Novel DNA molecules are potent, selective immunoregulators.

2002 NOV 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hybridon, Inc., (HYBN) announced that its researchers have published data on novel DNA molecules that stimulate the immune system with increased potency and selectivity.

These molecules, which use a proprietary structure, have the potential to combat a wide variety of disease conditions, including cancer, infectious disease, and asthma/allergies.

The in vitro and in vivo research data show that these second-generation synthetic CpG immunomodulators have significantly increased metabolic stability as compared to the native compound, and induce higher secretion of disease fighting interleukin-12 (IL-12), with minimal induction of proinflammatory IL-6 (Potent CpG oligonucleotides containing phosphodiester linkages: in vitro and in vivo immunostimulatory properties. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2002;297:83-90).

The paper further discusses using Hybridon's chemistries to design molecules that would stimulate the induction of other cytokines in a selective manner to treat specific diseases. In effect, the Hybridon molecules are intentionally causing a shift between the two types of immune response, the so-called Th-1 and Th-2 responses, towards Th-1, thereby allowing more effective treatment of certain disease conditions.

"This work of Hybridon's scientists and their collaborators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a highly promising advance in the development of potent, specific and tolerable immunomodulatory ...