It is now almost 20 years since the first patient was enrolled into an officially sanctioned gene therapy study, and in that time the field has been through a series of successes and setbacks. Today, it remains the case that only two gene therapy products have ever been approved anywhere in the world, but interest in gene therapy remains keen.

Takara Bio has signed a collaborative research agreement with the University of Pennsylvania in the US for the co-development of an innovative gene-based therapy for HIV.

Investors' and Big Pharmas' hitherto frosty view of gene-based medicines may be starting to thaw, at least in places, warmed by clinical progress and a smattering of deals. Is there any real potential in this market? Until the first FDA approval, no-one's expecting any real heat. But there are companies which are enjoying limited success in the early stages, whose experience most likely reflects where at least the near-term potential of gene-based medicines lie.

Lentigen has big plans for its HIV-1 based lentiviral vector technology. Short term, it plans to leverage its platform to become the leading provider of lentiviral vector research products and services to academic, government and biopharma scientists. These revenues will help cover the company's burn rate and fund future therapeutic product development programs.