VGX and Dowpharma sign anti-cancer compound agreement
development of a novel cancer compound currently in pre-clinical
development that initial clinical studies will target individuals
with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
According to the American Cancer Society, 61 000 new cases of lymphoma were predicted in 2003 in the US, 53 400 of which will be Non-Hodgkin and 7 600 Hodgkin Lymphomas.
Another 7300 Chronic Lymphatic Leukaemia's were predicted. The number of deaths are predicted to 24 700, 23 400, 1300, and 4 400 respectively.
The emerging non-Hodgkins lymphoma therapeutics market generated more that $1 billion in revenues in 2000. According to market studies the total revenue for drugs treating all stages of non-Hodgkins lymphoma could grow to almost $5 billion (€4.2 billion)
Under the terms of the agreement, Dowpharma will perform a feasibility study for the expression of VGX-100, a VGX proprietary protein, using Pfçnex Expression Technology, a Pseudomonas-based technology from Dowpharma, utilising multiple Pseudomonas fluorescens strains. Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.
VGX Pharmaceuticals believe that specific viral proteins can induce selective apoptosis (programmed cell death) in rapidly dividing cancer cells without affecting normal cells.
Indeed, preclinical studies have found that VGX-100, a recombinant Viral protein (Vpr), induces tumour death through apoptosis in a variety of established human tumour cells derived from the breast, prostate, brain, and other sources.
"The feasibility studies will determine the extent to which we can expedite the production of our protein from the laboratory to production, so we can rapidly advance VGX-100 into the clinic." said J. Joseph Kim, President and CEO of VGX Pharmaceuticals.
Pfçnex Expression Technology accelerates speed to market for vaccines and biotherapeutics by improving quality, boosting yields of protein expression, and reducing the cost of existing microbial systems.
The technology is built around specially modified strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria that increase cellular expression of recombinant proteins and peptides while maintaining critical solubility and activity characteristics.
VGX-100 is up against a wealth of products that have been developed to improve lymphoma therapies. Many of the biotechnology approaches, such as antibodies, tumour specific treatments, stem cell transplantations have seen mixed success, diffusing this form of cancer to varying degrees.
Currently, Schering AG is the leader in the haematological oncology market, with products such as Zevalin, for which Schering has received the European registration in January 2004.
Zevalin is antibody that binds to the CD20 molecule on the surface of the B-lymphocytes is coupled with the radioactive element yttrium-90. As soon as this molecule attaches itself to the CD20 molecules of a B cell, the radiation of the yttrium reaches all those cells that are in the vicinity of this B cell.
On account of the radiation sensitivity of the lymphoma cells, the inner part of this often knot-like collection of malignant cells can be destroyed by this crossfire effect.
Since only one tenth of the radiation energy remains after just five millimetres, there is comparatively little harmful effect on the surrounding healthy tissue.
Other companies that are active in this R&D sector include, 3M Pharmaceutical, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Genentech.
