Gene Therapy News

Cancer Research UK scientists have for the first time developed a treatment that transports 'tumour busting' genes selectively to cancer cells, according to a study published online in Cancer Research*. Using nanotechnology, the researchers were able to package anti-cancer genes in very small particles that directed the treatment selectively to tumours in mice so that it was only taken up by cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed. Once taken up by cancer cells, the genes enclosed in the nanoparticles force the cell to produce proteins that can kill the cancer.

As contrary to previous expectations, Gendicine's approval in India has not yet happened.

"HUBEI PROVINCE, China -- Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc. ("Benda" or the "Company") (OTCBB: BPMA), a China-based pharmaceutical company producing traditional Chinese and conventional medicines, as well as Gendicine([R]), the world's first commercialized gene therapy medicine for the treatment of cancer, announced today that Gendicine([R]) has passed major milestones in its clinical trials in India and is expected to be approved for sale in India in 2008.

GAITHERSBURG, MD – November 19, 2008 – GenVec, Inc. (Nasdaq: GNVC) announced today top-line results of an interim analysis from its ongoing Phase III Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial with TNFerade™ (PACT) in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This interim analysis of overall survival, conducted after the 92nd death (one-third of total expected events), was designed to determine whether the study should continue and took place in the time frame originally estimated.