Subject: Centocor Scientists Give Details of Test For AIDS Infection
Date: Published: 3/29/85 85 lines
Source:  Wall Street Journal.  Copyright Dow Jones Inc. 

   Centocor Scientists
   Give Details of Test
   For AIDS Infection
    ---
   Genetic Engineering Is Used
   In a Technique to Identify
   Blood of Exposed Donors
    ---
   By Jerry E. Bishop and Richard Koenig
   Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal

   Scientists from Centocor Inc. published details of a new
blood test for acquired immune deficiency syndrome that the
biotechnology company is developing using genetic engineering
techniques.
   Aspects of the Centocor test for AIDS were described in a
report in Science, a journal published by the American
Association for the Advancement of Science.
   Centocor, based in Malvern, Pa., said it hopes to market
the AIDS test as early as June.  Two other AIDS blood tests
are already on the market, one from Abbott Laboratories of
North Chicago, Ill., and one from Electro-Nucleonics Inc. of
Fairfield, N. J. At least three other companies are developing
such tests.
   The tests are used chiefly to screen out infected blood
donated to blood banks.  They all work on the same principle.
Certain proteins -- called antigens -- from a virus believed
to cause AIDS are used to probe for signs that a donor's
blood contains antibodies to the virus.  The antibodies would
have built up to fight a previous AIDS infection.  The antigen
probe reacts only if it encounters AIDS antibodies.
   A positive reaction to the test shows only that the donor
was once exposed to the AIDS virus.  The test can't tell
whether the donor still harbors the virus or whether the
donor will develop the disease.  Studies indicate that between
5% and 20% of people exposed to the virus contract AIDS, a
usually fatal disease that suppresses the body's immune
system, leaving the patient open to infections and cancer.
   Centocor's test differs from those of Abbott and
Electro-Nucleonics in the way the AIDS antigens are obtained.
Abbott and Electro-Nucleonics kill the AIDS virus and break
it apart to extract the pieces containing the antigens.
   Centocor researchers described how they isolated genes
from the AIDS virus for the antigens.  The genes were spliced
into bacteria, which then produced the antigens.  This cloning
of the virus genes was accomplished by a team headed by Nancy
T. Chang, a 34-year-old biochemist at Centocor.
   In trials, Centocor's test detected AIDS antibodies in 19
of 20 AIDS patients, producing only one false negative
result.  The test was negative in all 12 healthy persons
tested.
   Separately, Centocor said it expects another product line,
injectable diagnostic products, to reach its first markets
this year.  Hubert J. P. Schoemaker, president, said in an
interview that an injectable test for heart patients is
expected to reach the European market in the second half.  The
test, injected into the bloodstream, uses radioactive tracers
to help doctors determine the damage caused by a heart
attack.
   Centocor expects its injectable test for colon and rectal
cancer to be introduced in Europe in the fourth quarter.  A
similar test for ovarian cancer should be on the European
market in early 1986.  Because of regulatory delays, the
company expects a lag of three to five years before the three
tests reach U. S. and Japanese markets.
   Mr. Schoemaker said he is comfortable with analysts'
forecasts that Centocor in 1985 will earn about $1.8 million,
or 25 cents a share, after accounting for tax-loss
carry-forwards.  In 1984, Centocor earned $702,640, or 10
cents a share, on revenue of $12.8 million.  The company also
benefited from such carry-forwards in 1984.
   Mr. Schoemaker said Centocor also expects an operating
profit this year for the first time.  In 1984, the company had
a loss of nearly $1.3 million before accounting for interest
income of nearly $2 million.

(This article is made available here by Dow Jones Co. for the 
personal and non-commercial use of callers to this bbs, in the 
hope that it will be of some help to those who are suffering 
from the disease and others who are seeking to help them.)