic factor (CNTF) is now in clinical trials  for  amyotrophic


lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's  disease).   Regeneron  is


now finishing phase II clinical trials.  This  protein  drug  has


been shown to inhibit apoptosis (programmed cell  death)  in  neu


rons.  Interestingly, the gene responsible for familial  ALS  has


been shown to be the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase  gene.   The  pro


duct of this gene protects cells from  radicals.   Free  radicals



                           25






 


are chemical agents that induce damage in  the  cells  molecules,


such as their DNA.  Furthermore, a protein which is  believed  to


monitor DNA integrity, p53,  is  involved  in  the  induction  of


apoptosis.  It may be that CNTF will  inhibit  the  apoptosis  in


duced by this gene by this mechanism.  Phase II  clinical  trials


for CNTF have been disappointing, in most cases  showing  no  dif


ferences between treatment and control groups.  Although  it  has


been shown to be safe, antibodies to CNTF  developed  in  all  pa


tients.  Furthermore, some patients  developed  elevated  tempera


ture, diarrhea, cold sores, and anorexia.  One group of  patients


patients in the Regeneron study may  have  shown  a  response  to


CNTF.  Those given high doses  (12  patients)  demonstrated  less


deterioration of muscle strength (72%) and lung function (44-69%) 


than the group that  received  the  placebo  (14  patients).   It


should be pointed out that the original study was composed of 240 


patients: one third was to receive 30æg/kg of CNTF, one third was 


to receive 15æg/kg, and one third was to recive a  placebo.   The


phase III clinical trials are designed for a 95%  probability  of


determinng if CNTF is effective.  Synergen an Syntex are planning 


phase II/III studies of CNTF.  So far, the side effects  are  the


same as those observerd in  the  Regeneron  study.   BDNF  (brain


derived neurotrophic factor) is also currently  being  considered


by Amgen and Regeneron for treating ALS.  It has  been  shown  to


protect neurons as well.  Other drugs which  will  decrease  radi


cals in cells are also being explored.  Vitamins C and E will  do


this as well.    




  Biomedicine:Cancer therapy.......................#



                           26






Biomedicine:cancer therapy




     Many new approaches to the treatment  of  cancer  are  under


investigation by modern biotechnology.  Drugs which kill dividing 


cells are the most frequently  used  today.   These  non-specific


drugs have the problem of killing many normal cells  as  well  as


tumor cells.  Most notably, they kill lymphocytes.   Furthermore,


tumor cells often become resistant  o  these  drugs  by  the  up-


regulation of a multiple drug resistance gene.  This leads to the 


overproduction of P-glycoprotein and the resistance  to  a  large


number of chemotherapeutic  agents.   Therefore,  new  approaches


should be more specific for the cell type,  will  hopefully  have


less toxic side effects, and  be  less  prone  to  multiple  drug


resistance.  The goal is to be more specific and  more  efficient


at killing tumor cells.  This  is  being  approached  at  several


levels:  cell  surface  growth  factor  receptors,  intracellular


second messengers for growth factor receptors, and the  transcrip


tion of nuclear  oncogenes,  the  introduction  of  normal  tumor


suppressor genes  and new methods of immunotherapy.  Drugs  which


are targeting the activation  domains  of  tyrosine  kinases  are


being developed by a number of the above mentioned  methods.   It


is hoped that drugs which are  very  specific  for  the  tyrosine


kinases responsible for altered signaling in cancer cells will be 


found.  For example, drugs which will target SH2 and SH3  domains


of a cell-type specific tyrosine kinase would be more useful than 


drugs which inhibit any dividing cell.   Drugs which inhibit  Ras 


oncogenes are being studied  by  a  number  of  companies.   Most


recently, Merck Research  Laboratories  in  West  Point,  PA  and


 



                           27






Genentech, Inc. of S. San Francisco, CA, have  been  looking  for


drugs that inhibit the post-translational modification of the ras 


oncogenes.  In order to function efficiently, the  ras  oncogenes


require membrane  association  via  a  farnesyl  group.   Several


custom drugs have been found by these groups which  will  act  in


low concentrations (micromolar).  Furthermore,  no  toxicity  has


been found yet in vitro.  Ligand Pharmaceuticals of San Diego, CA 


is another company  developing  small  molecules  with  propriety


technology which target intracellular receptors (IR) for  hormone


receptors.  Targeting the ligands for growth factor receptors  is


being preformed by a number of biotechnology companies  as  well.


Antagonists, soluble receptors,  or  neutralizing  antibodies  to


the ligands which cause the aberrant growth of  cells  are  being


sought and developed.  The  aberrant  production  or  control  of


transcription factors has been shown to cause the  transformation


of many cell types.  Therefore, an approach with great promise is 


to find a method of inhibition  of  these  aberrantly  controlled


transcription factors.  Oncogene Sciences has made  a  commitment


to this and have developed diagnostic reagents for translocations 


involved in leukemia and is focusing a large part  of  their  com


pany's effort on transcription factors.   Furthermore,  the  have


developed diagnostic reagents  for mutations in the ras oncogene. 


This oncogene is involved in  a  number  of  aggressive  malignan


cies.   


     Tumor suppressor genes are now a very active area of  cancer


research.  These are genes which normally inhibit the  growth  of


cells; the loss of their  function  causes  transformation.   The


retinoblastoma protein (RBP), p105  and  p53  examples  of  these


 



                           28






genes.  Transfection of transformed cells with a  wild  type  p53


has been shown to cause the reversion of these cells to a  normal


phenotype.  Onyx Pharmaceuticals is committed to  the  production


of "small molecule therapeutics for cell growth  and  differentia


tion".  This California company  was  formed  in  1992  from  the


molecular oncology group of Cetus, Corp. and it  is  financed  by


three venture capital firms  and  Chiron,  Corp.    The  will  be


specifically targeting the ras gene  superfamily  and  tumor  sup


pressor genes.   Genetic therapy for lung cancer is being  consid


ered as well.  A retrovirus containing the antisense  k-ras  gene


or wild type p53 will be used to attempt the  transfer  of  these


genes to the tumor cells to regulate their growth. 


     New cancer treatments based upon  immunotherapy  have  shown


alot of promise recently.   As  mentioned  above,   some  T  cell


adhesion receptors are involved in signal transduction.  This  is


the CD28 molecule and the B7 ligand.  This interaction  is  neces


sary for the efficient generation of cytotoxic T cells.   Cytotox


ic T cells are involved in the removal of virus-infected cells as 


well as the rejection of tumors and  grafts.   This  molecule  or


modifications of similar B7 binding molecules (CTLA4Ig) have been 


used to prevent graft rejection and to generate cytotoxic T cells 


which cause rejection of tumors in mice.     


     Transfection of effector T cells with genes that encode  the


T cell receptors (TCR) which  recognize  tumor-specific  antigens


have demonstrated success in a limited number of cases.   Specifi


cally, a lymphoma caused by  the  Epstein-Barr  virus  (EBV).   T


cells from a sibling were transfected with the TCR genes and then 


administered to the patient.   Other treatments are  being  devel


 



                           29






oped for other tumors with the same approach:  the  targeting  of


viral tumor antigens.  Targeting tumor specific antigens is  also


being considered for the treatment tumors  of  non-viral  origin.


Furthermore, processed peptides of  oncogenes  are  being  consid


ered.  The mutation of proto-oncogenes causes the formation of an 


oncogene and often a cancerous cell.  This can be a "single  hit"


of a "multiple hit", i.e the result of one oncogene or the result 


of several oncogenes.  Some oncogenes may  be  processed  by  the


cell and present the "oncogene-specific" peptide to autologous  T


cells.  For example, ras mutants have been considered.   Vaccines


are being attempted which will generate these T cells.


     Stem cells are progenitors of mature cells in the  organism.


There are many different types of stem cells.  These  cells  will


be useful for replacement cell therapy and  gene  therapy.   Stem


cells of the immune system are the most noteworthy at this  time.


These cells are capable of generating many mature cell  types  of


the immune system.  Cellpro, Inc. of Bothwell, WA has  been  able


to isolate hematopoietic stem cells.   Using  a  monoclonal  anti


body that defines a determinant CD34 (cluster of  differentiation 


number 34) they have isolated hematopoietc stem cells by positive 


selection with their patented CEPRATE system.  The patients  bone


marrow cells are labeled with the anti-CD34  monoclonal  antibody


and are then passed over a column that will bind  that  antibody.


The cells are then positively selected by washing them off of the 


column with an acid wash.  This removes the cells from the column 


and the antibody from the cells.  Applied Immune Sciences  has  a


similar cell separation system, the  AIS  MicroCELLector.   These


stem cells have also been grown with the use of stem cell  factor


 



                           30






(SCF) in vitro.  It has been found  that  the  administration  of


these stem cells to cancer patients after  treatment  with  drugs


such as  Cytoxan  and  Thiotepa  with  G-CSF  (granulocyte-colony


stimulating factor, Amgen's Neupogen) has significantly decreased 


their chemotherapy side effects.  GM-CSF (granulocyte  macrophage


colony stimulating factor, Immunex's Sargramostim) is also  under


investigation for these treatments.   A study is presently  being


performed with this protocol  followed  by  taxol  treatment  for


ovarian cancer.  Similar treatments are in phase I and  phase  II


clinical trials for non-Hodgkin's  lymphoma  and  breast  cancer.


CD34+ cells have also been used for allogeneic bone marrow  trans


plantation with good results.  Cellpro, Inc. is expected  to  get


half of this market.  Future prospects for  CD34+  cells  include


genetic engineering applications.  If these  cells  are  modified


with a gene to deliver a drug, they may be present  in  the  body


for a longer period of time than more differentiated cells.  TGF 


á3 (see Cardiovascular drugs) is also being developed for  cancer


therapy.  It will be used to  decrease  side  effects  caused  of


chemotherapeutic drugs, such as oral mucositis.   Oral  mucositis


is a painful wound healing disorder.






  Antisense........................................#


Antisense




     Antisense drugs are some of the most promising  drugs  which


are on the verge of an explosion in  use.   Prototypes  of  these


drugs have been used to: inhibit gene function for the  treatment


atherosclerosis in animals, inhibit tumor causing retroviruses in 



                           31








mice, inhibit oncogene transcription,  inhibit  of  virus  produc


tion, inhibit pigment production  in  flowers,  and  inhibit  the


breakdown of tomatoes.  Antisense compounds  aimed  at  papilloma


virus infections, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes  viruses  are


in several stages of development.  Enzo biochem has an  exclusive


antisense patent with the State University of  New  York,  but  a


number of companies are developing antisense drugs.  Isis is  now


in phase I clinical trials for human papilloma  virus  infection.


A disease thought to infect over six million women in the U.S.A.. 


Antisense compounds have been devised  which  inhibit  gene  tran


scription by triplex formation, mRNA translation, and  cause  the


breakdown of specific mRNAs.   Isis has also developed  antisense


compounds with their new patented "second  generation"  chemistry


that inhibit the ras  oncogenes,  specifically  c-Ha-ras.   These


antisense compounds were shown to  be  effective  against  cancer


cells by researchers  at  Isis.    Similar  oligonucleotides  are


being developed by Microprobe of Bothwell WA.  They  are  develop


ing nucleotide and protein drugs for the detection and  treatment


of conditions such as vaginitis.  Antisense compounds which  have


shown great promise recently have been developed  by  Gilead  Sci


ences.  C-5 propyne pyrimidine containing  antisense  oligonucleo


tides are ten times more potent than other  antisense  compounds.


These drugs make up a significant proportion  of  the  "designer"


drugs of modern biotechnology.  




  Transcription....................................#


Transcription





                           32






     The ability to specifically regulate genes  will  aid  condi


 


tions such as:  cancer,   genetic  disorders,  and  aging.   Tran


scription inhibitors are being developed  and  are  in  the  very


early stages of development.  Areas  to  be  targeted  for  these


compounds will include oncogene specific transcription factors of 


viral enhancer/promoters.   Oncogene Sciences has made  a  commit


ment to study transcription inhibitors for  anticancer  therapeut


ics.  A company that was formed  recently,  Tularik,  Inc.,  will


look for transcription inhibitors as drugs.  Steven McKnight  has


formed Tularik, Inc. with Robert Tjian of Univ. of Calif.,  Berke


ley and David Goeddel  of Genentech.  Tularik, Inc. will focus on 


inhibitors of transcription for these drugs.  The  first  targets


for drugs will be viruses such as herpes  viruses.   Drugs  which


enhance transcription of specific genes are also being developed. 


Vertex, Inc. has licenesed the use  of  small  organic  molecules


from Children's Hospital Oakland which enhance the  transcription


of fetal hemoglobin.  Fetal hemoglobin is not  normally  utilized


by adult cells.  It has a slightly  higher  affinity  for  oxygen


than adult hemoglobin which aids the transplacental  transfer  of


oxygen.  The gene is  not  actively  transcribed  in  the  adult.


These organic molecules, one administered orally  and  the  other


intravenously, potentiate the transcription of this  silent  gene


in adults.  These molecule will be used to treat  the  hemoglobin


disorders, á-thalassemia and  sickle  cell  anemia.   Fetal  hemo


globin has been shown to benefit these patients.  Vertex, Inc. is 


committed to rational-drug design. 







                           33










  Splicing.........................................#


Splicing z


     Splicing is the process used by Eukaryotic cells to combine 


gene segments into a functional mRNA for translation.  Eukaryotic 


genes are often separated on the DNA chromosome by "untranslated 


regions" called Introns.  To join the translated regions (the 


Exons), the large RNA transcript is "spliced" to produce a func 


tional mRNA for translation into protein.  This process is being 


targeted by a number of companies to produce a number of products 


including better agricultural products and AIDS therapeutics.  


For example, the alteration of the normal splicing process could 


inhibit gene translation.  Furthermore, the production of novel 


"spliceosomes" could destroy viral RNA, such as HIV RNA.  Ribo 


zyme Pharmaceuticals of Denver, CO, a biotech startup company of 


United States Biochemical Corp.,  is one company involved in this 


research.  They currently have are working with DowElanCo to 


produce better agricultural products, such as a disease-resistant 


corn and a corn which produces more oil.  Innovir Laboratories of 


New York, NY is cleaving target RNA with the enzyme RNAase-P 


attached to specific sequences.  They are currently interested in 


blocking viruses and disease causing proteins.




  Cell cycle.......................................#


Cell Cycle.




     The process of cell division, or proliferation takes dis 


crete steps.  Through an ordered progression of stages a cell 



                           34






divides.  In these steps, the cell synthesizes new proteins, DNA, 




and other macromolecules.  The cell cycle is most simply divided 


into the stages: G0 (G stands for gap), G1A, G1B, S (Synthesis, 


DNA), G2, and M (mitosis).  Most cells of an organism are in the 


the G0 stage.  Mitogens or growth factors move the cell out of 


this stage and into the G1A stage.  It is at this step that many 


of the drugs aimed at transcription factors and growth factor- 


associated protein kinases are founded.  See the section on 


cancer therapy.  TGF-ás inhibit cell division in late G1 stage.  


The retinoblastoma gene product and p53 are examples of tumor 


suppressor genes that act at the G1/S boundry.  Mutation of these 


genes is associated with several malignancies.  Gene therapies 


based upon the introduction of a non-mutated or wild type RB or 


p53 are being tried as a cancer treatment.  See cancer therapy 


above.  Other portions of the cell cycle are being targeted by a 


number of companies.  See transcription above.  One company spe 


cifically devoted to cell cycle-based therapeutics is Mitotix, 


Inc..  






  Biomedicine:Virology.............................#


Biomedicine: Virology:


     Antiviral compounds will be highly profitable for modern 


biotechnology and are under intense investigation. As already de 


scribed, viruses are obligate intracellular organisms, they must 


replicate in living cell.  This is because they  require energy 


production from the cell as well as its macromolecule synthetic 


machinery.  Since these functions are required by the cell as 



                           35






well, these functions are difficult to target for antiviral 


compounds because normal cell function is disrupted.  An antivir 




al compound must be created which interrupts virus specific 


functions.  This will depend on the type of virus and often on 


the specific virus.  This is in contrast to anti-bacterial agents 


such as penicillin or streptomycin.  These agents act on compon 


ents specific for  bacteria and will act on many different bacte 


ria.  The life cycle for a virus is: adsorbance, penetration,  


uncoating, replication and/or latency, packaging, and maturation 


and release.  These are the stages that are targeted for antivir 


al compounds.  Adsorbance is the step most often targeted.  This 


is accomplished with the induction of antibodies by vaccines, as 


mentioned above.  Other methods for blocking virus adsorbance 


include the recent use of soluble CD4 (sCD4) to block the adsor 


bance of HIV to T cells as an AIDS treatment.  Replication is 


also targeted for antiviral compounds.  This approach is depend 


ent upon the type of virus.  Retroviruses,  RNA viruses which 


must integrate in to DNA to replicate, utilize a virus-specific 


enzyme for replication.  This enzyme, reverse transcriptase, 


transcribes DNA from the virus's RNA.  This is the target of AZT, 


ddI, and ddC.  Although AZT has been shown to prolong life for 


AIDS patients, it has been disappointing that there is no dif 


ference in the patients who have been treated before ARC (AIDS- 


related complex).  AZT apparently has a "limited benefit for a 


limited period of time".  Furthermore, a recent panel of inde 


pendent experts does not recommend AZT therapy to people with 


extremely low CD4 counts.  Healthy individuals have CD4 counts 


ranging from 800-1200 and people infected with the HIV virus have 



                           36






CD4 counts in the 200-500 range.  A new formulation of drugs 


which also targets reverse transcriptase has been devised recent 




ly by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital that incorpo 


rates 3 reverse transcriptase drugs, U-90,152.  It contains all 


three of the above mentioned drugs, AZT (zidovudine), ddI (diano 


sine) and ddC (zalcitabine).  This is very potent in the labora 


tory.  There was data to suggest that it may be difficult for the 


virus to mutate and become resistant to this combination.  Howev 


er, recent reports have claimed that HIV is able to mutate after 


20-30 generations in the laboratory.  This type of convergence 


therapy is also being developed by Merck for HIV.  They are 


conducting clinical trials with a two-drug combination which 


utilizes the same principles.  Antisense compounds are also being 


used to target viruses.  These drugs can be specific for mRNAs of 


viruses and block the production of virus specific proteins or be 


targeted toward DNA of the virus and inhibit the transcription of 


specific mRNAS.  Gene therapy approaches may prove to be fruitful 


here as well, and some adeno-associated virus vectors with anti 


sense HIV genes have been tried and have been shown to work in 


vitro.  Genta has an antisense drug for the treatment of acute 


leukemia caused by the HTLV I virus.  This has been shown to work 


in mice.     Isis has an antisense drug for human papilloma 


viruses and others are being developed for HIV, CMV, and Herpes 


viruses.   The antisense drug for human papilloma virus is in  


pivotal phase II clinical trials.  A patent has also been issued 


to them to them for Epstein-Barr virus infections.  A herpes 


virus that infects over 80% of the worlds population.  This 


antisense drug is directed at EBNA-1, a gene that is expressd in 



                           37






some lymphomas, leukoplakias, and carcimonas.  Gilead Sciences, 


Inc. has a new powerful antisense drug which is ten times more 




effective than those previously used.  Abbott Laboratories of 


Illinois have developed a drug for treatment of HIV infection 


which targets the maturation step of the virus.  HIV requires a 


dimer of a protease molecule  for maturation.  Abbott Laborato 


ries has designed a symmetrical molecule which as a high affinity 


for the active site of this molecule, thus blocking maturation of 


the virus (C2 inhibitor).  The AIDS virus, HIV, has also been 


implicated in programmed cell death, apoptosis.  L. Montagnier, 


the discoverer of the HIV virus, has suggested the use of anti- 


apoptotic agents along with antiviral agents for the prolongation 


of life in AIDS as well.  These agents include:  vitamin C, 


vitamin E, N-acetyl-cysteine, and superoxide dismutase.  Retinoic 


acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A has also been shown to 


inhibit apoptosis in T cells (see selected reading).


     Gene therapy approaches to the inhibition the transcription 


of viral genes and the maturation of viruses are also being 


attempted.  Several approaches are being attempted.  What seems 


fruitful recently has been the targeting of antibodies to virus 


products to specific intracellular locations.  So far, a modified 


antibody has been targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).  


The ER is the intracellular organelle which begins post-transla 


tional modification of proteins.  An antibody directed against 


gp160 of the HIV was placed in a DNA vector.  Transfection of 


cells with this DNA construct has been shown to inhibit matura 


tion of the HIV virion.  Other intracellular targets are being 


investigated for this virus (and other viruses), as well.  Fur 



                           38






thermore, other peptides and antibodies may be found by screening 


techniques such as those described in the drug discovery section. 




  Biomedicine:Cardiovascular drugs.................#


Biomedicine: cardiovascular drugs:   


     Cardiovascular drugs have been under development by modern 


biotechnology companies.  Transforming growth factor-ás (TGF-ás) 


(Genentech:TGF-á1, Celtrix: TGF-á2, and Oncogene Sciences:TGF- 


á3), are members of a family of over 18 proteins.    TGF-ás have 


pleotropic effects on many cell types including immune cells and 


fibroblasts.  They are involved in immune memory, immune suppres 


sion and wound healing.  TGF-ás have been shown to mediate cardi 


ac protection after ischemic injury.  The protective effect is 


thought to be due to the inhibition of TNF (tumor necrosis fac 


tor) secretion by lymphocytes after ischemic injury.  Antisense 


oligonucleotides (Genta) are some of the newer cardiovascular 


drugs which have shown promise.  Specifically, antisense oligonu 


cleotides for the c-myb oncogene have been shown to inhibit 


closure of the arteries after angioplasty. 


     Blood substitutes are being developed by Somatix.  Artifi 


cial blood products is one of the major new biotechnology pro 


ducts of this company.  




  Biomedicine:Wound healing........................#




Biomedicine:Wound Healing


     Wound healing is a complicated process involving  the  fibro


basts, epidermal cells, and the immune  system.   Future  use  of


modern biotechnology will  utilize  cytokines  to  promote  wound



                           39






healing in people who cannot heal properly and to grow  skin  for


transplants to severe disruptions in skin integrity, such  as  in


 


burn patients.  The TGF-ás are involved in would  healing  (Genen


tech:TGF-á1,  Celtrix:  TGF-á2,  and  Oncogene  Sciences:TGF-á3).


Oncogene Sciences, Inc. is developing  the  use  of  TGF-á3  with


Pfizer, Inc. and Ciba Geigy, Limited for the treatment of healing 


disorders such as oral mucositis which occurs after  chemotherapy


and wound healing in aged individuals.  




  Drug production..................................#


DRUG PRODUCTION:


     Advances in  biotechnology  has  spurred  and  demanded  new


methods of drug production.  Bacteria have been used for years to 


produce recombinant proteins for pharmaceutical  use.   The  most


notable of these is  insulin.    Baculovirus  systems  have  been


recently developed and used for the production of drugs in vitro. 


Baculoviruses grow in insect cell lines which grow  very  rapidly


in culture.  These cells are used for the production of  recombin


ant proteins from  eukaryotic  (non-bacteria)  organisms.   These


cells  are  capable  of  post-translational  modifications,  like


glycosylation.  Therefore, the recombinant protein grown in these 


cells generally has a better bioactivity than those  produced  in


bacteria.  The most recent addition for methods  of  drug  produc


tion developed by modern  biotechnology  are  transgenic  animals


which produce pharmaceuticals in their milk.   Goats,  cows,  and


pigs are being developed which produce specific  pharmaceuticals.


Genepharming Europe BV,  is developing cows that produce a  human


antimicrobial protein in their milk, lactoferrin.  Pharmaceutical 



                           40






Proteins of Edinburg is developing  transgenic  sheep  that  will


produce human alpha-1  antitrypsin  in  their  milk.   Transgenic


 


goats are being developed by Genzyme Transgenics, a subsidiary of 


Genzyme, that will produce CFTR  in  their  milk.   CFTR  is  the


defective protein in the disease cystic fibrosis.  So  far,  only


microgram quantities can be produced in these goats.   They  hope


amounts suitable for clinical use  can  be  produced  within  the


decade.  See the drug delivery section below.   Transgenic plants 


are another method by which modern biotechnology products will be 


produced.  See the agriculture section below.




  Drug delivery....................................#


Drug Delivery


     Any compound conceived of or discovered by the above  method


requires a delivery system to be realized as a  commercial  bioac


tive molecule.  A drug delivery system  includes  the  method  of


application of the drug to  the  organism,  the  method  of  cell


uptake, and stabilization of the compound for efficient delivery. 


This delivery can take the form of a virus, an antibody,  a  modi


fied antibody, a chemical or a selected binding peptide.  Seragen 


is developing fusion toxins which target activated  T  cells  via


the IL 2 receptor.  So far,  this  treatment  will  be  used  for


rhematoid  arthritis,  certain  cancers  (chemotherap   resistant


lymphomas) type I  diabetes,  and  HIV  infection.   Furthermore,


idiotype vaccines (killed MBP-reactive T cells are used to  immun


ize against MS) have shown some promise and are in  phase  I  tri


als.  Derivatives of antibodies which are  reduced  in  size  are


being developed for enhanced  drug  delivery  (Creative  Biomolec



                           41






ules) and Single Chain Antigen Binding  (SCA(TM))  technology  is


being developed by Enzon.  These  smaller  molecules  are  better


able to penetrate tumor tissues.  Viral vectors have already been 




used to treat disease and several studies will be undertaken very 


shortly.  So far, human  gene  therapy  has  involved  retroviral


vectors only.  For example, a  crippled  retrovirus  with  a  the


adenine deaminase gene inserted in it has been used for treatment 


of some cases of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).  Future 


gene therapy will most likely include the use  of  other  vectors


such as herpes virus vectors and adeno-associated  virus  vectors


as well as retroviruses.    An adenovirus based gene therapy  has


been approved for use in cystic fibrosis.   Studies are  underway


to deliver drugs by transfection of blood and cells with the gene 


therapy.  PEGnology has been one of the most fruitful drug  deliv


ery systems of the last decade.  Drugs are attached  to  polyethy


lene glycol and this gives them better stability  and  solubility


properties.  This has been used for IL 2, soluble CD4 (sCD4), and 


many other proteins.  Enzon has an orph n  drug  patent  on  PEG-


glucocerebrocidase for the treatment of Gauchers disease.   Trans


dermal drug delivery is now  being  used  to  delivery  of  drugs


through the skin by osmosis and electric currents.  The e  "high-


tech" systems are showing promise for the  controlled  continuous


delivery of drugs.






  Improvement of agricultural products.............#


Improvement of Agricultural Products:





                           42






     Plants are now in a "third  wave  of  plant  biotechnology".


The "first wave" was to produce plants  with  improved  agronomic


traits, such as disease and herbicide resistance.  Kirin  Brewery


of Japan has spent 2.5 million dollars for  Calgene,  a  Campbell


 


soup company,  to develop  disease  resistant  potato  seedlings.


Calgene has also developed BXN cotton which is resistant  to  the


herbicide bromoxynil.  Furthermore, attempts are  being  made  to


place antibody genes in tobacco plants at Scripps Research  Insti


tute in La Jolla, California as a new form  of  transgenic  plant


which produces its own  pesticide.   Antisense  genes  for  plant


viruses are being developed as  well.   The  bean  yellow  mosaic


virus (BYMV) antisense gene is hoped to protect  ornamental  flow


ers and   legumes  against  the  virus.    Genetically  modifying


agricultural products to produce bacterial toxins is one approach 


to reducing  the  use  of  conventional  insecticides.   Bacillus


thuringiensis delta toxins have been used  to  transform  several


crops and impart pest resistance to them.  Plant  genetic  materi


als (PGMs) from plants resistant to disease are used  to  produce


new plants that are resistant to disease.     Ribozyme  Pharmaceu


ticals is developing a corn which is more  resistant  to  disease


using their splicing technology.   The  "second  wave"  of  plant


biotechnology was to produce  altered  plants  with  better  food


processing traits, such as slowing down the ripening of  tomatoes


with antisense transgenes.  This was accomplished by Calgene, who 


developed the "Flavr Savr tomato".   Calgene has also developed a 


non-antisense or co-suppression recombinant DNA method to control 


tomato ripening that will  be  useful  in  many  different  plant


species.  This method of "Ethylene Control" utilizes  a  DNA  con



                           43






struct for the introduction of an enzyme that controls  ripening.


A U.S. patent was granted to Calgene for this method of "Ethylene 


control" in July of 1993.    Furthermore, a corn  which  produces


more oil is being developed  by  Ribozyme  Pharmaceuticals.   The


 


"third wave" of  plant  biotechnology  is  yielding  plants  that


produce phamaceuticals,  specialty  chemicals,  and  biopolymers.


This is being attempted  by  a  number  of  companies,  including


Monsanto and Biosource Genetics Corp.   Monsanto  has  transgenic


tobacco plants that produce à-amylase and Michigan State  Univers


ity, in collaboration with Miescher Institute in  Basel,  Switzer


land have produced  turnips  which  produce  human  à-interferon.


Future modifications of plants will include plants that use  less


fertilizer, improvement of nitrogen fixation or the  creation  of


nitrogen fixing non-legume plants.  Steps toward this  goal  have


been the determination of the structure of  enzymes  involved  in


nitrogen fixation and the induction of  nodules  on  non-nitrogen


fixing plants which may one day hold microbes capable  of  fixing


nitrogen, like legumes.  Ornamental plants may undergo  a  transi


tion induced by modern biotechnology.  The luciferase  gene,  the


gene that causes fire-flies to emit light, has been  successfully


transfected into plants.  This may one day lead to a  new  genera


tion of ornamental plants that emit light.  So far, however, the 


chemical substrate for luciferase.


     Genetic engineering of livestock has been  undertaken  by  a


number of companies with  limited  success  so  far.   Transgenic


cattle with a leaner meat are  being  attempted.    Genetic  Engi


neering of Colorado has attempted to create cattle transgenic for 


the chicken myosin gene.   This has  not  been  successful,  yet.



                           44






Although the gene was inserted and the chicken gene was made, the 


animal developed muscle weakness early in life and was "put down" 


at a very young age.




  Biological control...............................#


BIOLOGICAL CONTROL


     Biological control with techniques of  modern  biotechnology


is being investigated for the maintenance  of  biodiversity,  the


control of pests, and prevention of the transmission  of  disease


to humans.  For example, recombinant vaccines have been developed 


to vaccinate wild animals against the  rabies  virus.  Biological


control of pests with infectious agents is  being  attempted  for


vermin of  agricultural  products.   Parasitic  wasps  are  being


examined for the control of caterpillars which destroy  a  number


of crops.  Fungi which  infect  onion  worm  larvae  are  another


example of an approach  to  biological  control  of  agricultural


products.  Furthermore, bacterial toxins are  being  investigated


for the control of insects as an alternative to insecticides (See 


the improvement of agricultural  products  section).   Biological


control of organisms in order to  preserve  biodiversity  is  now


being scrutinized in Australia to preserve the  numbats,  an  Aus


tralian marsupial.  However, this approach  has  reasonably  been


questioned.  Since this approach will  sterilize  red  foxes  and


rabbits with viruses, the fear of the escape of  these  organisms


from Australia and the  sterilization  of  world  populations  of


these two organisms is a reasonable concern.  




  Marine biotechnology.............................#


MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY



                           45






     Current interests of marine  biotechnology  include  develop


ment of fish which are resistant to disease  and  with  desirable


growth characteristics, new treatments  for  fish  diseases,  and


diagnosis of fish illnesses.  Breeding fish with  desired  traits


 


is being approached by  classical  genetic  methods  and  by  new


technologies like the introduction of transgenes.  The release of 


transgenic fish into the environment is now being  considered  by


scientists and environmentalist groups.    The  national  biotech


nology center at the National Wildlife Federation is  an  environ


mental group that is considering this proposal.  The Agricultural 


Biotechnology Research Advisory Committee (ABRAC)  is  developing


safety standards.  Treatment and diagnosis of fish diseases is an 


active interest of biotechnology, particularly for  domestic  pro


duction of fish.  Fish ponds and holding pens are  used  for  the


farming of fish for human consumption.   These  environments  are


unnatural and lead to the rapid dissemination of disease.   There


fore, methods of early detection and treatment are  required  for


these environments.  For  example,  Mirologix  Biotech,  Inc.  is


developing detection kits and treatments  for:  Bacterial  kidney


disease (Renibacterium  salmonianrum),  Furunculosis,  (Aeromonas


spp.), Vibrosis (Vibrio), and Red-mouth  disease  (Yersinia  ruck


eri).  










  Improvement of the environment...................#


IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT:



                           46








     Improvements in the environment which can be the  result  of


modern biotechnology will obviously include: clean  water,  photo


synthesis, O2 production and C02 utilization, and  removal  toxic


pollutants. Japan Research Development Corp.  has  committed  $15


 


million over 5 years to Michigan State University for  the  devel


opment of microbes to improve the environment.  Many other  compa


nies have been involved  in  this  research  as  well.   Previous


successes have included genetically modified bacteria for  digest


ing hydrocarbons.


     Biodiversity and the maintenance and/or repair  of  the  eco


system are of current interests to the world and the  biotechnolo


gy industry as well.  There have  been  significant  setbacks  re


cently, however, and these are in part due to  the  biotechnology


industry in the United States of America.  The United  States  of


America hesitated at  the  recent  summit  on  the  "Biodiversity


Treaty" and it was not signed by the  United  States  of  America


even though 98 countries adopted it.  The Clinton  administration


has now signed it and it is waiting to be ratified by the senate. 


The United States of America was concerned  that  the  treaty  is


merely an attempt to co-opt a technology that they  already  domi


nate, biotechnology.  The explanation for their failure  to  sign


the treaty is that its uncertain compulsory licensing scheme  may


defeat its own purpose, causing  a  greater  destruction  of  the


current biodiversity.  However, there is now a controversy  about


whether to charge the West royalties for the use of  PGMs  (plant


genetic materials) from developing countries.   This  demand  has


been increased recently in the wake of the  biodiversity  treaty.



                           47






The maintenance of  biodiversity  and  the  world  ecosystems  is


likely to require drastic measures which protect  our  biological


resources and our biotechnology  industries.   The  Biotechnology


industry is likely to play a large role in maintaining biological 


diversity as well as creating a better living environment.


     The identification of a new taxol source is an example of  a


recent success  the  biotechnology  industry.   Environmentalists


have been concerned that the Pacific yew tree would be wiped  out


by the isolation of taxol from it.  Now a  new  source  has  been


identified, the fungus Taxomyces  andreanae.   Cytoclonal  Pharma


ceutical, Inc.  has recently agreed to commercialize this form of 


taxol.




ECONOMICS OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.................#


ECONOMICS OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY




     The biotechnology industry has suffered serious setbacks  in


1993.  This drop in stock prices for the  biotechnology  industry


has resulted from several blows to the industry: test results and 


the political climate.  Furthermore, drug prices have come  under


a great deal of scrutiny and are also affected by  the  political


climate as well as the structure of the health care centers.  The 


move toward managed care networks has created large purchasers of 


health care products.  These large purchasers are  forcing  compa


nies to developed breakthrough and cost-effective products.


     Test results have caused a major setback in the  biotechnolo


gy industry recently.  These have  resulted from drugs  targeting


the septic shock that can result  from  infection  of  the  blood


stream after illness, trauma,  or  surgery.   Centocor  and  Xoma



                           48






corporation were both developing a version of monoclonal  antibod


ies to endotoxin.   Endotoxin  is  the  component  gram  negative


bacteria responsible for  initiating  septic  shock.   Centocor's


"Centoxin-HA-1A" and Xoma's "E "  versions  of  these  antibodies




were aimed at  neutralizing  the  endotoxin.   Both  were  deemed


ineffective by the FDA on January 18, 1993 for  treating   septic


shock.  The second blow to drugs designed to  treat  sepsis  came


with the phase III clinical results of Synergen's  drug,  Antril.


Synergen's stock price loss was dramatic.   The  price  of  Syner


gen's stock dropped 28 points, from 42.125 to 14.125 in one  day,


February 22, 1993.  Antril is Synergen's preparation of an  antag


onist for interleukin 1 receptors called IL 1ra.   Interleukin  1


is secreted by the immune system in  response  to  components  of


bacteria and it initiates many of the symptoms of  septic  shock,


such as hypotension.  Administration of IL 1ra preparations, such 


as Antril, were to alleviate the effects of the IL 1  induced  by


the infections.  Phase II clinical trials  were  very  impressive


for Antril, treated patients exhibited 27% mortality  versus  64%


for those who received the placebo.  Phase  III  clinical  trials


were very poor, however, and this sent Synergen's stock  down  on


February 22, 1993.  Antril treated patients had a  29%  mortality


versus 34% for patients  who  received  a  placebo.   A  detailed


chronology of Synergen's Antril failure can be found in  appendix


B.  Soluble interleukin 1 receptor, developed by Immunex has also 


been deemed ineffective for septic shock.  Xoma  is  in  phase  I


clinical trials with another product  aimed  at  treating  septic


shock, RBI-23.  This compound is a recombinant version  of  human


BPI.  BPI, or bactercidal protein,  also  binds  IL  1  and  TNF.



                           49






Therefore, it may have the effect of both inhibiting  the  action


of the endotoxin induced IL 1 and TNF. 


     The political climate has also effected the  prices  of  bio


technology stocks.   There  has  been  an  uneasiness  about  the


 


healthcare reforms that the Clinton administration  will  be  ini


tiating.  The AMEX's biotechnology  index, BTK, fell  to  103  in


August of 1993 from January's price of 170 and the  CBOE's,  BGX,


stock index fell from 162 on December 31, 1992 to 101  in  August


of 1993.  However, the Clinton  administration  allocated  a  16%


increase to the National Science  Foundation  (NSF)  and  a  3.3%


increase to NIH.  Together with postive fellings about  the  Clin


ton Administration's "Healthcare Reform", the BTK and the BGX are 


recovering in October of 1993 at 134 and 130, respectively.


     Drug prices are also  affected  by  the  political  climate.


This in turn will naturally affect  drug  profitability  and  the


stock prices of pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.  A recent 


report from the Office of Technology  Assessment  said  that  the


market failed to control drug prices.   Furthermore,  drug  firms


have been accused of gouging the public.  U.S.  drug  prices  are


higher in the U.S.A., and the U.S. Senate has accused  the  indus


try of price-gouging.  They have claimed that the revenues of the 


pharmaceutical industry far  exceed  other  industries  and  that


market pressures do not affect the prices of  drugs.   Obviously,


all of this affects drug  prices.    Despite  these  price  criti


cisms, drugs have been shown to be the most cost-effective  thera


py and pharmaceutical firms invest more in research  and  develop


ment than any other industry, 16.7% or their  revenues.   Further


more, the PMA claims there must be potential for high  reward  to



                           50






justify the risk that pharmaceutical companies must take.   There


fore, any controls imposed  should not  stifle  drug  development


and  will have to take this into consideration.    The  U.S.  gov


ernment has supported this as well.  President  Clinton's  health


 


care reform has imported no price controls for the pharmaceutical 


industry.  An example of the biotechnology  industry  controlling


its own prices has occurred for transgenic  animals.   There  has


been an uproar recently about the prices of transgenic  mice  and


knock-out mice.  GenPharm of Mountain view,  CA  was  accused  of


charging  10 times  more  for  "knockout"  mice  than  non-profit


organizations.  The  president  of  GenPharm  told  the  National


Academy of Science recently that researchers can buy the breeding 


pairs and then breed as many as they want for an  annual  fee  of


$1000.  




INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY.........................#


INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY




     Keeping up with the biotechnology industry: news and  servic


es. There are  a  number  of  investment  newsletters  available,


several of which keep track of predominately biotechnology stocks 


(appendix C).  For general stock analysis,  "The   Chartist",  is


highly rated.  The AgBiotech  stock  letter,  Medical  Technology


Stock  Letter, and Sturza's Medical Investment Newsletter  mainly 


focus  on  medical-technology  companies.   Investing  often  has


interesting articles, but must be used with  caution.   For  exam


ple, in January of 1993 claimed that Synergen stock "was  nearing


the end of a long fall from its all time high  of  75".   As  men



                           51






tioned above, Synergen's stock fell  28  points  in  one  day  to


14.25, with a high of 19 for the day.  There are several  databas


es that can be found on-line.  Current Quotes and  the  Executive


News Service of CompuServe Information  Service  (CIS)  are  very


useful for tracking the daily activity of  biotechnology  stocks.


 


Several folders can be  made  to  track  biotechnology  news  for


inventions, results, and  company  reports.   Furthermore,  Smart


Scans and Knight-Ridder's Knowledge Index can be  found  on  CIS.


Knight-Ridder's  Dialog,  a  more  sophisticated  database,   has


several files which are useful for obtaining specific information 


on biotechnology.   See appendix B for a list of useful databases 


on Dialog.  Mead Data Central of Dayton, Ohio, which offers Lexis 


and Nexis services, was to allow individual users access in 1991. 


GEnie, the computer  service  of  General  Electric  also  offers


several useful databases similar to CIS.  Furthermore, they offer 


a gate to the Dow  Jones  News/Retrieval  service.   The  Prodigy


service can be used for retrieving stock quotes.  















                           52






INVESTING IN BIOTECHNOLOGY..............................#


INVESTING IN BIOTECHNOLOGY




     Investing in the biotechnology industry can be  very  profit


able.  In the last couple of years there have been a large number 


of "winners" in the market.  Immunex, Oncogene Sciences, Cellpro, 


and Biogen are all example of  this.   Immunex  is  now  part  of


American Cyanamid after a merger with the Lederle Oncology  Corpo


ration in June of 1993.  The recent fall of the  stock  price  of


several biotechnology  companies,  however,  has  introduced  the


possibility of loosing money by investing in biotechnology.   For


example, the fall of Synergen's stock by 70% in one  day  was  an


incredible unpredictable loss.  Obviously, care  must   be  taken


when investing in biotechnology today.    The  establishment  and


maintenance of a  successful  personal  portfolio  of  stocks  of


modern biotechnology  companies  will  require  intelligence  and


thought.  This can be done by being  informed  of  the  goals  of


individual biotechnology companies and their approaches to  devel


oping and producing their biotechnology goals.   Discount brokers 


can be found on most large computer services, such as  Quick  and


Reilly and Spear  Securities  on  CIS.   Alternatively,  one  can


invest in biotechnology investment funds.   One  fund  which  has


done well is  Global Health Sciences Fund of Denver, CO.  Through 


much of the slump in biotechnology prices described  above,  they


showed a $0.00/share loss.  They can be reached at (800) 528-8765 


or (303) 930-6521.






                           53






SELECTED READING........................................#

SELECTED READING:


Eisenberg, RS. 1992. Genes,  patents,  and  product  development.

Science 257:903-918. 


Marshall, E. 1991. The patent game: Raising  the  ante.   Science

253:20-24.  


Kiley, TD. 1992. Patents on random complementary DNA fragments?

Science 257:915-918.


Adler, RG. 1992. Genome Research: Fulfilling the  public's  expec

tations for knowledge and commercialization.  Scien e  257  :908-

914.


Amato, I. 1992. Speeding up a chemical game of  chance.   Science

257: 1992.


Anderson, C. 1993. Clinton's technology policy  emerges.  Science

259: 1244.


Science.  May 28, 1993.  AIDS: The unanswered questions.  Science 

260:1254-1285.


Erickson, J. et al. 1990.  Design,  Activity,  and  2.8  crystal

structure of a C2 symmetric  inhibitor  complexed  to  HIV-1  pro

tease.  Science 249:527-534.


Vagelos, PR. 1991.  Are perscription drug prices  high.   Science

252: 1080-1084.


Trends in Biotechnology


Saiki, RK, Gefland, DH, Stoffel, S, Scharf, SJ Higuchi, R,  Horn,

GT, Mullis, Erlich, HA. 1988. Primer-directed  enzymatic  amplifi

cation of  DNA  with  a  thermostable  DNA  polymerase.   Science

239:487-494.


Koff, WC and Hoth, DF.  1988.  Develoment  and  testing  of  AIDS

vaccines.  Science 241:426-432.


Geisow, MJ. 1993. Aching  for  approval,  hoping  for  harmony  -

biotech product regulation.  Trends in Biotechnology 10:107-110.


Liu,  DT-Y.  1993.  Glycoprotein  pharmaceuticals:scientific  and

regulatory considerations, and the US Orphan Drug Act.  Trends in 

Biotechnology 10:114-120.


Balter, M.  1991.   How  Europe  regulates  its  genes.   Science

252:1366-1368.


Friden, PM et al. 1993. Blood-Brain Barrier penentration in  Vivo

activity of and NGF conjugate.  Science 259:373-377.


Rosen, DR et al. 1993. Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 

SELECTED READING (CONTINUED):




                           54







gene are associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.


Gibbs, WW. 1993. Try, Try Again: Making antibodies more useful by 

making them more human.  Scientific American 269:101-103.


Kohl, NE et  al.  1993.  Selective  inhibition  of  ras-dependent

transformation  by  a  farnesyltransferase  inhibitor.    Science

260:1934-1937.


James, GL, 1993. Benzodiazepine  peptidomimetics:  Potent  inhibi

tors of ras fanesylation in animal cells.  Science 260:1937-1942.


Burk, DL, Barovsky, K, Monroy, GH.  1993.  Biodiversity  and  bio

technology. 1993.  Science 260:1900-1901.


Gougeon, M-L and L Montagnier. 1993. Apoptosis and AIDS.  Science 

260:1269-1270.


Ketajima, I. et al. 1992. Ablation  f  transplanted  HTLV-I  Tax-

transformed tumors in mice  by  antisense  inhibition  of  NF-KB.

Science 258:1792-1796.


Nature 359:67.  Antisense c-myb for athleroscerosis.


Hyde, SC. 1993. Correction of the ion transport defect in  cystic

fibrosis transgenic mice by gene therapy.  Nature 362:250.


Anderson, WF. 1992. Human gene therapy. Science 256:808-814.


Chatterjee, S et al. 1992. Dual-target  inhibition  of  HIV-1  in

Vitro by means of an  adeno-associated  virus  antisense  vector.

Science 258:1485.


Culver, KW et al. 1992. In Vivo  gene  transfer  with  retroviral

vector-producer cells for treatment of experimental brain tumors. 

Science 256:1550.


Trail, PA et al. 1993. Cure of Xenografted  human  carcinomas  by

BR96-Doxorubicin immunoconjugates.  Science 261:212-215.


Rabizadeh, S, J Oh, L-t Zhong, J Yang, CM Bitler, LL Butcher,  DE

Bredesen.  1993. Induction of apoptosis by the  low-affinity  NGF

receptor.  Science 261:345.


Anderson, WF. 1992. Human Gene Therapy. Science 256:808-814.


Golumbek, PT, AJ Lazenby, HI Levitsky, LM Jaffee, H KArasuyama, M 

Baker, DM Pardoll. 1991. Treatment of established renal cancer by 

tumor  cells  engineered  to  secrete  interleukin  4.    Science

254:713.



 SELECTED READING (CONTINUED):


Iwata, M, M Mukai, Y Nakal, and R Iseki. 1992. Retinoic acids

inhibit activation-induced apoptosis in  T  cell  hybridomas  and

thymocytes.  J. Immunol. 149:3302-3308.



                           55







Pietsch, T, U Kyas, U Steffens, E Yakisan, MR HAdam, W-D  Ludwig,

K Zsebo, and K Welte. 1992. Effects of human stem cell factor (c 

kit ligand) on proliferation of myeloid leukemia cells:  Heterero

geneity in response and synergy with other  hematopoietic  growth

factors.  Blood 80:1199-1206.


Betaseron Study.  April 1993. Neurology.


Lehner, T, LA Bergmeier, C Panagiotidi,  L  Tao,  R  Brookes,  LS

Klavinskis, P Walker, J Walker, RG Ward, L Husaain, AJH  Gearing,

adn SE Adams.  Induction of mucosal and systemic  immunity  to  a

recombinant  simian  immunodeficiency  viral   protein.    Nature

258:1365-1369.


Mervis, J.. 1993. Regulations go Swimmingly. Science 261:542.


Stone, R.. 1993.   Biotech  firm  licenses  taxol-making  fungus.

Science 261:543.


Stierle, A., G. Strobel,  D.  Stierle.  1993.  Taxol  and  Taxane

production by Taxomyes andreanae, endophytic fungus pacific yew.

Science 260:214.


Nijn, I, L das Neves, A van Kammen, H Franssen, and T  Bisseling.

1993. Nod factors and nodulation in plants.  Science 260:1764.


Palca, J. 1992. Testing target date looms, but will the  vaccines

be ready.  Science 257:1472.


Travis, J. Putting  antibodies  to  work  inside  cells.  Science

261:1113.


McGaughey, W.H. and M.E. Whalon.  1992.  Managing  insect  resist

ance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxins.  Science 258:1451.


Morell, V. 1993. Australian pest control by virus causes concern. 

Science 261:683.


Weiner, H.L., G. A Mackin, M. Matsui,  E.J.  Orav,  S.J.  Khoury,

D.M. Dawson, D.A. Hafler. 1993. Double-blind pilot trial of  oral

tolerization with myelin antigens in multiple sclerosis.  Science 

259:1321.


Zhang, J., R. Medaer, P. Stinissen, D. Hafler, and J. Raus. 1993. 

MHC-restricted depletion of human myelin basic protein-reactive T 

cells by T cell vaccination.  Science 261:1451.


Hsieh, C.-S., SE Macatonia, CS Tripp,  SF  Wolf,  A  O'Garra,  KM

Murphy. 1993. Development of  TH1  CD4+  T  cells  through  IL-12

produced by Listeria-induced macrophages.  Science 260:547-549.


Cohen, J.  T cell shift: Key to AIDS therap ?   Science  262:175-

176.







                           56






APPENDIX A..............................................#


                         APPENDIX A




The Overlapping Stocks of the CBOE and the AMEX are:


Amgen (AMGN)

Biogen (BGEN)

Centocor, Inc. (CNTO)

Chiron (CHIR)

Cytogen Corp. (CYTO)

Enzon, Inc. (ENZN)

Gensia Phamaceuticals (GNSA)

Genzyme Corp. (GENZ)

Greenwich Pharmaceuticals Inc. (GRPI)

*Immunex (IMNX)

Liposome Co. Inc. (LIPO)

Synergen (SYGN)

Xoma (XOMA)



*Immunex has been replaced by Immune Response Corporation on  the

AMEX due to a merger with American Cyanamid.




The AMEX's Biotechnology Index

BTK: Total Capitalization as of June 2, 1993 was 91.8 million.


Amgen (AMGN)

Genzyme Corporation (GENZ)

Biogen (BGEN)

Immune Response Corporation (IMNR)

Synergen, Inc. (SYGN)

Enzon, Inc. (ENZN)

Xoma Corporation (XOMA)

Gensia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (GNSA)

Cambridge Biotech Corp.

Liposome Company, Inc. (LIPO)

Centocor, Inc. (CNTO)

Chiron Corp. (CHIR)

Scios Nova, Inc. (SCIO)

Cytogen Corp. (CYTO)

Greenwich Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (GRPI)















                           57






APPENDIX B..............................................#

                         APPENDIX B


The following are quotes from the Denver Post concerning the fall 

of Synergen's stock price:


January 19, 1993


BIOTECH STOCKS WOBBLY:Synergen bounces on Centocor news.


January 28, 1993


HOAX POUNDS BIOTECH STOCKS:Synergen shares  plummet  after  false

drug-test report.


     "One person's hoax, based in impatience  or  perhaps  greed,

has sent the entire biotech industry reeling  and  the  stock  of

Boulder-based Synergen Inc. plunging"


     "...on Tuesday, someone  identifying  himself  as  a  doctor

involved n Synergen's study phoned in phony results to a  medical

newsletter.  Calling himself a physician from UCLA, he  said  the

drug known a Antril simply didn't work."


     "While the report was'nt true, it was enough to  sent  Syner

gen's stock dropping more than $6 per share."


     ""Unfortunately, rumors of this sort no matter how  specious

they may be are impossible  to  refute  definitively,  especially

when they're in such a vulnerable period"......."


     ""These rumors are illogical  and  spurious.   The  greatest

probability remains that the results (of Antril  tests)  will  be

very good.""


     .."The mess started  Tuesday  (1/26)  when  Evan  Sturza  of

Sturza's Medical Investment Letter received a call  from  a  "Dr.

Miller", who claimed to have participated in  the  University  of

California at Los Angeles arm of the study of Antril,  Synergen's

sepsis drug.""



February 18, 1993


SYNERGEN NET LOSS SURGES


     "Synergen Inc., a Boulder-based  biopharmaceutical  company,

reported more than a 1,000 percent increase in net loss  for  the

fourth quarter ....."


February 22, 1993


SYNERGEN STOCK PLUNGES 70%:Weak drug price sinks NASDAQ








                           58






APPENDIX C..............................................#

                         APPENDIX C




DIALOG DATABASES FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION


BIOBUSINESS:  Covers  current  and  retrospective   biotechnology

information for business professionals, Fi e  number  285,  1985-

present.


BIOCOMMERCE ABS  AND  DIRECTORY:  Abstract  records  and  company

profiles of the biotechnology business, Fi e  number  286,  1981-

present.


BIOTECHNOLOGY ABSTRACTS: Coverage of biotechnology  publications,

File 357, 1982-present


CLAIMS/REASSIGNMENT: Patents  that  have  been  reviewed  by  the

government and have been reassigned, File number 123.


DERWENT BIOTECHNOLOGY ABSTRACTS: File numbers 350 and 351.


DRUG INFORMATION FULLTEXT (DIF):File number 229.   Brief  descrip

tions of all new drugs approved by the FDA.   It  corresponds  to

AHFS drug information and the Handbook on Injectable drugs  publi

cations.


EMBASE: File numbers 72 (1974-present),  73  (1985-present),  272

(selected records from 8 weeks of 1989).


INVESTEXT:  Information  about  companies,  industry,  geographic

reports etc ,  File  numbers  545  (1982-present),   277   (1988-

present).


IMSWORLD R&D FOCUS: Latest Scientific and commercial developments 

in international pharmaceuticals, File number 445.


JAPIO: Japanese patents, File number 347


PATENTS: Full text of patents, File number 654.


PATFUL: United  States  of  America  Patents,  three  files:  654

(1990),  653 (1980-1989) and 652 (1971-1979).


PHIND: Pharmaceutical  and  healthcare  industry  news  database,

agriculture is covered as well, AGROW  and  Animal  Pharm.,  File

number 129.  


PREDICASTS: Newsletters classified by the industry,  it  includes

biotechnology, File numbers: 16 (1972-present), 216  (1988-1990),

636 (1988-present). 


UNLISTED DRUGS: File Number 140.







                           59









APPENDIX C (CONTINUED):



                      CompuServe Databases


DISCLOSURE


VALUE-LINE



                         GEnie Databases


VESTOR


Dow Jones/News Retrieval











































                           60






SHAREWARE...............................................#


INVESTMENTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY IS SHAREWARE: 


     The author has a Ph.D.  in  Microbiology/Immunology  and  ex

pects a $30.00 fee for use of this material.  Its last update was 

October 15, 1993.  Register your copy by sending $30.00 to   P.O.

Box 18978, Denver, CO 80218-0978.  The  institutional  and  corpo

rate rate for 10 or more copies is $20.00/copy.  Copyright, 1993. 

It is planned that this file will be updated  frequently.   There

is no charge for updates of the same whole number.  Updates  will

carry a $15.00 charge.  The author  can  be  reached  on  CIS  at

71240,2762.  
















































                           61






REGISTRATION............................................#

          REGISTRATION OF INVESTMENTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY Rel 1.63




REGISTRATION : Investments in biotechnology is being  distributed

on a SHAREWARE principle.  Each individual  user  is  responsible

for the registration of their copy if they decide to keep and use 

it.  



SEND MONEY ORDER OR CHECK TO:


                              P.O. Box 18978

                              Denver, CO 80218-0978




                                                             

                                                        TOTAL*


INDIVIDUAL (1-9 COPIES):  $30.00 EACH  _____ COPY(IES)  ______



ORGANIZATION (10+ COPIES):$20.00 EACH  _____   COPIES   ______







* A disk can be obtained for an additional $5.00.  A bound  print

out can be obtained for an additional $20.00.




























                           62






INDEX...................................................#

                         INDEX


Abbott, 13

Abbott Laboratories, 38

ABC, 4

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, 3

Actimmune, 3

Activase, 3

Acute leukemia, 37

Adenine deaminase, 42

Adeno-associated virus vectors, 37, 42

Adenovirus, 42

Adhesion molecules, 19

Adhesion receptor, 19

Adhesion receptors, 29

Adjuvant, 17, 18

Adsorbance, 36

Adult hemoglobin, 33

Aeromonas spp., 46

Affymax, 10

AgBiotech stock letter, 51

Aged, 40

Aging, 33

Agricultural, 45

Agricultural Products, 42

Agronomic traits, 42

AIDS, 3, 13, 15, 16, 18, 36, 38

AIDS treatment, 16

AIS MicroCELLector, 30

Alkermes, 25

Allergens, 18

Allergic, 18

AllerVAX, 18

Allograft rejection, 19

Alpha-1 antitrypsin, 40

Alpha-1 Biomedical, 16

ALS, 25, 26

American Cyanamid, 53, 58

American Stock Exchange, 4

AMEX, 4, 5, 50, 58

Amgen, 23, 26, 31

Amgen (AMGN), 58

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 23, 25

Angioplasty, 39

Antagonist, 49

Antagonists, 28

Anti-apoptotic agents, 38

Anti-bacterial, 36

Antibodies, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 25, 26, 36, 38, 41

Antibody, 13, 14, 15, 30, 38, 41

Antibody gene, 43

Anticancer therapeutics, 33

Antimicrobial, 40

Antisense, 31, 32, 37, 39, 43

Antisense drugs, 31

Antisense oligonucleotides, 39

Antisense patent, 32



                           63






Antiviral, 35, 36

Antiviral agents, 38

Antril, 49

APACHE III, 8

Apache III (TM) risk model, 8

APACHE III International Database, 8

APACHE III method, 8

APACHE III model, 8

APACHE method, 8

Apoptosis, 25, 26, 38

Applied Immune Sciences, 30

Armed service, 17

Arteries, 39

Artificial blood, 39

Association of Biotechnology Companies, 4

Atherosclerosis, 31

Autoimmune diseases, 19

AZT, 36, 37


B cell, 21

B cells, 21

B7, 19, 29

B7 ligand, 19, 29

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, 18

Bacteria, 36, 40, 47

Bacterial kidney disease, 46

Bacterial toxins, 45

Baculovirus, 17, 40

Baculoviruses, 40

BBB, 24, 25

BCG, 18

BDNF, 20, 26

Bean yellow mosaic virus, 43

Berlex, 23

Betaseron, 23, 24

BGX, 4, 50

BIO, 4, 5

Biocine, 17

Biodiversity, 45, 47

Biodiversity Treaty, 47

Biogen, 53

Biogen (BGEN), 58

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, 45

Biological diversity, 47

Biopolymers, 44

Biosource Genetics Corp, 44

Biotechnology, 12

Biotechnology index, 50, 58

Biotechnology Industry Organization, 4

Biotechnology stock index, 4

BioTropin, 3

Blood, 39

Bone marrow transplantation, 31

BPI, 49

Bradycor, 8

Brain derived neurotrophic factor, 26

Brain lesions, 24

Brain trauma, 25



                           64






Brain tumors, 23, 25

Breast cancer, 21, 31

Breast cancers, 3

Bristol-Myers Squibb, 18

Bromoxynil, 43

BTK, 5, 50, 58

BTX, 4

BXN, 43

BYMV, 43


C-5 propyne pyrimidine, 32

C-Ha-ras, 32

C-myb, 39

C02 utilization, 46

C2 inhibitor, 38

Cachectin, 22

Calgene, 42, 43

Cambridge Bioscience, 17

Cambridge Biotech Corp., 58

Cambridge Neuroscience, 25

Campbell soup company, 42

Cancer, 15, 20, 27, 31, 32, 33

Cancer cells, 27

Cancer therapy, 14, 26, 31

Cancer treatment, 29

Cancers, 14, 41

Carbohydrate, 17

Carbohydrates, 17

Carcimonas, 37

Cardiac, 39

Cardiovascular, 31, 39

Cardiovascular drugs, 39

Cats, 18

CATVAX, 18

CBOE, 4, 5, 50, 58

CD2, 19

CD28, 19, 29

CD34, 30

CD34+, 23, 31

CD34+ cells, 21

CD4, 16, 19, 36

CD5, 19

CD8, 19

Cell-Sci, 16, 23

Cellpro, 53

Cellpro

  Inc., 30, 31

Cellular immune response, 16

Cellular immunity, 17

Celtrix, 23, 39, 40

Centocor, 48

Centocor

  Inc. (CNTO), 58

Centoxin-HA-1A, 48

Central nervous system, 24

Cephalon, 25

CEPRATE, 30

Cetus, 11



                           65






Cetus

  Corp., 29

CFTR, 41

Chemotherapeutic, 27, 31

Chemotherapy, 23, 31, 40

Chicago Board Options Exchange, 4

Chicken, 44

Chicken myosin, 44

Children's Hospital Oakland, 33

Chiron, 17

Chiron

  Corp, 29

Chiron (CHIR), 58

Chiron Corp., 23

Chiron Corp. (CHIR), 58

Cholera toxin, 18

Ciba Geigy

  Limited, 40

Ciliary neurotrophic factor, 25

CIS, 51, 52, 53

Clinical trials, 7, 18

Clinton administration, 50

Cluster of differentiation, 30

CMV, 32, 37

CNTF, 6, 20, 25, 26

Co-suppression, 43

Colon cancer, 21

Colony stimulating factor, 21

Colorado, 44

Column, 30

Combined vaccine, 16

CompuServe, 61

CompuServe Information Service, 51

Convergence therapy, 37

Cortech, 8

Cotton, 43

Cows, 40

Creative Biomolecules, 41

CTLA4Ig, 19, 29

Culture, 40

Current Quotes, 51

Cyclosporin A, 18

Cystic fibrosis, 41, 42

Cytogam, 13

Cytogen, 15

Cytogen Corp. (CYTO), 58

Cytokine, 14, 20, 21, 22, 25

Cytokine combination, 23

Cytokine combinations, 23

Cytokines, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 39

Cytomegalovirus, 13, 32

Cytotoxic drugs, 14

Cytotoxic T cell, 29

Cytotoxic T cells, 19, 21, 29

Cytoxan, 31


Database, 52

Databases, 52, 60, 61



                           66






DdC, 36, 37

DdI, 36, 37

Deliver drugs, 42

Delivery system, 41

Denver Post, 59

Derivative, 41

Diabetes, 3, 14, 41

Diagnosis, 12, 45

Diagnostic reagents, 28

Dialog, 52, 60

Diamond v. Chakrabarty, 5

Dianosine, 37

DISCLOSURE, 61

Discount brokers, 53

DNA, 34

DNA construct, 43

Dogfish, 11

Dow, 5

Dow Jones News/Retrieval service, 52

Dow Jones/News Retrieval, 61

DowElanCo, 34

Drug, 41

Drug delivery, 41, 42

Drug development, 50

Drug discovery, 10

Drug prices, 50

DRUG PRODUCTION, 40

Drugs, 39

Dupont, 5


E5, 48

EBNA-1, 37

EBV, 29

ECONOMICS, 48

Ecosystem, 47

Ecosystems, 47

Edinburg, 40

EGF, 20

Electric current, 42

Endoplasmic reticulum, 38

Endotoxin, 48, 49

ENVIRONMENT, 46

Enzo biochem, 32

Enzon, 10, 41, 42

Enzon

  Inc. (ENZN), 58

Enzymes, 44

Eosinophil, 22

Epidermal cells, 39

EPO, 23

Epstein-Barr virus, 29, 37

Equal dollar weighted, 5

ER, 38

Erthyropoeitin, 23

Ethylene Control, 43

Eukaryotic, 40

Executive News Service, 51

Exons, 34



                           67







Farnesyl group, 28

Fel D I, 18

Fertilizer, 44

Fetal hemoglobin, 33

Fetus, 17

FGF, 20

Fibrobasts, 39

Fibroblasts, 23, 39

First to file, 5, 6

First to invent, 6

Fish, 45

FISHing, 12

FK506, 18

Flavr Savr tomato, 43

Flowers, 32

Food processing, 43

Four Corners Flu, 12

Free radicals, 25

Furunculosis, 46

Fusion toxins, 14, 20, 41

Future gene therapy, 42


G-CSF, 23, 31

Gancyclovir, 25

Gauchers disease, 42

GEMS(TM) discovery system, 11

Gene therapy, 3, 30, 37, 38, 42

Genentech, 3, 4, 15, 17, 23, 33, 39, 40

Genentech

  Inc., 28

Genepharming Europe BV, 40

General Electric, 52

Genetic disorders, 33

Genetic engineering, 14, 31, 44

Genetic Therapy

  Inc., 21

Genetically, 47

GEnie, 52, 61

GenPharm, 15, 51

Gensia Phamaceuticals (GNSA), 58

Gensia Pharmaceuticals

  Inc. (GNSA), 58

Genta, 37, 39

Genzyme, 41

Genzyme

  Inc., 13

Genzyme Corp. (GENZ), 58

Genzyme Corporation (GENZ), 58

Genzyme Transgenics, 41

Gilead Sciences, 32

Gilead Sciences

  Inc., 37

Global Health Sciences Fund, 53

Glucocerebrocidase, 42

Glucocorticoids, 20

Glycosylation, 40

GM-CSF, 23, 31



                           68






GOALS, 2

Goats, 40, 41

Gp120, 16, 17, 18

Gp120 vaccine, 17

Gp160, 16, 17, 18, 38

Gp160-vaccinia, 18

Graft rejection, 19, 29

Grafts, 19, 29

Gram negative bacteria, 48

Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, 31

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, 31

Granulomatous, 3

Greenwich Pharmaceuticals

  Inc. (GRPI), 58

Greenwich Pharmaceuticals Inc. (GRPI), 58

Growth factor receptors, 27

Growth hormone, 3


Hantavirus, 12

Healthcare Reform, 50

Healthcare reforms, 50

Hematopoietc stem cells, 30

Hematopoietic stem cells, 21, 30

Hemoglobin, 33

HER-2, 3

Herbicide, 43

Herpes Simplex Virus, 25

Herpes virus, 37, 42

Herpes viruses, 32, 33, 37

Heterologous antisera, 13

HGP30, 16, 17

HIV, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 34, 36, 37, 38, 41

HIVIG, 13

Hoffman-LaRoche, 11

HSV-tk, 25

HTLV I, 37

Human ciliary neurotrophic factor, 6

Human genome, 12

Human immunodeficiency virus, 15

Humanized antibodies, 14, 15

Humoral immune responses, 16

Humoral immunity, 18

Hydrocarbons, 47

HyperGam + CF, 13

Hyperimmune globulin, 13

Hypotension, 49


IBA, 4

IDEC Pharmaceuticals, 15

Idiotype, 14, 41

IFN-á1b, 23

IgE, 21

IGF, 20

IGF-1, 3

IL 1, 49

IL 1ra, 49

IL 2, 20, 21, 22, 42

IL 2 receptor, 19



                           69






IL 3, 23

IL 4, 21

Illness, 48

Immune globulin, 13

Immune memory, 23, 39

Immune Response Corporation, 15, 58

Immune Response Corporation (IMNR), 58

Immune responses, 19

Immune suppression, 23, 39

Immune system, 39

Immunex, 31, 53, 58

Immunex (IMNX), 58

Immuno AG, 17

Immunogen, 15, 18

ImmunoLogic Pharmaceutical Corp., 18

Immunology, 15

Immunotherapy, 27, 29

In Utero, 13

In vitro, 28

Index options, 4

Industrial Biotechnology Association, 4

Infants, 13

INFORMATION, 51

Innovir Laboratories, 34

Insect cell lines, 40

Insecticides, 45

Insulin, 3, 40

Insulin growth factor-1, 3

Integrate, 36

Intellectual Law Association, 5

Interferon-ç, 22

Interferons, 20

Interleukin 1, 20, 49

Interleukin 10, 22

Interleukin 12, 22

Interleukin 13, 22

Interleukin 2, 20, 22

Interleukin 3, 21

Interleukin 4, 21

Interleukin 5, 21

Interleukins, 20

Intracellular receptors, 28

Introns, 34

Investing, 51, 53

Investment funds, 53

Ischemic, 39

Ischemic heart injury, 23

Ischemic injury, 25

Isis, 32, 37


Japan Research Development Corp., 46


Kidney cancer, 21

Kirin Brewery, 42

Knight-Ridder, 52

Knock-out mice, 51

Knowledge Index, 52




                           70






Lactoferrin, 40

LAI, 17

LAK, 20

Leaner meat, 44

Lederle Oncology Corporation, 53

Legumes, 43, 44

Leukemia, 28

Leukoplakias, 37

Lexis, 52

LFA 1, 19

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, 28

Ligands, 28

Liposome Co. Inc. (LIPO), 58

Liposome Company

  Inc. (LIPO), 58

Livestock, 44

Lou Gehrig's disease, 6, 23, 25

Luciferase, 44

Lyme disease, 18

Lymphocytes, 13, 27

Lymphokine activated killer, 20

Lymphoma, 31

Lymphomas, 14, 37, 41

Lymphotoxin, 22


Magnetic resonance imaging, 24

Malignancies, 28

Mammalian, 16, 17

Managed care networks, 48

MARINE, 45

Marsupial, 45

Maturation, 38

Maturation and release, 36

MBP, 24

Mead Data Central, 52

Medi488, 13

Medical imaging, 15

Medical Technology Stock Letter, 51

MedImmune, 13, 18

Melanomas, 21

Merck, 37

Merck Research Laboratories, 27

Michigan State University, 44, 47

Microbes, 44, 47

MicroGeneSys, 17

Microgram, 41

Micromolar, 28

Microprobe, 32

Miescher Institute, 44

Milk, 40, 41

Mirologix Biotech

  Inc., 46

MN, 17

Molecular surgery, 25

Monoclonal, 13

Monoclonal antibodies, 13, 14, 15, 48

Monoclonal antibody, 13, 30

Monsanto, 44



                           71






MRI, 24

MRNA, 32, 34

MS, 14, 19, 23, 24, 41

Mucosal immunity, 18

Multi-CSF, 21

Multikine, 23

Multiple drug resistance, 27

Multiple sclerosis, 23

Muscle, 44

Mutate, 17

Mutation, 28

Myelin basic protein, 24

Myeloma, 13


N-acetyl-cysteine, 38

National Academy of Science, 51

National biotechnology center, 46

National Institutes of Health, 6, 21

National Science Foundation, 50

National Wildlife Federation, 46

Neozyme II, 13

Nerve growth factor, 25

Nervous system, 1

Neupogen, 31

Neuroleukin, 20

Neurological, 24

Neurological defects, 25

Neuron, 25

Neurons, 25, 26

Neutralizing antibodies, 16, 28

Newsletters, 51

Nexis, 52

NGF, 20, 25

NIH, 6, 50

Nitrogen fixation, 44

Nitrogen fixing, 44

Nodules, 44

Non-Hodgkin, 31

Non-legume, 44

North American Biologicals

  Inc., 13

Novelty, 5

NSF, 50

Nucleotide, 32

Numbats, 45


O2, 46

Office of Technology Assessment, 50

Oligonucleotides, 11, 32, 39

Oncogene, 28, 30, 32, 39

Oncogene Science, 28

Oncogene Sciences, 11, 12, 23, 33, 39, 40, 53

Oncogene Sciences

  Inc., 40

Oncogene specific transcription, 33

Oncogenes, 27, 30

Oncomouse, 5

Oncoproteins, 14



                           72






Onyx Pharmaceuticals, 29

Oral mucositis, 31, 40

Oral tolerance, 24

Organelle, 38

Organisms, 40

Ornamental flowers, 43

Ornamental plants, 44

Orphan drug, 5

Orphan drug patent, 42

Orphan drugs, 4

Osmosis, 42

Ovarian, 31


P-glycoprotein, 27

P105, 28

P17, 16

P53, 26, 28, 29

Packaging, 36

Papilloma virus, 32, 37

Papilloma viruses, 37

Parasite, 22

Parasitic wasps, 45

Parvovirus, 18

Patent infringements, 4

Patenting process, 4

Pathogens, 13

PCR, 11, 12

PEG, 42

PEGnology, 42

Penetration, 36

Penicillin, 36

Peptides, 17, 25

Peripheral nerve, 25

Perkin Elmer, 11

Perkin-Elmer, 12

Pesticide, 43

Pfizer

  Inc., 40

PGMs, 43, 47

Phamaceuticals, 44

Pharmaceutical, 40, 50

Pharmaceutical firms, 50

Pharmaceutical industry, 50

Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, 4

Pharmaceutical Proteins, 40

Pharmaceuticals, 40

Phase I, 7, 31, 32

Phase II, 7, 18, 25, 26, 31, 37, 49

Phase III, 7, 49

Photosynthesis, 46

Pigment, 32

Pigs, 40

Placebo, 26, 49

Plant, 43

Plant genetic materials, 43, 47

Plant viruses, 43

Plants, 41, 42, 44

PMA, 4, 50



                           73






Political climate, 49, 50

Pollutants, 46

Polyclonal, 13

Polyclonal antibodies, 13

Polyclonal antibody, 13

Polyethylene glycol, 42

Polymerase chain reaction, 11

Portfolio, 53

Post-translational, 28, 40

Potato seedlings, 43

Power of a test, 8

Pre-clinical, 7

Pregnant, 13, 17

President Clinton's health care reform, 50

Price weighted, 5

Prices, 51

Primitive stem cells, 21

Prodigy, 52

Programmed cell death, 25, 38

Promega, 11

Promoter, 33

Prophylaxis, 13, 14

Protease, 38

Protein Design Labs, 15

Proto-oncogenes, 30

Pulomzyme, 3


Quick and Reilly, 53


Radicals, 25

Ragweed, 18

Ras, 14, 30

Ras gene superfamily, 29

Ras oncogene, 27, 28

Ras oncogenes, 32

RBI-23, 49

RBP, 28

Receptors, 28

Recombinant DNA method, 43

Recombinant protein, 18, 40

Recombinant proteins, 40

Recombinant vaccine, 18

Red-mouth disease, 46

Regeneron, 6, 25, 26

REGISTRATION, 63

Rejection, 14, 19, 29

Relapsing-remitting MS, 24

Renal cancer, 21

Renibacterium salmonianrum, 46

Replacement cell therapy, 30

Replicate, 36

Replication, 36

Replication and/or latency, 36

Repligen, 17

Respiratory syncitia virus, 13

Retinoblastoma protein, 28

Retinoic acid, 38

Retroviral vectors, 42



                           74






Retrovirus, 21, 42

Retroviruses, 25, 31, 36, 42

Revenues, 50

Reverse transcriptase, 36

Rhematoid arthritis, 14, 41

Rheumatoid arthritis, 19

Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, 34, 43

Ripening, 43

Risk models, 8

RNA, 34

RNA viruses, 36

RNAase-P, 34


Sargramostim, 31

SCA(TM), 41

SCD4, 36, 42

SCF, 20, 23, 31

SCID, 42

Scios Nova

  Inc. (SCIO), 58

Scotgen Biopharmaceuticals, 15

Scripps Research Institute, 43

Second generation" chemistry, 32

Second messengers, 27

SELECTED READING, 54, 55, 56

Selectide, 10

Sepsis, 22, 49

Septic shock, 14, 20, 22, 48, 49

Seragen, 14, 19, 41

Severe combined immunodeficiency, 42

SF-2 strain, 17

SH2, 27

SH3, 27

SHAREWARE, 62

Sheep, 40

Sickle cell anemia, 33

Signal transduction, 19, 29

Single Chain Antigen Binding, 41

SIRS, 8

SIV, 18

Skin, 39

Skin integrity, 39

Small molecule therapeutics, 29

SmartScans, 52

Soluble CD4, 36, 42

Soluble receptors, 28

Somatix, 39

Spear Securities, 53

Spliced, 34

Spliceosomes, 34

Splicing, 34, 43

Squalamine, 11

Stanford, 6

State University of New York, 32

Statistical methods, 8

Stem cell, 31

Stem cell factor, 20, 23, 30

Stem cells, 23, 30



                           75






Stimulon with QS-21, 17

Stock index, 50

Stock quotes, 52

Stratagene, 10

Streptomycin, 36

Sturza's Medical Investment Newsletter, 51

Superoxide dismutase, 25, 38

Suppressor T cells, 24

Surgery, 48

Synergen, 6, 26, 49, 51, 53

Synergen

  Inc. (SYGN), 58

Synergen (SYGN), 58

Syntex, 26

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, 8


á-interferon, 23, 24

á-thalassemia, 33


T cell, 19, 21, 24, 29

T cell growth factor, 21

T cell receptors (TCR), 29

T cell subpopulations, 21

T cells, 16, 19, 21, 24, 29, 36, 38

Taxol, 10, 31

TGF-á, 20

TGF-á1, 3, 23, 39, 40

TGF-á2, 23, 39, 40

TGF-á3, 23, 31, 39, 40

TGF-ás, 22, 23, 39, 40

TGF-à, 20

The Chartist, 51

The Orphan Drug Act, 7

Therapy, 50

Thiotepa, 31

Thymidine kinase gene, 25

TILS, 21, 22

TNF, 22, 39, 49

TNF-á, 20, 22

TNF-à, 20, 22

Tobacco, 44

Tobacco plant, 43

Tomato ripening, 43

Tomatoes, 32, 43

Toxin-conjugated antibodies, 24

Toxins, 13

Transcription, 27, 32, 33, 37, 38

Transcription factor, 19, 28

Transcription factors, 28

Transcription inhibitor, 33

Transcription inhibitors, 33

Transdermal drug delivery, 42

Transfect, 25

Transfected into plants, 44

Transfecting, 21

Transfection, 21, 22, 38, 42

Transfections, 22

Transformation, 28



                           76






Transforming growth factor-á-1, 3

Transforming growth factor-ás, 23, 39

Transgenes, 43, 46

Transgenic, 15, 40, 41, 44, 51

Transgenic cattle, 44

Transgenic fish, 46

Transgenic plant, 43

Translation, 32, 34

Translocations, 28

Transplacental, 33

Transplacental transfer, 17

Transplant, 19

Transplantation, 18

Transplantation immunology, 18

Transplants, 39

Trauma, 48

Triplex formation, 32

Tularik

  Inc, 33

  Inc., 33

Tumor, 27, 41

Tumor cell, 21, 27

Tumor immunity, 22

Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, 21

Tumor necrosis factor, 3, 14, 39

Tumor necrosis factors, 22

Tumor regression, 25

Tumor specific antigens, 30

Tumor suppressor, 29

Tumor suppressor genes, 28

Tumor-specific antigens, 29

Tumors, 19, 21, 29

Tyrosine kinase, 27

Tyrosine kinases, 27


U-90

 152, 37

U.S. government, 50

Uncoating, 36

United States Biochemical Corp, 34

United States Orphan Drug Act, 7

Univ. of Calif.

  Berkeley, 33

Univax Biologicals

  Inc., 13


V3 region, 17

Vaccination, 21

Vaccine, 15, 16, 17, 18

Vaccines, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 30, 36, 41

Vaccinia vectors, 18

Vaginitis, 32

VALUE-LINE, 61

VaxSyn, 17

Vectors, 18

Venture capital, 29

Vermin, 45

Vertex



                           77






  Inc., 33

VESTOR, 61

Vibrio, 46

Vibrosis, 46

Viral, 38

Viral enhancer, 33

Viral Technologies

  Inc., 16

Viral vector, 41

Virion, 38

Virology, 35

Virus, 13, 16, 18, 32, 36, 37, 38, 41

Virus-infected, 19, 29

Viruses, 15, 35, 37, 38

Vitamin A, 38

Vitamin C, 38

Vitamin E, 38

Vitamins C, 26


Whole virus, 15

Winners, 53

World Intellectual Property Organization, 6

Wound healing, 23, 31, 39, 40


Xoma, 48, 49

Xoma (XOMA), 58

Xoma Corporation (XOMA), 58


Yersinia ruckeri, 46


Zalcitabine, 37

Zidovudine, 37


à-amylase, 44

à-interferon, 44

ç-Interferon, 3

























                           78






UPGRADE CHANGES.........................................#

CHANGES IN UPGRADE


Release 1.1


Clarifications to AIDS vaccines and minor corrections


Release 1.15


Minor additions and clarifications

Headins for clarifications


Release 1.3


Interleukins and Cytokines added

Reference for antibody conjugate treatment

Clarification of blood-brain barrier drugs

Other minor additions and clarifications



Release 1.4

Table of Contents and an Index was added

Agriculture and biomedicine additions

Minor corrections and clarifications


Release 1.45

Clarification of BIO merger (ABC+IBA)

Agriculture additions

Immunotherapy additions


Release 1.5

Marine Biotechnology added

phase II results of Regeneron's CNTF

AIDS vaccine additions


Release 1.55

Wound healing section added

TGF additions

Transcription enhancing drugs - fetal hemoglobin

minor additions


Release 1.6

Virology Additions, gene therpy

Cell cycle company additions

Biodiversity treaty additions

minor additions and clarifications


Release 1.61


Regeneron phase II result clarification

Antisense patent additions


Release 1.62

Biodiversity treaty ratified

New MS therapies.

Other minor additions and clarifications


Release 1.63



                           79






Centoxin and E5 clarification

Failure of Soluble IL 1 receptor in septic shock


Release 1.65

Cephalon addition to NGF description

AIDS vaccine additions

Splicing drugs

Autoimmune disease additions

Agriculture additions


Release 1.7

HIVIG of North American  Biologicals  for  HIV-infected  pregnant

Women

Interleukin 12 and AIDS Therapy

Somatix and artificial blood

Other minor corrections and clarifications













































                           80






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