BALTIMORE, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Lentigen Corporation, a privately held biotechnology company focused on the manufacturing and development of lentiviral vectors, announced that the company has secured its Seed and Series A financing from Greenwich Biotech Ventures. Terms of the financing have not been disclosed. Funds raised will enable the Company to launch its current programs, add commercial scale manufacturing capabilities and increase the company’s infrastructure.
Dr. Boro Dropulic, Founder and CEO of Lentigen, commented, “Lentigen’s mission is to become the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of research and therapeutic grade lentiviral vectors. Our team has considerable experience in the design, construction, manufacture and clinical translation of lentiviral vectors and this financing will allow us to pursue that mission. In addition, we welcome and are honored to have David Wetherell, Managing Partner of Greenwich Biotech Ventures, as Lentigen’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. His experience in leading and cultivating early stage companies is invaluable to Lentigen.”
“We are delighted with the opportunity to work with Lentigen. We believe that the company’s lentiviral vector technology has the potential to make a significant impact on the biotechnology industry by providing an efficient, stable and safe mechanism for the delivery of genes into cells for the treatment and vaccination of serious diseases,” remarked Mr. Wetherell.
About Lentiviral Vectors
Lentiviral vectors (LV) are vehicles that can deliver genes or RNAi into cells with up to 100% efficiency and stability. By comparison, other viral vector systems such as non-viral, adenoviral and adeno-associated viral vectors have been shown to achieve high, but not stable, gene delivery into cells or to deliver genes stably, but not efficiently (murine retroviral vectors).
Gene delivery is accomplished by the binding and fusing of the LV pseudotyped envelope protein to the target cell membrane. The LV RNA containing the gene or gene silencing sequence is then incorporated into the cell via reverse transcription creating a DNA complex. This complex enters the nucleus incorporating itself into the chromosomal DNA creating a stable molecule. The gene sequence is integrated in the chromosome and is copied along with the DNA during ongoing cell division.
About Lentigen Corporation
Lentigen Corporation is a privately owned biotechnology company focused on the manufacturing and development of lentiviral vectors using its proprietary gene delivery technology for a wide range of applications in biotechnology and medicine. Lentiviral vectors are highly adapted delivery vehicles that can transport genes or gene silencing sequences into cells with high efficiency and stability. Lentigen is positioning itself to become the leading provider of Lentiviral vector products and services for academic, government, biotechnology and pharmaceutical researchers. For further information, visit http://www.Lentigen.com.
About Greenwich Biotech Ventures
Greenwich Biotech is a private equity venture capital fund focused on gene therapy and related health care technology companies.
Lentigen Corporation
CONTACT: Greg Feulner, VP Business Development of Lentigen Corporation,+1-443-543-5318, greg.feulner@lentigen.com; or Media Contact: GregoryTiberend of Richard Lewis Communications, Inc., +1-212-827-0020,gtiberend@rlcinc.com; or Investor Contact: Tara Spiess of TS CommunicationsGroup, LLC, +1-914-921-5900, spiess@biotechirpr.com
Web site: http://www.Lentigen.com/
