On August 30, 2001 Antisoma plc, the UK-based biopharmaceutical company developing novel targeted cancer therapies, reported that it has in-licensed DMXAA, a vascular targeting agent, from Cancer Research Ventures Limited ("CRV"), a global cancer technology transfer company created by the Cancer Research Campaign ("CRC") (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, AUG 30, 2001, View Source [SID1234523474]). The product, which has already completed two Phase I studies, brings the number of products Antisoma has in clinical development to four.

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Vascular targeting agents have significant potential to selectively restrict the blood flow to a tumour that would otherwise feed its growth. Additionally, DMXAA appears to cause the blood vessels to release substances such as tumour necrosis factor and interferons which may make the tumour more sensitive to other chemotherapeutic agents.

DMXAA was discovered by Professors Bruce Baguley and William Denny and their teams at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre ("ACSRC"), University of Auckland, New Zealand. In extensive pre-clinical studies carried out by the ACSRC, DMXAA, when used in combination with a number of other anti-cancer agents, particularly taxanes, was seen to control the growth of tumours in animal models and, in several cases, to eradicate them.

"It is still at an early stage, and we have a long way to go before we know what human tumours it may be most effective in, but the results so far have been very promising," Professor Baguley said. "A single dose of DMXAA in combination with another chemotherapeutic agent caused tumours to disappear at a rate we have not seen before."

Dose-ranging, Phase I clinical trials, sponsored by the CRC in the UK and in New Zealand, have provided safety data and indicate that DMXAA causes a reduction in tumour blood flow when used alone.

Glyn Edwards, Antisoma’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"This fascinating approach to tumour control further broadens our clinical pipeline. DMXAA has tremendous potential to treat established solid tumours, which comprise a major proportion of all diagnosed cancer. As a small molecule it further diversifies our portfolio. We hope to complete Phase I testing of DMXAA alone and start Phase Ib studies using DMXAA in combination with chemotherapy by the end of 2002."

CRV’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Guy Wood-Gush, added: "This deal is an excellent example of how CRV works with partners on a global basis. We have brought together a commercially experienced partner, Antisoma, and an important new drug discovered by scientists in New Zealand, supported by data from Phase I clinical trials run by the CRC. This clearly illustrates CRV’s key role in the worldwide market for early stage cancer products and CRV’s strong growth prospects."

Antisoma acquired exclusive worldwide rights to DMXAA in exchange for an upfront consideration of £700,000 inclusive of an equity component, as well as future milestones and royalties.

On June 5, 2001 Cancer Research Ventures ("CRV") reported that it had signed a license with Epigenomics which focuses on developing diagnostics and therapeutics based on the study of DNA methylation patterns of the genome (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, JUN 5, 2001, View Source [SID1234523475]). They have extensive expertise, proprietary intellectual property and know how in this field.

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Dr Guldberg funded by the Danish Cancer Society has invented a useful, patent protected high speed methylation detection assay. It is hoped that it will lead the way to the use on a routine basis of diagnostic tests based on DNA methylation.

Epigenomics will develop and commercialise this novel methylation detection assay. Most recent research has shown that DNA methylation patterns correlate with various disease states and in particular with cancer. Identification of the aberrantly methylated genes will certainly lead to the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics.

CRV provides commercialisation and intellectual property management services to cancer research institutes world-wide. CRV’s goal is to bridge the gap between exciting new research, in this case funded by the DCS at the Institute of Cancer Biology and its timely development by the best suited commercial partner.

On April 5, 2001 Cancer Research Ventures Ltd (CRV), the National Cancer Centre of Singapore (NCC) and Double Helix, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Pte Ltd, reported formation of Biotech Research Ventures Pte. Ltd. (BRV), Singapore’s first dedicated Technology Transfer company in the biotechnology field was announced and was officially launched on 29th March at a ceremony attended by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, APR 5, 2001, View Source [SID1234523476]).

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Technology Transfer involves the protection of new discoveries from academic research institutes and their continued development by commercialising these discoveries. If successful, this commercial development results in financial rewards being returned to the research institute for further research in the development of new treatments. This process involves establishing collaborations between academic and commercial organisation, licensing of academic technologies to companies and the spinning out of new biotechnology companies from academic research institutes.

CRV has over 14 years experience in carrying out these technology transfer activities in the UK, including the establishment of a portfolio of quality spin-out biotechnology companies. More recently CRV has expanded its business to work with a number of research institutes throughout Europe and is seeking to expand further into Asia.

NCC is the pre-eminent cancer research institute in Singapore, combining both excellent pre-clinical research with a top class clinical programme. To ensure that these programmes are given the best opportunity to develop new diagnostics and treatments for cancer, NCC is keen to develop and provide a Technology Transfer service to its researchers.

In order to establish a Technology Transfer service at NCC, CRV and NCC have agreed to collaborate to form BRV. BRV will also form the base from which CRV will provide Technology Transfer Services not only to other research institutes in Singapore, but also where required in surrounding countries in Asia.

Singapore Technologies, through its subsidiary Double Helix, have recognised the quality and potential of the research being undertaken at NCC and also the need for such a specialised Technology Transfer company in Singapore. This has led to Singapore Technologies, through Double Helix becoming a partner in this new venture.

It is anticipated that BRV will be heavily involved in establishing and managing collaborations between academic and commercial organisations, initially from NCC. However it is likely that this relationship will extend to other research institutes in the Singapore area. BRV will be able to transfer the experience and expertise that CRV has gained over the past 14 years in the biotechnology area to accelerate the development of this specialist Technology Transfer Company in Singapore.

On April 3, 2001 Qugen Therapeutics Pte. Ltd (Qugen) has been reported to be recently launched by Cancer Research Ventures Ltd (CRV), King’s College London (KCL) and the National Cancer Centre, Singapore (NCC) with funding from Singapore-based Growth Capital Pte. Ltd. Qugen, based in Singapore but with research also being undertaken in the UK, will focus on the development of novel concepts in the field of gene therapy and the transformation of these into clinical reality for the cancer patient (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, APR 3, 2001, View Source [SID1234523477]).

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Initially Qugen will be developing three exciting new technologies, each of which will have a major impact on the clinical application of gene therapy:

"Magrecon"- a series of methods designed to produce the highly concentrated delivery vectors needed for gene therapy;

"Fusagene" – a method that allows the co-ordinated expression of more than one gene which makes the clinical application of combination gene therapy a realistic option;

"Liposin" – a novel, non-viral, lipid based delivery system that overcomes problems associated with traditional viral delivery systems and will allow gene therapy to be more widely used in the future.

Qugen is developing these systems towards clinical trials and will license technology rights to other organisations developing a wide range of gene therapy products. In addition, Qugen will be developing its own proprietary gene therapy products to treat cancer patients world wide.

"Magrecon" and "Fusagene" are the result of research by scientists in the Department of Molecular Medicine at KCL using funding from the UK’s Leukaemia Research Fund and Lewis Family Charitable Trust. "Liposin" was developed by scientists from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Research, NCC and was funded by the Singapore National Science and Technology Board.

Professor Hui and Professor Farzaneh, Chairman and Director of Qugen respectively commented that they "are particularly pleased that the potential of these technologies to the field of gene therapy has been realised by CRV, KCL and NCC. With the funding provided by Growth Capital Pte. Ltd, Qugen will be able to bring a unique clinical focus to this area, allowing it to develop technologies and products that will be widely used in the clinical setting".

CRV together with KCL and NCC have worked to commercialise Professor Farzaneh and Professor Hui’s research and to establish Qugen. Qugen has been granted an exclusive worldwide license by CRV and NCC to all the patent rights covering the Magrecon, Fusagene and Liposin technologies. Qugen will use its funds to advance these and other technologies into the clinic and develop its intellectual property base.

CRV’s Dr Guy Heathers commented that "this is clearly an exciting opportunity for us all, in particular in bringing together research from different institutes and different countries. We hope that this will be the beginning of a long and fruitful development in this field for the benefit of the cancer patient".

On November 29, 2000 Knockout mice for a gene identified by a group led by Dr Pier Guiseppe Pelicci reported at the European Institute of Oncology have shown an extension in their natural life span without any identifiable physiological changes (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, NOV 29, 2000, View Source [SID1234523478]). This is the first time a mammalian gene has been shown to have such a direct affect on the life span of a mammal.

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The discovery was disclosed in a report in Nature (18th November 1999) and has been followed up by the international press (The Times/The Telegraph/The Guardian/The New York Times – (November 1999).

Dr Pelicci continues to characterise the function of this important gene which has been termed p66shc. The function of the gene appears to be linked with the production of Reactive Oxygen Species and their cumulative damaging effects on the cell. The group has further identified the mechanism for activation of the gene.

Cancer Research Ventures Limited (CRV), a technology transfer company which was formed as a spin out company from Cancer Research Campaign Technology Ltd, has been working with Dr Pelicci’s department in Milan for some time as its agent for intellectual property management and point of contact for commercial partners. This is just one of several key research areas in which CRV has been acting as a consultant for the department. A patent covering the p66shc gene has been applied for. CRV is now seeking commercial partners to help the group develop this discovery for use in age related disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Werner’s syndrome and to combat the causes of premature tissue death.