Corgentech has negotiated an exclusive license for Cyclacel's Penetratin Endonuclear Delivery System for use with Corgentech's transcription factor decoy (TF Decoy) technology platform, used to block the activity of multiple genes linked to a disease. The Penetratin system is a proprietary peptide with carrier properties for delivery into cells, and will give Corgentech an additional technology to complement its current method of delivering its TF Decoys using controlled pressure.
Its lead product, edifoligide (E2F Decoy), is in Phase III clinical trials for the prevention of bypass vein graft failure and uses the pressure approach.
Penetratin enables systemic cellular delivery by chemically linking to TF Decoys, and actively transporting the TF Decoy therapy into cells. Corgentech will have responsibility for the development and commercialisation of TF Decoys combined with a Penetratin peptide. Cyclacel will receive an upfront payment, milestone payments, and royalties if licensed products are commercialised. No further financial terms were disclosed.
"Penetratin peptides represent an exciting and versatile additional delivery technology that will help us to expand the number of diseases addressable by our drugs," commented John McLaughlin, Corgentech's president and chief executive officer.
Penetratin also offers rapid clearance from serum, a high labelling index and are applicable to any tissue, said Corgentech. This makes it an efficient vehicle for systemic delivery of therapeutics interacting with drug targets in the cellular cytosol and nucleus. Penetratin peptides being explored as conjugates with small molecules and biologics, such as antisense, siRNA, oligonucleotides and other payloads for therapeutic delivery and for target validation.