Vector central in Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh's Cardiovascular Gene Therapy Center has been designated as the only national facility for producing vectors for use in clinical trials funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The NHLBI's move is likely to create a backlog of academic products awaiting clinical development. As a result, biotech and pharma companies may enjoy an increase in licensing opportunities from institutions whose compounds are far down on the university's list.
The university's designation as the site for vector production is part of a five-year $14.3 million grant from NHLBI to develop gene therapies for cardiovascular diseases. The grant will establish the Cardiovascular Gene Therapy Center and provide for two clinical trials, three preclinical projects, and a gene therapy training program for clinicians...