TKT is conducting a clinical trial in Israel of its investigational gene-activated glucocerebrosidase (GA-GCB) for the treatment of Gaucher disease. Genzyme believes that TKT infringes Genzyme's patent by importing into Israel and using in Israel the GA-GCB product manufactured by the processes protected by Genzyme's patent.

A legal action of this type, which seeks standard remedies, is customary in the protection of intellectual property. Genzyme does not expect this action to adversely affect patients enrolled in TKT's ongoing clinical trial. Genzyme's patent covers novel culture processes that have been critical in enabling the company to produce Cerezyme(R) (imiglucerase for injection) on a large scale, which has ensured that the therapy is available to patients in need throughout the world.

One of the world's leading biotechnology companies, Genzyme is dedicated to making a major positive impact on the lives of people with serious diseases. Founded in 1981, Genzyme has grown from a small start-up to a diversified enterprise with annual revenues exceeding $2 billion and nearly 7,000 employees in locations spanning the globe. With many established products and services helping patients in more than 80 countries, Genzyme is a leader in the effort to develop and apply the most advanced technologies in the life sciences. The company's products and services are focused on rare inherited disorders, kidney disease, orthopedics, cancer, transplant and immune diseases, and diagnostic testing. Genzyme's commitment to innovation continues today with a substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as heart disease and other areas of unmet medical need.

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"By genetically engineering the normal diphtheria toxin gene, we created a toxin that would be produced only in prostate cells," explained Dr. Sawicki. "When we injected prostate tumors in animals with C32 nanoparticles, tumor growth was suppressed or reversed, relative to untreated tumors." As part of their study, the researchers discovered that C32 nanoparticles deliver DNA very efficiently to tumor cells, but very poorly to healthy muscle cells. This feature may help safeguard the healthy tissue surrounding tumors, offering a significant improvement over currently available therapies, which tend to damage the healthy tissue near the tumor.

In future work, the LIMR and MIT researchers aim to expand their work to test whether this nanotechnology can be adapted for a non-radioactive type of brachytherapy, a practice that has grown in popularity to treat localized prostate cancer, including at Lankenau Hospital. They also aim to explore whether nanoparticles can be delivered intravenously to attack metastatic tumor cells, which are found throughout the body in advanced stages of cancer.

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