PSMA, or prostate-specific membrane antigen
PSMA is a protein that is highly expressed on the surface of prostate cancer cells and the neovasculature of solid tumors. Cytogen has successfully applied its PSMA-targeting platform through the commercialization of its product PROSTASCINT, which consists of Cytogen's proprietary PSMA-targeting monoclonal antibody (7E11-C5) linked to the radioisotope Indium-111. This same antibody is also used as part of CYT-500, Cytogen's Phase 1 product candidate to treat prostate cancer. In addition, a Phase 1/2 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using an ex vivo immunotherapy program for prostate cancer produced by pulsing isolated populations of a patient's antigen presenting cells with PSMA has been completed.
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ProChart™
ProChart is a proprietary, comprehensive, experimentally validated database of protein-protein signaling interactions, which is expected to be extremely valuable to elucidate protein networks involved in systems biology interactions. This robust technology utilizes an extensive collection of protein domains and ligands, and it provides a method to examine novel therapeutic targets and identify key interactions and networks that specifically target diseases. ProChart may accelerate research and drug development by: (i) discovering novel signal transduction pathways and their relevant protein-protein interactions; (ii) rapidly identifying qualified drug targets; (iii) identifying potential unwanted side effects; (iv) identifying structure and activity relationship (SAR) information regarding domain and ligand interactions that can facilitate small molecule drug design; and (v) providing high throughput screening reagents (eg, cloned domains and ligands).
For additional information, please visit www.axcell.com
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Antigen-binding peptides or Abtides™
Abtides are small, highly specific peptides, 38-43 amino acids in length, obtained from novel phage libraries. Their small size, specific target recognition, high affinity and cost-efficient one-step chemical synthesis make them ideal as therapeutic and/or imaging agents and provide valuable advantages over other targeting agents, such as monoclonal antibodies. Abtides that target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on prostate cancer cells and MUC-1 on breast cancer cells have been identified. Other Abtides with specificity for EGFR-positive tumors are also being investigated.
For additional information, please visit www.axcell.com
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Oral drug delivery agents
Small peptide compositions that bind to gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) transporter proteins have been identified. These oral delivery agents are capable of facilitating transport of an active agent from the lumenal side of the GIT into the systemic blood system, and/or in targeting active agents to the GIT. By binding (covalently or noncovatlently) these oral delivery agent to a drug or by coating the surface of nanoparticles or liposomes with these delivery agents, drugs can be targeted to specific receptor sites or transport pathways known to operate in the GIT, thus facilitating systemic absorption into the bloodstream. Successful oral delivery of leuprolide in one experiment and insulin in another, was demonstrated. For more information on these results, click here to access the white paper, "Active-transport peptides induce GIT transport of nanoparticles containing leuprolide and insulin in an in vivo rat model."
For additional information, please visit www.axcell.com
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