SANTA BARBARA, Calif.,
March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- VG Life
Sciences, Inc., (OTCQB: VGLS), a biotechnology company developing
therapies for autoimmune and infectious diseases, announced that
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued an
important new composition of matter patent covering methods for
modulating immune system function through the targeting of
CLIP.
U.S. Patent No. 8957031 covers the targeted peptide technology
underlying VG Life Sciences' VG1177, a synthetic peptide which has
the ability to displace CLIP (Class II-associated invariant chain
peptide) that plays a key role in chronic inflammation and
autoimmune diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hypertension, preeclampsia
and traumatic brain injury.
"This composition of matter patent is essential to protect and
leverage our rich portfolio of intellectual property relating to
our promising work targeting CLIP for novel treatments of diseases
driven by chronic inflammation," said John
Tynan, president and CEO of VG Life Sciences.
The patent stems from the work of VG Life Sciences Chief
Scientific Officer Karen
Newell-Rodgers, Ph.D., then at the University of Colorado, along with research by her
son, Evan Newell, Ph.D., then at
Stanford University.
CLIP is present on the exterior of cells as part of the body's
immune response system. Initially, CLIP plays an essential role in
bridging the innate and specific immune responses. When CLIP+ cells
are not properly depleted, it leads to a chronic inflammatory state
that underlies numerous autoimmune diseases.
Newell-Rogers' work included identifying the amino acid
signature of CLIP. This information allowed Newell to identify and
synthesize peptides that would have a greater binding affinity than
CLIP associated with every known human and animal immune response
gene.
The company's preclinical compound, VG1177, is designed to
displace inflammation-causing CLIP.
"If these cells that are present in the beginning of the
inflammatory process can be predictably removed when they are no
longer needed, we believe we can suppress disease-causing
inflammation," Newell-Rogers said.
Pre-clinical testing of VG1177 on preeclampsia models showed
that it reversed symptoms of high blood pressure, thereby
eliminating the dangerous condition.
Additionally, a paper published last October in the
peer-reviewed journal Acta Neuropathologica Communications
showed that VG1177 decreased the number of CLIP+ cells and
prevented additional damage to the brain after a mild to moderate
traumatic injury.
About VG Life Sciences, Inc.
Santa Barbara, California-based
VG Life Sciences, Inc., formerly known as Viral Genetics, is a
biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing drug
therapies for cancer, infectious disease, and inflammatory,
autoimmune disorders. VGLS controls over 40 U.S. and international
patents and pending patents protecting its exclusive biotech
platform technologies. For more information and upcoming events,
visit www.vglifesciences.com or find VG Life Sciences, Inc. on
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial
projections, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory
approvals and other risks described by VG Life Sciences from time
to time in its periodic reports. None of VG Life Sciences' drug
compounds are approved by the U.S. FDA or by any comparable
regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world.
Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking
statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In
light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the
forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking
statements should not be regarded as a representation by VG Life
Sciences Inc. or any other person that the objectives and plans of
VG Life Sciences will be achieved.
Contact:
Media - Terri
Somers
Somers Media
terri@somersmedia.com
619-991-2369
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visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vg-life-sciences-granted-key-composition-of-matter-patent-300043046.html
SOURCE VG Life Sciences, Inc.
