An antisense drug, designed to look like the original DNA, could interrupt that process by binding to a complementary stretch of RNA and destroying it.

FORBES: Antisense and Sensibility

Early experiments suggested that an antisense drug could precisely target cancer cells, but Crooke was unable to reproduce this nascent work in his SmithKline lab.

FORBES: Antisense and Sensibility

The next closest antisense drug to being approved for sale is Genasense, a cancer drug invented by Genta (nasdaq: GNTA - news - people ) that is being co-developed with Aventis (nyse: AVE - news - people ) as part of a deal signed a year ago.

FORBES: Antisense Still Makes Sense

Next step: another final-stage trial with 600 more patients injected with antisense and Gemzar, Lilly's chemo drug for lung cancer.

FORBES: Antisense and Sensibility

Yet Vitravene, a locally injected drug, fell short of proving antisense's broader promise, and it never took off because of competition from AIDS cocktails.

FORBES: Antisense and Sensibility