Polysiloxane Gd-Chelates based nanoparticles

Andre Vlok and Mal Eutick from Phebra with Carolyn Dillon and Judith Carrall from UOW School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience. Credit: University of Wollongong. Pharmaceutical firm Phebra has reached a new six-year collaboration agreement with Australia’s University of Wollongong (UOW), focusing on compounds that target acute myeloid leukaemias and pancreatic cancer. The partnership will continue research and development (R&D), along with trials of the patented and targeted arsenic compounds for these indications. Recommended Reports Reports LOA and PTSR Model - AGuIX Gadolinium-Based Nanoparticles in Cervical Cancer GlobalData Reports LOA and PTSR Model - Gene-Modified Cell Therapy to Target HPV-16 E6 for Cervical Cancer in Cervic... GlobalData View all In 2016, the medicinal chemistry research group at the University, led by associate professor Carolyn Dillon, began collaboration with Phebra. Dillon and Dr Judith Carrall invented the patent for the anti-cancer agent, which was published in 2019. Utilising a targeting system, the new molecule will deliver lower quantities of the active ingredient arsenic to specific cancers. It is expected to help minimise off-target side effects besides expanding the therapeutic potential to difficult-to-treat cancers. The drug has demonstrated positive outcomes in pancreatic cell lines and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), according to the university. PHENASEN, developed by Phebra, is an injectable arsenic trioxide solution designed to treat haematological cancers such as acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). Phebra exports PHENASEN across the globe, including the Americas, the UK, Europe Africa, and Oceania. In Australia, the company concluded the study of bioequivalence study of an oral version of PHENASEN. Phebra CEO Andre Vlok said: “Our work with UOW demonstrates Phebra’s ongoing commitment to bring new drugs to market for key unmet needs and to develop, locally manufacture and commercialise products which are the work of Australian researchers. “Phebra’s aim is to keep innovating – to research, develop and produce the medicines here in Australia, which in turn, also allows the next generation of university researchers to be trained in the expertise of pharmaceutical development.”

The partnership will discover and develop new protein therapies for up to five targets in advanced cancers. Credit: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Generate Biomedicines has signed a co-development and commercialisation agreement with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to expedite the development of new protein therapeutics for oncology using generative AI. Under the multi-year collaboration, the two parties will work together on the discovery and development of new protein therapies for up to five targets in advanced cancers, including small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancer. Recommended Reports Reports Immuno-oncology in Pharmaceuticals: Antibody drug conjugates(ADC) cancer therapy GlobalData Reports LOA and PTSR Model - AGuIX Gadolinium-Based Nanoparticles in Pancreatic Cancer GlobalData View all The co-development effort will focus on optimised therapies that can quickly advance into proof-of-concept clinical trials. The collaboration will bring together Generate’s platform-powered integrated machine-learning capabilities and experimental/wet lab capabilities, MD Anderson’s clinical research expertise and the translational research to advanCe therapeutics and innovation in oncology (which is known as TRACTION) platform’s translational research and drug development capabilities. TRACTION is a part of the therapeutics discovery division of MD Anderson. The platform was developed to overcome traditional challenges in the discovery of oncology drugs by using an integrated translational biology engine. It enables innovative and collaborative research to rapidly bring new treatment options to patients. MD Anderson TRACTION oncology research vice-president Timothy Heffernan stated: “Together with Generate Biomedicines, we aim to leverage rapid advancements in generative AI to develop new medicines that are purpose-built for those who do not benefit from existing treatments or who have drug-resistant cancers requiring new options. “By joining the Generate platform with our integrated translational research and drug development approach, we hope to successfully scale drug discovery and development in a way that has eluded traditional trial-and-error methods.” Generate Biomedicines stated that the researchers in TRACTION and the MD Anderson research enterprise will draw on the Generate platform’s programmability and scalability to expedite drug development and inform clinical translation. Costs related to the research and development of the therapies will be shared between Generate Biomedicines and MD Anderson, and the parties will share the income generated through commercialising the products developed from the partnership. MD Anderson will also serve as the site, and will recommend lead investigators for the Phase I and II clinical trials of the product candidates.