HGT. Where Historic Accomplishments Give Rise to Monumental Treatments.
Developing Gene Therapy Treatments for Major Diseases
At Houston Gene Therapeutics, decades of innovative research drives the development of ambitious therapeutics. The HGT pipeline is composed of promising long-term treatment options for the major diseases of our time - including inflammatory diseases (e.g. cardiovascular), aging, and cancer.
A Pioneer in the Field of AAV Gene Therapy
Houston Gene Therapeutics was founded by Dr. Paul Hermonat. As a pioneer in the field of AAV gene therapy, Dr. Hermonat has established a history of seminal research/discoveries, in AAV-based gene therapy over a career spanning five decades. This rich history of cutting edge research and distinguished accomplishment serves as the foundation of HGT’s mission. That mission is to develop, manufacture, and deliver the safest and most effective long-term treatments to fight the major diseases of our time - including inflammatory diseases (eg. cardiovascular), aging, and cancer.”
Our flagship patented HGT-Cardio-1 Product contains TWO anti-inflammatory genes expressed from our patented eNOX1pr which is highly stimulated by high cholesterol diets and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This vector is capable of treating mice stimulated to develop atherosclerosis, as well as type 2 diabetes (T2D). This duel-treatment capability suggests that HGT-Cardio-1 will have the ability to treat other inflammatory diseases in addition to atherosclerosis and T2D.
Use of the LDLR-KO/HCD mouse model as a possible predictor of new standard of care for atherosclerosis
The low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mouse on high cholesterol diet (LDLR-KO/HCD) is the best mouse model for mimicking and studying human atherosclerosis and its treatment. In this model mice need the HCD to develop atherosclerosis, just as in humans (otherwise no atherosclerosis develops). We used 3 statin studies which use the LDLR-KO/HCD model to compare treatment by our HGT-Cardio-1 against atherosclerosis. The statin studies assessed enface aorta fat staining (statin publications: Wang et al., 2002; Park et al., 2016; Park & Heo, 2018). The HGT-Cardio-1 gene therapy study was assessed by Vevo2100 High resolution ultrasound.
Dr. Paul Hermonat, PhD.
The CEO and Founder of Houston Gene Therapeutics, LLC is a pioneer in gene therapy. Dr. Paul Hermonat, is the originator of the AAV gene therapy/delivery technology (discovery of AAV rep/cap and rAAV/Neo gene therapy papers of 1984), and has an impressive list of FIRSTS in his fields, including:
The first discovery of the rep and cap genes, and later the X gene of AAV2.
The first formulation and use of an rAAV production system.
The first demonstration of rAAV’s use in gene transfer into human and murine cells including covalent transformation.
The first discovery of the varieties of AAV proviral structures
The first use of AAV-based gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells.
The first antigen gene delivery into human dendritic cells to stimulate human antigen specific cytotoxic CD8+ CTL, in primary cells.
The first use of immune-enhancing human cytokine gene delivery into human T cells, DC.
First study and Inhibition of atherosclerosis in mouse models, comparing a number of different human gene therapies, gene type strategies, for treatment efficacy.