1stOncology™: Cancer Intelligence Service – Page 16471 – 1stOncology is recognized as a Top 10 Global Pharma Analytic Provider

CRT spins out company to develop cancer surgery machine to melt tumours

On January 26, 2012 Cancer Research Technology, the commercial arm of Cancer Research UK, reported it has launched Acublate Limited, a spin-out company which will develop a next-generation High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) surgery device to treat a range of solid tumour types (Press release, Acublate, JAN 26, 2012, http://commercial.cancerresearchuk.org/crt-spins-out-company-develop-cancer-surgery-machine-melt-tumours [SID1234523125]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

HIFU is a highly precise non-invasive type of surgery which uses ultrasound energy to heat and destroy tumours while leaving surrounding healthy tissue intact. The treatment works with immediate benefit and has the potential to reduce side effects compared with current alternative treatments.

The Acublate device uses an advanced proprietary phased-array system – that is, it targets multiple points in the tumour at once. The system can be steered rapidly in 3D to target and destroy tumours.

It is expected that the device will significantly reduce HIFU treatment times and become a more effective and cheaper alternative to currently available HIFU therapies for the treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Initially, the Acublate device will treat patients with bowel cancer that has spread to the liver. But the technology has the potential to treat a range of cancers.

Cancer Research UK, Imperial Innovations and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust funded the original research to develop the technology. The research was led by founding scientists physicist Professor Jeff Hand at Imperial College London and surgeon Professor Paul Abel at Imperial College London.

Cancer Research Technology, with others, has raised £145,000 to develop the clinical prototype which is expected to be ready within a year. Further funding will be required to run clinical trials of the equipment with the first clinical data expected within 24 months.

Cancer Research Technology, which owns the IP to the technology, is Acublate Limited’s major equity holder and will benefit from any future licence income

Tony Hickson, managing director technology transfer, at Imperial Innovations, said: "As the provider of commercialisation services to the Imperial College Healthcare Trust, Imperial Innovations is extremely pleased to see this cutting-edge treatment being developed by a Cancer Research UK spin-out, and, alongside the ICHT and CRT, has backed the idea, supporting the development of the prototype towards clinical trials."

Dr Keith Blundy, CRT’s CEO, said: "We’re delighted to be able to take the research into this exciting technology that Cancer Research UK helped fund onto the next stage. The HIFU technology currently approved for clinical use in the UK specifically targets prostate cancer but we hope the Acublate device will be able to treat most solid tumour types.

"It’s also expected to treat patients more quickly, more effectively and with fewer side effects than the current technology.

"We hope to have the first set of data from clinical trials using the equipment to treat bowel cancer that has spread to the liver, within two years."

Celgene to Acquire Avila Therapeutics

On January 26, 2012 Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) and Avila Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company developing targeted covalent drugs that treat diseases through protein silencing, reported a definitive merger agreement under which Celgene Corporation will acquire Avila Therapeutics, Inc (Press release, Celgene
, JAN 26, 2012, View Source [SID1234517135]).

The acquisition positions Celgene to expand its leading role in the future treatment of hematologic cancers with Avila’s AVL-292, a highly-selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) inhibitor, currently in phase I clinical development. In addition, Avila’s proprietary Avilomics Platform augments Celgene’s investment in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for managing complex disorders.

"Avila Therapeutics is a remarkable company that is aligned with our commitment to improve the lives of patients worldwide through innovative science and disease-altering therapies," said Tom Daniel, M.D., President of Research and Early Development for Celgene Corporation. "In particular, we see Avila’s unique approach to protein silencing as an area of great promise for our research initiatives in hematology, oncology and immune-inflammatory diseases."

"Celgene and Avila are uniquely matched, both strategically and scientifically," said Katrine Bosley, Avila’s Chief Executive Officer. "Celgene’s global leadership in hematology and emerging franchise in immune-inflammatory diseases will accelerate and expand the clinical development of our Btk inhibitor program. Equally important, we value the high standards of creativity and rigor of Celgene’s scientists. We believe working together may accelerate the advancement of more innovative medicines from the Avilomics platform."

The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of each company and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Celgene will acquire Avila Therapeutics, Inc. for $350 million in cash, plus up to $195 million for milestones contingent upon the development and regulatory approval of AVL-292, as well as up to $380 million in potential milestone payments contingent upon the development and approval of candidates generated from the Avilomics platform. The acquisition of Avila Therapeutics, Inc. will be accounted for as a purchase transaction that Celgene expects to be completed during the first quarter of 2012. The Company anticipates the acquisition will be neutral to 2012 non-GAAP diluted earnings guidance.

(Press release, Cannabis Science, JAN 25, 2012, View Source [SID:1234505817])

Boehringer Ingelheim prolongates drug discovery collaboration with Priaxon

On January 24, 2012 Priaxon, utilizing its proprietory PriaXplore platform for small molecule drug discovery, and Boehringer Ingelheim reported they will prolongate their research and development collaboration on mdm2/p53 inhibitors for the treatment of cancer (Press release, Boehringer Ingelheim, JAN 24, 2012, View Source;detail=28 [SID1234535648]).

The companies will continue working jointly to identify and advance drug candidates into pre-clinical development. Thereafter, Boehringer Ingelheim will drive the development and commercialisation of the potential cancer treatments arising from the collaboration.

"Priaxon has been able to develop promising mdm2/p53 inhibitors with its PriaXplore technology", said Dr Juergen Kolb, CEO of Priaxon. "We are proud that Boehringer Ingelheim appreciates Priaxon as a competent partner by prolongating the collaboration to advance the high potency lead compounds. We enjoy the fair and creative atmosphere of this cooperation very much."

Priaxon is entitled to up to EUR 86 million in milestone payments upon achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones as well as royalties on potential future net sales of products.

About mdm2/p53 Inhibition
The human p53 tumor suppressor protein has been one of the most investigated proteins in cancer research due to the fact that loss of p53 function through mutation and/or deregulation is involved in about 50% of all human cancers. The role of p53 in controlling the cell cycle and monitoring the integrity of the genome has made it known as the "guardian of the genome". Besides the functional loss of p53 through mutation, it can also be inactivated by the overexpression or amplification of MDM2 (murine double minute 2), which is the case in many p53 wild-type tumors. Thus, disruption of the MDM2-p53 interaction is considered a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer cells that still are endowed with wild-type p53, and a variety of small molecule drug like compounds have been reported that bind to the p53 binding site of MDM2.

(Press release, , JAN 24, 2012, View Source [SID:1234504485])