NEWBIOTICS/ELAN TO DEVELOP COLON CANCER TREATMENT.NewBiotics Inc. and Elan Corp., plc (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : ELN Noun 1. ELN - a Marxist terrorist group formed in 1963 by Colombian intellectuals who were inspired by the Cuban Revolution; responsible for a campaign of mass kidnappings and resistance to the government's efforts to stop the drug trade; "ELN kidnappers target ), have formed a joint venture to develop and commercialize NewBiotics' lead compound, NB1011, to treat cancer in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Canada and Europe. The initial focus of NB1011 will be on treating patients with colorectal cancer colorectal cancer Malignant tumour of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Risk factors include age (after age 50), family history of colorectal cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, benign polyps, physical inactivity, and a diet high in fat. who have not responded well to standard chemotherapy. As part of the agreement, Elan has made an equity investment in NewBiotics and gained the opportunity to negotiate commercialization rights to NB1011 for cancer treatment in the United States, Canada and Europe. In addition, the joint venture will receive certain rights to utilize Elan's NanoCrystal(TM) technology. "We are enthusiastic about our collaboration with Elan aimed at beginning human clinical trials for NB1011 and future commercialization of this product," said Roger L. Headrick, chief executive officer of NewBiotics. "The technical and financial resources furnished by Elan will greatly expedite the development of our unique and proprietary ECTA ECTA European Competitive Telecommunications Association ECTA European Communities Trade Mark Association (Antwerp, Belgium) ECTA East Coast Trail Association ECTA Educación, Comunicación y Tecnología Alternativa technology," added H. Michael Shepard, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer of NewBiotics. "This agreement not only reflects our enthusiasm about the potential of NB1011 to become an important part of colon cancer colon cancer, cancer of any part of the colon (often called the large intestine). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. treatment, but also our belief in NewBiotics' approach to target identification and drug discovery," said Ivan M. Lieberburg, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, and chief scientific and medical officer at Elan's South San Francisco South San Francisco, city (1990 pop. 54,312), San Mateo co., W Calif.; inc. 1908. South San Francisco has several industrial parks; its manufactures include medical supplies and equipment, foods, paint, paper products, consumer goods, and clothing. facility. Enzyme Catalyzed Therapeutic Activation (ECTA) Technology Founded in 1997, NewBiotics is focusing on the discovery and development of drug molecules capable of breaking the cycle of drug resistance while minimizing damage to healthy cells. Many conventional drugs are enzyme inhibitors: they work by inhibiting a diseased cell's key enzyme, a protein that promotes -- or catalyzes -- a specific biochemical reaction involved in cell growth or metabolism. But diseased cells can outsmart out·smart tr.v. out·smart·ed, out·smart·ing, out·smarts To gain the advantage over by cunning; outwit. outsmart Verb Informal same as outwit Verb 1. this approach by mutating or increasing the production of this enzyme, transforming it into a "resistance enzyme" immune to higher drug doses. This cycle of drug resistance culminates in life-threatening drug toxicity to the patient until the drug is no longer useful. "Trojan Horse Solution" to Treat Cancer NewBiotics designs drugs that exploit the resistance enzyme by mimicking the biological molecule, or so-called substrate, with which the enzyme normally reacts. Like the Trojan Horse of ancient Greece, the ECTA drug carries a potent toxin hidden within its chemical structure through the walls of the diseased cell. Once inside the cell, the resistance enzyme catalyzes the release and activation of the toxin causing the cell to self-destruct. Although the ECTA drug may enter normal cells, diseased cells are more susceptible to the drug and its hidden payload because they have much higher concentrations of the resistance enzyme. In this way, a diseased cell is tricked into committing suicide by a drug that acts as a substrate, rather than an inhibitor, of the resistance enzyme. About NewBiotics Inc. NewBiotics Inc., of San Diego, is a pharmaceutical developer of breakthrough drugs to treat cancer and infectious disease Infectious disease A pathological condition spread among biological species. Infectious diseases, although varied in their effects, are always associated with viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites and aberrant proteins known as prions. . The privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. is applying its Enzyme Catalyzed Therapeutic Activation (ECTA) technology to develop a new generation of pharmaceuticals that transform drug resistance into therapeutic advantage. Unlike conventional agents that kill diseased cells by enzyme inhibition -- with toxic effects and drug resistance, ECTA provides a "Trojan Horse Solution" to this problem with powerful drugs that carry a potent toxin hidden within their chemical structure. Released and activated by the diseased cell's resistance enzyme, the toxin causes the cell to self-destruct with minimal toxicity to the patient. For more information, call 858-259-8600. |
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