Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sign Taxol Agreements

Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics Inc. (Dallas, TX) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (Princeton, NJ) have signed a signed a license and research agreement on two technologies related to production of paclitaxel, the active ingredient in Taxol, BMS's largest selling cancer product. The agreements will focus on microbial fermentation to produce paclitaxel and/or other taxanes and on the use of specific genes to enhance production. The CPI microbial strains could also be screened for new products for production by fermentation.

According to CPI, the microbial fermentation approach would be consistent with other BMS improvements to the original Yew bark extraction, including plant cell fermentation and semisynthesis from renewable plant resources. (See "Squibb, Phyton to Commercialize Paclitaxel Process")

Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics' primary programs involve paclitaxel production and paclitaxel treatment of Polycystic Kidney Disease. Other programs involve Human Gene Discovery using the company's Retroselection, with focus on a patented lung cancer related gene, Antisense Therapeutics and Mycobacteria-based Vaccine delivery technology.

Edited by Beth Brindle

For more information: Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics Inc., 9000 Harry Hines Boulevard, Suite 330, Dallas, TX 75235. Tel: 214-353-2922.