Austin-based Convergen LifeSciences Inc. is reported to have announced a second new patent, which is a recent discovery that will widen the applications for the ‘experimental’ treatment for lung cancer.

Also, the patent covers ‘CNVN202’, a drug therapy aimed at the molecular level going through clinical trials, involving lung cancer patients. It is said to ‘harness a tumor suppressor gene, delivered intravenously, to kill cancer cells without harming healthy ones’.

Greg Heinlein, the company's Chief Operating and Financial Officer, said: "Broadly speaking, this patent expands the application of CNVN202 to virtually all cancers and extends the use of our patented technologies to include cancer diagnostic and screening tools".

However, Convergen LifeSciences is the recreation of Introgen Therapeutics Inc., a publicly traded company, which went bankrupt in 2008 and is currently run on a $4.5 million state grant as it looks for private investors, with Austin businessman, David Nance who led Nitrogen, as an Executive Chairman of Convergen Life Sciences.

Moreover, the patent is one of 23 patents for lung cancer treatments issued globally, and licensed exclusively to Convergen LifeSciences. It was awarded to both the University Of Texas System Board Of Regents and the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, by the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office. Dr. Jack Roth, another Introgen alumnus, said: "It further solidifies our growing intellectual property portfolio".