MMI granted first patents for HIV/AIDS therapy

Published: 26-Apr-2004


Medical Marketing International, the technology management company focussed on the biotherapeutic market has been granted patents in South Africa and Australia for the HIV/AIDS therapy being developed by Viratis, MMI's joint venture with King's and Queen Mary colleges, London.

Viratis, which is 50% owned by MMI is developing novel ribozyme technologies that block the formation of receptors that viruses require to gain entry to the human cell. The first ribozyme to be developed is for HIV/AIDS and Viratis has previously shown that studies on human blood cells have indicated a high level of penetration of the new therapy into the cells and a significant reduction in receptor expression.

Dr David Brooks, who leads the Viratis project for MMI, commenting on this announcement said: 'Over 40m people worldwide now suffer from HIV/AIDS and some 28m of these are in sub-Saharan Africa. The AIDS problem in Africa is one of the biggest health care issues in the world today. The grant of the South African patent for Viratis is a significant milestone'.

  

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