www.circadian.com.au
Circadian Technologies Limited (ASX: CIR) is an Australian biotechnology company developing innovative, biologics-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and other serious human illnesses. Circadian owns an extensive portfolio of products and intellectual property related to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGFs), a class of proteins that play a critical role in regulating tumour blood supply. These programs are conducted through Vegenics Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Circadian.
Circadian Technologies produces VGX-300 protein in sufficient quantity and yield for first time
Drug developer for Circadian Technologies (ASX: CIR) has ticked a key box in its VGX-300 cancer therapeutics program to assist cancer patients.
By achieving the production of the VGX-300 protein in cell culture in sufficient quantity and yield for the first time, the company has ensured that the company can build on, the previously published anti-cancer effects, in pre-clinical animal studies.
And, represents an important precurser to large scale manufacturing of the VGX-300 protein.
VGX-300 is a soluble form of the VEGFR-3 receptor, and is being developed by Circadian as a novel anti-cancer drug.
VGX-300 is designed to bind and neutralize the proteins VEGF-C and VEGF-D - two key mediators of tumour blood and lymphatic vessel development - thereby “starving” the tumour of oxygen and nutrients and preventing cancer spread through the blood and lymphatic system.
The applications for the VEGF technology, which functions in regulating blood supply, are substantial and represent a huge market for the company.
The key manufacturing milestone achieved with VGX-300, sets the scene for Professor Kari Alitalo, chairman of Circadian’s Scientific Advisory Board to report the news to the 7th Annual Angiogenesis Foundation International Conference in Boston today.
Robert Klupacs, CEO of Circadian said that VGX-300 belongs in a relatively new category of biological drugs, and producing the protein at a sufficient yield was not a given at the inception of the program.
“Now that we have the protein in substantial supply, we will initiate critical efficacy studies in a range of animal models which will build on the previously published anti-cancer effects,” Klupacs said.
Circadian currently has three products in preclinical development for cancer treatment, based upon the patented discoveries of Professor Alitalo, in the role that VEGFR-3 plays in the spread (metastasis) of tumour cells via the lymphatic system.
Avastin, which is sold by Genentech, now part of Roche, has demonstrated the potential prize at hand for Ciracadian in the US and overseas. Worldwide sales of Avastin were US$2.7 billion in 2008, while worldwide were a massive US$7.5 million.
Avastin is an antibody that blocks the activity of VEGF-A, clinically validated anti-angiogenic drugs as an effective means of inhibiting solid tumour growth. This cancer drug slows tumour growth by inhibiting blood vessel recruitment into the tumour, effectively starving tumours of essential nutrients and oxygen required for growth.
VEGF-C and VEGF-D inhibitors, VGX-100, VGX-200 and VGX-300, are key therapeutics in the portfolio of Circadian.
