SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 Statement
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.
Media Contact:
Terri Somers, Somers Media
terri@somersmedia.com
619-991-2369