Vical, Glaxo Wellcome Inc. preclinical data

The companies presented preclinical results of a gene therapy for lung cancer at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Washington. Mice with lung tumors were treated with a gene encoding the cytosine deaminase enzyme in a VICL formulation. Tumor cells that take up the genetic material are capable of converting a nontoxic agent, 5-fluorocytosine, into the cancer agent 5-FU. Treated mice survived for 41 days versus 24.5 days in untreated animals (p=0.003). ...