Exhibit 99.1
SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES TO PRESENT DATA FROM ITS ZFP THERAPEUTIC(TM) PROGRAMS AT
THE 8TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF GENE THERAPY
NINE PRESENTATIONS FROM ZFP-MEDIATED GENE REGULATION AND GENE MODIFICATION
PROGRAMS
ST. LOUIS, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SGMO) today announced presentations of data from several of the
Company's zinc finger DNA binding protein (ZFP) Therapeutic(TM) programs at the
8th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT). The meeting
is being held in St. Louis, Missouri from June 1 through June 5, 2005.
Sangamo scientists and their collaborators will make a total of 8 podium and
poster presentations covering several ZFP-mediated gene regulation and gene
modification programs including research and preclinical animal efficacy
studies. In addition, Dale Ando, M.D., Sangamo's vice president of therapeutic
development and chief medical officer, has been invited to make a presentation
in the Scientific Symposium Session # SS303 Infectious Disease: Gene Therapy for
HIV: Lessons Learned, Paradigms to Apply to Other Areas of Gene Therapy. Dr.
Ando's presentation is entitled "Gene Modulation of the HIV Co-receptor CCR5
Using CCR5 Specific Zinc Finger Nucleases."
"The annual ASGT meeting is the premier gene therapy conference and, as in
previous years, Sangamo has a significant presence," stated Edward Lanphier,
Sangamo's president and CEO. "Several of our presentations are focused on the
development of our proprietary ZFP nuclease (ZFN(TM)) technology as a
therapeutic approach for highly specific and efficient correction of genes that
cause monogenic diseases, such as X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency
(X-linked SCID), and for the disruption of a gene that is necessary for HIV
infection. We believe that this novel therapeutic approach to monogenic diseases
may have several significant advantages over traditional gene-based approaches
that often entail randomly introducing a replacement gene with a foreign
promoter into the genome. In contrast, ZFN-mediated gene correction effectively
allows us to facilitate modification of a DNA sequence without the need for
integration of foreign DNA sequences. As described in a recent article published
in Nature magazine, using only transient treatment of human primary T-cells with
our ZFNs we achieved permanent correction of a mutation in the gene responsible
for X-linked SCID. We also believe ZFN- mediated gene disruption of the CCR5
gene has potential therapeutic benefit in the treatment of HIV infection and
AIDS."
Sangamo recently announced the publication of an article in an advance
online format in the journal Nature entitled 'Highly Efficient Endogenous Human
Gene Correction Using Designed Zinc Finger Nucleases.' The article describes the
use of Sangamo's ZFN technology to effect correction of a mutation in the
IL2R-gamma gene that has been shown to result in X-linked SCID. Correction of
the gene was achieved in a high percentage of treated human primary T-cells
without the need for selection. This work represents a significant advance in
the ability to specifically and efficiently modify the human genome and provides
the scientific foundation for potential therapeutic approaches for a variety of
genetic disorders and infectious diseases.
Sangamo scientists and their collaborators will make the following
presentations; the abstract numbers, titles and a brief description of the data
to be presented is listed below:
-- Abstract # 43
Targeting the Biology of Heart Disease: Engineered Zinc Finger Protein
Repressors of Phospholamban as a Potential Therapy for Congestive Heart
Failure
Thursday, June 2, 2005. Podium presentation by Steven Zhang, Ph.D.,
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
In vitro and preclinical animal efficacy data will be presented describing
the use of ZFP transcription factors (ZFP TF(TM)) designed to turn off the
expression of the phospholamban gene in heart muscle as a potential treatment
for congestive heart failure.
-- Abstract # 85
Development of Zinc Finger Nucleases for Therapeutic Gene Correction of
Sickle Cell Anemia
Thursday, June 2, 2005. Podium presentation by Ed Rebar, Ph.D., Sangamo
BioSciences, Inc.
-- Abstract # 337
Towards Gene Correction Therapy for Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) with
Engineered Zinc Finger Nucleases
Thursday, June 2, 2005. Poster presentation.
Development of ZFNs designed to correct mutations in the Wiskott-Aldrich
Syndrome Protein (WASP) for the treatment of WAS.
-- Abstract # 346
Gene Correction of X-Linked SCID Using Engineered Zinc Finger Nucleases
and Integration Defective Lentiviral Delivery
Thursday, June 2, 2005. Poster presentation.
-- Abstract # 379
New Zinc Finger Protein Nuclease Architectures for More Efficient Gene
Modification Therapies
Thursday, June 2, 2005. Poster presentation.
Design strategies that enhance both the specificity and efficiency of
ZFN(TM) performance in therapeutic gene modification will be described.
-- Abstract # 646
Zinc Finger Protein Transcription Factors as Potential Therapeutic Agents
for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
Friday, June 3, 2005. Poster presentation.
Development and delivery to sensory neurons of ZFP TF(TM) designed to turn
off the expression of specific receptors associated with pain.
-- Abstract # 974
Towards Gene Knockout Therapy for AIDS/HIV: Targeted Disruption of CCR5
Using Engineered Zinc Finger Protein Nucleases (ZFNs)
Saturday, June 4, 2005. Poster presentation.
-- Abstract # 1072
Superactivation of the SR and CMV Promoters Using Designed Zinc Finger
Proteins
Saturday, June 4, 2005. Poster presentation.
Development of strategies to enhance pharmaceutical protein production using
engineered ZFPs.
Zinc Finger DNA Binding Proteins
Zinc Finger DNA-binding Proteins (ZFPs) are a naturally occurring class of
DNA binding proteins. The DNA recognition and binding function of ZFPs can be
engineered and thus directed to a targeted sequence of DNA. This permits the
delivery of a variety of functional domains to a gene-specific location. ZFPs
are being developed for two significant therapeutic applications: gene
regulation and gene modification. In the case of therapeutic gene regulation,
ZFPs are being engineered to either turn on therapeutically beneficial genes or
turn off the expression of disease-causing genes. For gene modification, ZFPs
are being used in combination with a DNA cutting enzyme (endonuclease)
functional domain to generate ZFNs that facilitate the correction of mutant gene
sequences that cause disease or the disruption of genes that facilitate disease
progression.
About Sangamo
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. is focused on the research and development of
novel DNA-binding proteins for therapeutic gene regulation and modification. The
most advanced ZFP Therapeutic(TM) development programs are currently in Phase I
clinical trials for evaluation of safety in patients with peripheral artery
disease and diabetic neuropathy. Other therapeutic development programs are
focused on ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, cancer, neuropathic
pain, and infectious and monogenic diseases. Sangamo's core competencies enable
the engineering of a class of DNA-binding proteins known as zinc finger
DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs). By engineering ZFPs that recognize a specific DNA
sequence Sangamo has created ZFP transcription factors (ZFP TF(TM)) that can
control gene expression and, consequently, cell function. Sangamo is also
developing sequence-specific ZFP Nucleases (ZFNs) for therapeutic gene
modification as a treatment and possible cure for a variety of monogenic
diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, and for infectious diseases such as HIV.
For more information about Sangamo, visit the company's web site at
www.sangamo.com or www.expressinglife.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on Sangamo's
current expectations. These forward-looking statements include, without
limitation, references to the research and development of novel ZFP TFs and
ZFNs, clinical trials and therapeutic applications of Sangamo's ZFP technology
platform. Actual results may differ materially from these forward- looking
statements due to a number of factors, including technological challenges,
Sangamo's ability to develop commercially viable products and technological
developments by our competitors. See the company's SEC filings, and in
particular, the risk factors described in the company's Annual Report on Form
10-K and its most recent 10-Q. Sangamo assumes no obligation to update the
forward-looking information contained in this press release.
SOURCE Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
-0- 06/01/2005
/CONTACT: Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D. of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.,
+1-510-970-6000, ext. 271, or ewolffe@sangamo.com; or media, Justin Jackson,
+1-212-213-0006, or jjackson@burnsmc.com, or investors, John Cummings,
+1-415-352-6262, both of Burns McClellan, Inc., for Sangamo BioSciences, Inc./
/Web site: http://www.sangamo.com /