Guided Catheter Gene Delivery - Biosense using a Biosense guided catheter to deliver a RPR's FGF1 gene therapy product - Technology Information

Applied Genetics News,  April, 1999  

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Biosense, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (One Johnson & Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick, NJ 08933; Tel: 732/524-0400, Fax: 732/214- 0332), will collaborate with RPR Gencell, a division of Rhone Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (500 Arcola Rd., Collegeville, PA 19426; Tel: 610/454-8000, Fax: 610/454-3812) in using a Biosense guided catheter to deliver a RPR's FGF1 gene therapy product to stimulate angiogenesis as a treatment for ischemic heart disease.

Initial clinical studies for the collaboration will be undertaken at the Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. The Biosense intracardiac injection catheter is used with the NOGA cardiac navigation system, an FDA-approved minimally invasive platform for catheter-based intramyocardial navigation and mapping. The system uses low intensity, active magnetic field energy and sensor-tipped catheters to locate the position of the catheter in three-dimensional space. "Direct injection of genes encoding for angiogenic proteins or injection of the proteins themselves is a promising new concept in the treatment of coronary artery diseases," notes Martin B. Leon, chair of the Cardiology Research Foundation, Washington Hospital Center. "Combining these therapies with the Biosense system, which allows precise, targeted injection to the areas in need of treatment, may improve the outcome of such therapies." "Target zones of the heart suffering from inadequate blood supply caused by coronary artery disease are identified by a Biosense mapping catheter prior to injection of angiogenic genes or proteins by the newly designed delivery catheter," explains Ran Kornowski, director of the myocardial revascularization program at Washington. James W. Dennis, president of Biosense Worldwide, says the collaboration with RPR is one in what is hoped will be a series of agreements with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in the emerging field of gene therapy.

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