On January 13, 2019 CNS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) ("CNS" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel treatments for brain tumors, reported it has entered into a licensing agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Press release, CNS Pharmaceuticals, JAN 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234553603]). The agreement grants Company the right to develop and commercialize WP1244, a new class of DNA-binding agent designed to cross the blood-brain barrier for the potential treatment of primary and metastatic brain cancers.
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This agreement allows for the continued development of WP1244, which has been shown to have high anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies. WP1244 was designed using a "modular" strategy, which combines intercalation and groove-binding modes into molecules with the requisite chirality and binding-site size to impart meaningful selectivity. Previous pre-clinical tests have demonstrated the agent’s ability to cross the blood-barrier in animal models with no acute clinically observable toxicity.
"Our licensing agreement has allowed CNS to double its portfolio with the addition of WP1244. We are extremely excited to continue the development of this entirely new class of DNA-binding agent," stated CEO of CNS, John M. Climaco. "We believe the compound demonstrates enormous potential through its novel mechanism of action, ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and tremendous potency, 500 times that of classic DNA binding agents such as daunorubicin. WP1244 has shown to be mechanistically and biologically novel and selective, and its addition to our pipeline furthers our goal of being the leading developer of organ-targeted cancer therapeutics."
About WP1244
WP1244 is a novel DNA binding agent with relatively high molecular weight (981.3 MW) having a polyamide moiety attached to the amino sugar. WP1244 is exceedingly potent having in vitro IC50 values in the subnanomolar range and is currently being studied for its therapeutic potential in preclinical studies. A previous 5-mouse pilot study performed with WP1244 confirmed the presence of WP1244 in murine brain tissue. WP1244 was designed utilizing a "modular" design strategy, which combines intercalation and groove-binding modes into molecules with the requisite chirality and binding-site size to impart meaningful selectivity. Pre-clinical studies of WP1244 have demonstrated its potential ability to cross the blood-brain barrier in animal models. WP1244 was developed at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.