EXHIBIT 99.2
[ENZO LOGO] NEWS
RELEASE
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ENZO BIOCHEM, INC.
527 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ENZO THERAPEUTICS TREATS FIRST PATIENT IN PHASE I/II STUDY OF
ANTISENSE GENE THERAPY FOR HIV-1 INFECTIONS
Personalized Medicine Approach Aims to Slow Progression to AIDS
New York, NY, March 13, 2007 - Enzo Therapeutics, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ), has treated the first patient in a
Phase I/II clinical trial of the company's gene therapy for HIV-1 (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus-Type 1) infection.
The study, being conducted at UCSF Medical Center, is enrolling HIV-1
infected subjects with compromised CD4+ cell counts, to determine whether the
procedure will create sufficient HIV-1 resistant CD4+ cells to defer disease
progression to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Enrollment is
continuing under a modified protocol designed to increase the proportion of
engineered stem cells that engraft in the patient's bone marrow.
As in its previous study, Enzo's proprietary StealthVector(R)
HGTV43(TM) gene construct is used to transfer into the subjects' own stem cells
antisense genes designed to interfere with HIV-1 growth. These cells should
engraft, replicate and differentiate within the body to produce a population of
CD4+ T-cells resistant to HIV-1 infection. The novel aspect of the current study
includes a single outpatient radiation treatment to reduce each subject's total
number of stem cells before infusion of the genetically engineered cells, in
order to increase the proportion of stem cells that contain the anti-HIV-1
antisense genes. The study is being directed by Morton J. Cowan, MD, who is
director of the medical center's Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program and a
professor in the UCSF School of Medicine.
According to Gary C. Cupit, PharmD, president of Enzo Therapeutics,
"Previous work with the Enzo antisense approach in the Phase I study produced
encouraging demonstrations of survival of circulating CD4+ cells containing the
antisense genes in some patients for up to 60 months after treatment, although
there was no reduction in viral load or increase in total CD4 cell counts. The
new protocol builds on those results.
The goal in the new study is to produce a renewable supply of engineered CD4+
cells in large enough numbers to allow determining whether these cells can
provide for the reconstitution of subjects' immune systems." Enzo developed the
HGTV43(TM) vector as a proprietary retrovirus-based delivery system designed to
overcome a major challenge in gene medicine, namely the safe and efficient
delivery of engineered genes to the appropriate target cells. The
StealthVector(R) technology achieves efficient delivery of the genes into the
patient's cells while being "silent" and unlikely to trigger an immune response.
In addition, critical safety features were incorporated to minimize the
possibility of turning on deleterious genes within the body.
The study endpoints are safety of the procedure and the extent of
engraftment and proliferation of the engineered cell population. A secondary
endpoint is the relationship between the number of antisense RNA-containing CD4+
cells, the HIV-1 viral load and the CD4+ cell count as measured monthly for six
months.
"We are thrilled to continue working with the team at UCSF," said
Cupit. "Not only do they provide continuity with our previous work, but they
bring to this program a depth of expertise in working with HIV-infected patients
that originates with the very early days of AIDS research. The investigators and
the institution have the advanced medical technology and skills needed to
conduct the study and monitor the subjects to the highest standards. This and
our Phase I study with the UCSF team represent a bridge from early research on
HIV/AIDs to a personalized medicine approach to treatment." In August 2006, at
the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada, Enzo presented
long-term follow up results of the previous Phase I study. Treated subjects
showed long-term presence of the engineered CD34+ stem cells as well as
circulating CD4+ immune cells containing the genes as measured by the production
of antisense RNA. No treatment-related adverse events were seen during the
study.
ABOUT ENZO
Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of
innovative health care products based on molecular biology and genetic
engineering techniques, as well as providing diagnostic services to the medical
community. The company's proprietary labeling and detection products for gene
sequencing and genetic analysis are sold to the life sciences market throughout
the world. In addition to clinical evaluation of its proprietary gene medicine
for HIV-1 infection, the Therapeutics division is in clinical development of
proprietary immune regulation medicines for hepatitis B and hepatitis C
infection and for Crohn's Disease. The division is conducting pre-clinical
research on candidate compounds to produce new mineral and organic bone,
including technology that could provide therapy for osteoporosis and fractures,
among other applications. The company also holds a patent covering a method and
materials for correcting point mutations or small insertions or deletions of
genetic material that would allow for editing and correcting certain
abnormalities in genes. Enzo Biochem owns or licenses over 200 patents
worldwide. For more information visit the website www.enzo.com. EXCEPT FOR
HISTORICAL INFORMATION, THE MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE MAY BE
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