On February 9, 2015 GenSpera, Inc. (OTCQB: GNSZ) reported a strategic partnership with Phyton Biotech for the manufacture of thapsigargin, which is derived from the thapsia plant and is the key ingredient in the company’s investigational agent mipsagargin (Press release, GenSpera, FEB 9, 2015, View Source [SID:1234508845]). Phyton Biotech will offer its Plant Cell Fermentation (PCF) development expertise to convert the thapsia plant into a preserved, fermentable cell line with a goal of creating a sustainable source of high quality thapsigargin.
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"This partnership will revolutionize the way we obtain thapsigargin to develop our drugs, enabling us to boost supply and reduce the impurities that can arise when it is extracted from naturally grown plants," said Craig Dionne, Ph.D., chief executive officer at GenSpera. "By working with Phyton Biotech, we are leveraging state-of-the-art biotech that has the potential to improve the efficiency of our production process. It is through these kinds of partnerships that we can not only develop new drug candidates, but do so in a way that creates increased product value."
The announcement comes as GenSpera enters a stage of continued development of mipsagargin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and ongoing trials in glioblastoma (brain cancer) and prostate cancer. This week, GenSpera will present its long-term business growth plans at the BIO CEO & Investor conference being held in New York City. Last month, GenSpera presented positive Phase II study results for mipsagargin in treating HCC at the 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, Calif., demonstrating a proof of concept for its intellectual property.
"Working with an innovative partner like GenSpera, who is committed to developing new treatment options and doing so in a way that maximizes efficiency and quality, is exciting," said Mark Mitchell, president at Phyton Biotech. "Phyton has a proven track record for commercial supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the field of oncology using its PCF process. We share GenSpera’s vision of harnessing the power of the thapsia plant and expanding their capacity with the best biotech."