[November 30, 2012]

Genisphere Expands Partnership with LIMR to Collaborate on Nanotherapeutics

Genisphere and the nonprofit Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR), which are already making progress together on identifying Inflammatory Bowel Disease biomarkers, have partnered to develop nanotherapeutics targeting cancers and eye diseases.

"LIMR is fortunate to partner with Genisphere for the development of its cancer nanotherapies," said George Prendergast, PhD, president and CEO of LIMR. "Given the wonderful intersection of these two organizations, we will have the right tools and skill sets to strengthen the path forward for clinical testing and ultimately commercialization."

Genisphere's 3DNA dendrimer allows researchers to deliver any therapeutic agent (siRNA, antibodies, small drugs) to any target cell. Easily manufactured from natural strands of DNA hybridized together, the dendrimers are flexible, multivalent scaffolds with high biocompatibility and low toxicity.

"LIMR, with its team of talented scientists, is an ideal partner for us to study how certain therapeuics work with our DNA dendrimer nanoparticles," said Bob Getts, chief science officer of Genisphere.

One LIMR researcher, Dr. Janet Sawicki, is targeting various cancers with gene therapy. With the help of Genisphere's dendrimer technology, she is using targeted drug delivery to treat ovarian, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

In another project, Dr. Mindy George-Weinstein of LIMR is looking at a therapy that uses small molecule drugs to target cells that cause post-cataract surgery eye lesions.

This partnership builds on the existing collaboration between the two institutions forged earlier this year, enabling more rapid development of new targeted therapeutics to improve human health.

About Genisphere

Genisphere LLC is a privately held company driven by a mission to apply its molecular biotechnology and scientific expertise to a wide range of applications to enhance the human condition through research, diagnostic advances and therapeutic solutions. As an established leader in the development and commercialization of kits and reagents used for the detection of nucleic acids and proteins, Genisphere's solutions are primarily based on the Company's proprietary whole transcriptome RNA Amplification processes, miRNA labeling methodologies, and 3DNA® Dendrimer Nanotechnology. These combined technologies permit the interrogation and ultra-sensitive detection of a wide range of biomolecules on a variety of detection platforms, including microarrays, flow and bead based assays, ELISAs, lateral flow assays and RNA sequencing. Genisphere is also applying its technology portfolio to the future development of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. For more information, visit www.genisphere.com.

About Lankenau Institute for Medical Research

Founded in 1927, the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research center located in suburban Philadelphia on the campus of Lankenau Medical Center. Part of Main Line Health, LIMR is one of the few freestanding, hospital associated medical research centers in the nation. The faculty and staff at the Institute are dedicated to advancing an understanding of the causes of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. This information is used to help improve diagnosis and treatment of these diseases as well as find ways to prevent them. LIMR is also committed to extending the boundaries of human health and well-being through technology development and the training of the next generation of scientists and physicians. To learn about LIMR, visit www.limr.org.

[ Back To greentechnologyworld.com's Homepage ]