Sangamo BioSciences and Genentech sign research and licence agreement

Sangamo BioSciences has entered into a research and licence agreement with Genentech, under which Sangamo will provide Genentech with access to its proprietary zinc finger DNA-binding protein (ZFP) technology and will design and engineer ZFP nucleases (ZFN) for Genentech to evaluate and potentially use to generate cell lines with novel characteristics for protein pharmaceutical production purposes.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ZFPs are the dominant class of naturally occurring transcription factors in organisms from yeast to humans. Though there are many kinds of transcription factors, only ZFPs are amenable to engineering and precise targeting to a particular gene or genes of interest. ZFNs are engineered forms of ZFPs that also contain a nuclease component, which can induce modification of a target gene of interest.

Sangamo' most advanced ZFP Therapeutic development programme is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for evaluation of safety and clinical effect in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Phase 1 clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate a ZFP Therapeutic for peripheral artery disease. Other therapeutic development programmes are focused on HIV/AIDS, neuropathic pain, cancer, nerve regeneration, ischemic heart disease and monogenic diseases.

'We are very pleased to be able to provide Genentech with a non-exclusive, research and commercial licence to certain aspects of our ZFP technology,' said Edward Lanphier, Sangamo's president and ceo. 'We have engineered ZFNs to facilitate the efficient generation of production cell lines with altered traits. Our technology has the potential to change the speed and efficiency of cell engineering to meet the increased demand for proteins.'