Champions Biotechnology Enters into Licensing Agreement with Yale University and Southern Research Institute for the Repurposing
18 Novembro 2009 - 11:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Champions Continues to Build its Tumorgraft(TM) Driven Oncology
Pipeline BALTIMORE, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Champions
Biotechnology, Inc. (OTC:CSBR) (BULLETIN BOARD: CSBR) , an oncology
drug development company with a predictive preclinical platform
aimed at accelerating the development and enhancing the value of
oncology drugs, has established an exclusive licensing agreement
with Yale University and Southern Research Institute for the
development of Bithionol for cancer treatment. Scientists from Yale
and Southern Research found that Bithionol, a drug available for
helminthic infections, shows activity against solid cancerous
tumors and has the potential to treat melanoma, prostate, breast
and lung cancer, among other cancers. Their research found that
Bithionol is an Autotaxin inhibitor that is expected to be useful
in treating various types of cancer. By inhibiting Autotaxin (ATX),
a prometastatic enzyme, Bithionol inhibits myriad of biological
activities, including angiogenesis and the promotion of cell
growth, survival, and differentiation. ATX increases the
aggressiveness and invasiveness of transformed cells, and ATX
levels directly correlate with tumor stage and grade in several
human malignancies. Under the terms of the agreement, Champions
will have exclusive rights and be responsible for the further
development of Bithionol for all oncology indications. Yale and
Southern Research will receive an upfront payment and will be
eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties. Additionally,
the parties have agreed upon certain terms favorable to developing
world markets. Champions will use its predictive Biomerk
Tumorgraft(TM) platform to assess the efficacy of the compound --
alone and in combination with other compounds -- to determine its
optimal application and enable efficient clinical development. Upon
successful results, Champions will move the compound forward into
human clinical trials. "The benefits of our predictive
Tumorgraft(TM) evaluation are further enhanced by the fact that
Biothionol is already available for a different indication. We
therefore expect an accelerated regulatory path to proof of
clinical concept," said Guy Malchi, head of corporate development
for Champions. This is the third compound to be in-licensed into
Champions' rapidly growing pipeline of oncology compounds.
Recently, Champions announced the licensing of TAR-1, a
single-chain antibody fragment, from Ramot at Tel Aviv University.
"We are excited to work with Champions' experienced scientific team
to translate these promising early findings towards a meaningful
clinical program by leveraging Champions' preclinical platform,"
said Demetrios Braddock, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of
Pathology in Yale School of Medicine and the Yale inventor of the
licensed technology. "It is gratifying to see the work of Southern
Research and Yale scientists being channeled in this way, and to
hopefully lead to the development of another new drug for cancer
patients," said Nancy M. Gray, Ph.D., vice president of Corporate
Development for Southern Research Institute. "This licensing
opportunity with the Champions team fits quite well within Southern
Research's own mission of conducting basic and translational
research that ultimately leads to the approval of a new drug." The
work was funded, in part, by the Yale Clinical and Translational
Science Award (CTSA) grant from the National Center for Research
Resources at the National Institutes of Health. About Champions
Biotechnology, Inc. Champions Biotechnology, Inc. is engaged in the
development of advanced preclinical platforms and tumor specific
data to enhance and accelerate the value of oncology drugs. The
Company's Preclinical Platform is a novel approach based upon the
implantation of primary human tumors in immune deficient mice
followed by propagation of the resulting engraftments (Biomerk
Tumorgrafts(TM)) in a manner that preserves the biological
characteristics of the original human tumor. Early studies suggest
that unlike traditional xenografts, these Tumorgrafts closely
reflect human cancer biology and their response to drugs is
predictive of clinical outcomes in cancer patients. Champions
Biotechnology leverages its preclinical platform to evaluate drug
candidates and to develop a portfolio of novel therapeutic
candidates. As drugs progress through early stage development, the
Company plans to sell, partner or license them to pharmaceutical
and/or biotechnology companies, as appropriate. The Company also
offers its predictive preclinical platform and tumor specific data
to physicians for personalized patient care and to companies for
evaluation of oncology drugs in models that integrate prognostic
testing with biomarker discovery. For more information regarding
Champions Biotechnology's growing business and recent news, please
visit http://www.championsbiotechnology.com/ or
http://www.personalizedcancertreatment.com/. About Yale University
Founded in 1701, Yale University comprises three major academic
components: Yale College (the undergraduate program), the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences, and the professional schools. In
addition, Yale encompasses a wide array of centers and programs,
libraries, museums, and administrative support offices.
Approximately 11,250 students attend Yale. Founded in 1810, Yale
School of Medicine is a world-renowned center for biomedical
research, education and advanced healthcare. Among its 27
departments are one of the nation's oldest schools of public health
and the internationally recognized Child Study Center, founded in
1911. Yale School of Medicine consistently ranks among the handful
of leading recipients of research funding from the National
Institutes of Health and other organizations supporting the
biomedical sciences. Its core faculty of more than 1,100 physicians
and scientists is well represented within the Institute of Medicine
and National Academy of Sciences and among investigators of the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute. About Southern Research Southern
Research Institute is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 scientific research
organization that conducts preclinical drug discovery and
development, and advanced engineering research in materials,
systems development, environment and energy. Our more than 550
scientific and engineering team members support clients and
partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace,
environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is
headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities in Wilsonville,
Ala., Anniston, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in
New Orleans, La., Washington, DC and Kiev, Ukraine. For more
information about Southern Research and its capabilities and
accomplishments, visit http://www.southernresearch.org/. CONTACT:
The Investor Relations Group, Inc. James Carbonara +1-212-825-3210
DATASOURCE: Champions Biotechnology, Inc. CONTACT: James Carbonara,
The Investor Relations Group, Inc., +1-212-825-3210 Web Site:
http://www.championsbiotechnology.com/
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