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Startup Glactone Pharma develops prostate cancer drug

Glactone Pharma is a new project company within PULS, Sweden´s largest private incubator in life science. Glactone Pharma develops a new drug against castration-resistant prostate cancer, a stage of the disease when the tumor is unresponsive to therapy with anti-hormonal drugs (Press release, Glactone Pharma, NOV 22, 2012, View Source [SID1234522052]). This corresponds to approximately 40% of all prostate cancer patients and they lack effective treatment today.

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Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the western world and hundreds of thousands of men are affected each year. Castrate resistant prostate cancer is a more serious stage of the disease when anti-hormonal treatment no longer is effective. A multidisciplinary group consisting of researchers from Lund University, Skåne University Hospital and Cordoba University has studied the natural substance galiellalactone over many years. This substance has proven effective in inhibiting the growth of tumors.

– Our research has shown that this substance can inhibit a signal making castration-resistant prostate cancer cells divide in an uncontrolled way. The same signaling mechanism is also active in other types of cancer. The research, that from the beginning was curiosity-driven, is a great example of how Swedish academic research through PULS can be developed, commercialized and made useful for patients and doctors, says Olov Sterner, professor of organic chemistry at Lund University.

– With Glactone Pharma, PULS starts yet another project company developing a treatment against a disease with a huge unmet medical need. Glactone Pharma is a long-term project with great potential and with the goal to develop a treatment for severely ill cancer patients, says Pontus Ottosson, CEO of PULS.

Lewis and Clark Discover New Growth Route with CIT GAP Funds

On November 19, 2012 (HERNDON, Va.) – The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) reported a $100,000 investment in Charlottesville, Va.-based Lewis and Clark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Lewis and Clark) (Press release, Lewis & Clark Pharmaceuticals, NOV 19, 2012, View Source [SID1234520532]). Nearly 200 years after Charlottesville native Meriwether Lewis, and his partner, William Clark, set out to discover the western territory of the United States, Dr. Robert Thompson and his team of scientists at Lewis and Clark Pharmaceuticals are discovering ways in which adenosine-based compounds can be used to solve difficult clinical challenges.

CIT President and CEO Pete Jobse said, “Large pharmaceutical companies face over $100 billion in lost revenue through patent expirations by 2015. These companies need to fill the pipeline sooner, and Lewis and Clark is well positioned to be a leader in the development of novel adenosine-based pharmaceutical compounds for autoimmune and other diseases.”
While pharmaceutical companies regularly work with university researchers to find new discoveries, academics often lack expertise in moving compounds though pre-clinical testing and into clinical trials. Lewis and Clark solves the problem by focusing on developing new compounds from discovery through initial clinical trials and beyond.
The company will initially focus its efforts on two large markets: stress imaging, which represents a $1 billion annual market and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, currently a $20 billion market. Lewis and Clark believes that its compounds are more selective, more potent and exhibit lower toxicity than comparable compounds.
Robert Thompson, Ph.D., Lewis and Clark Founder and CEO, an organic chemist with over 30 years of experience in designing and developing drug compounds, said, “We are filling a huge market need and CIT’s investment will help move us down the path to growth and commercialization.”
Tom Weithman, CIT Vice President and GAP Funds Managing Director, said, “It is truly inspirational to see the innovation taking place within biotech companies like Lewis and Clark, and it is an honor to help this experienced management team bring much needed therapies to market.”
Since its 2005 launch, CIT GAP Funds has placed over 75 investments across the Commonwealth, deploying greater than $7 million of public funds and attracting over $80 million more in private funding. For a list of portfolio companies, please visit the GAP Funds website.
About the Center for Innovative Technology, www.cit.org
CIT is a nonprofit corporation that accelerates the next generation of technology and technology companies. CIT creates new technology companies through capital formation, market development and revenue generation services. To facilitate national innovation leadership and accelerate the rate of technology adoption, CIT creates partnerships between innovative technology start-up companies and advanced technology consumers. CIT’s CAGE Code is 1UP71.
About the CIT GAP Funds, www.citgapfunds.org
CIT GAP Funds makes seed-stage equity investments in Virginia-based technology, clean tech and life science companies with a high potential for achieving rapid growth and generating significant economic return for entrepreneurs, co-investors and the Commonwealth of Virginia. CIT GAP Funds investments are overseen by the CIT GAP Funds Investment Advisory Board (IAB). This independent, third-party panel consists of leading regional entrepreneurs, angel and strategic investors, and venture capital firms such as: New Enterprise Associates, Grotech Ventures, Valhalla Partners, Harbert Venture Partners, HIG Ventures, Edison Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Intersouth Partners, SJF Ventures, Carilion Clinic, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric and Alpha Natural Resources.

(Filing, 10-Q, ChemoCentryx, NOV 13, 2012, View Source [SID:1234503793])

(Filing, 10-Q, Adamis Pharmaceuticals, NOV 13, 2012, View Source [SID:1234502625])

Topotarget grants exclusive license to Oncology Venture regarding APO010

On November 13, 2012 Topotarget reported that the company has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Oncology Venture ApS granting Oncology Venture global rights to the further clinical development of APO010 (Press release TopoTarget, NOV 13, 2012, View Source;messageId=651790 [SID:1234500427]).
APO010 is an anti-cancer drug comprising multimerised Fas ligand, which utilizes Topotarget’s proprietary Mega ligand technology (a non-core component of Topotarget’s IP assets). APO010 targets Fas receptors on the surface of cancer cells and induces cell death via apoptosis. APO010 has shown activity in otherwise drug-resistant cells.
Under the agreement, Oncology Venture will license all rights specific to APO010 which are covered by Topotarget’s issued and pending patents in Europe, the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and other territories. The agreement also grants Oncology Venture the right to sub-license.
No details of the terms of the agreement were disclosed.