– Heidelberg Pharma has acquired an exclusive license from the University of Texas System, on behalf of MD Anderson, related to its patent rights for diagnosis and treatment of select patient groups with RNA polymerase II deletion based on data created in cooperation with Heidelberg Pharma
– The preclinical results demonstrate enhanced efficacy of Amanitin and Heidelberg Pharma’s Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates (ATACs) in aggressive tumors with TP53 deletion demonstrated in vivo
LADENBURG, Germany I March 1, 2018 I Heidelberg Pharma AG (FSE:WL6 ) today announced the signing of a license agreement between its affiliate, Heidelberg Pharma Research GmbH and The University of Texas System, on behalf of MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson), for patent rights related to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with RNA polymerase II deletion. The application, filed in the name of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, covers important aspects of a potential personalized treatment based on Heidelberg Pharma’s ATAC technology (Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates).
Heidelberg Pharma is developing a new cancer therapy based on the compound Amanitin. Due to its biological mode of action (inhibition of RNA polymerase II), it has the potential to be particularly effective against aggressive tumors in connection with a TP53 deletion. TP53 encodes for a tumor suppressor protein and tumors often lose a copy of the TP53 gene, which leads to uncontrolled growth of the tumor cells. Since RNA polymerase II is also frequently suppressed, the altered tumor cells are particularly sensitive to Amanitin and Heidelberg Pharma’s Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates (ATACs). The TP53/RNA Polymerase II deletion is also part of the chromosomal deletion 17p which is frequently observed in tumor cells and connected to aggressive tumors with poor prognosis.
Professor Andreas Pahl, Chief Scientific Officer of Heidelberg Pharma AG, said: “With the exclusive license to use the important results from our research along with work by MD Anderson, we are in a strong position to advance the development of a new cancer therapy based on our ATAC technology. Work is already underway to develop a companion diagnostic to identify and quantify a TP53/RNA polymerase II deletion in patients, the next step to advance this program. We believe that this personalized medicine approach will enable us to identify those patients who are likely to benefit the most from our ATAC programs.”
The patent application is based on research that was co-published by MD Anderson and Heidelberg Pharma in the peer-reviewed journal, Nature, in April 2015. Heidelberg Pharma had the option to license the results of this research, which it has now exercised. This research is serving as the foundation to evaluate the potential of this drug candidate and advance the program into clinical testing.
The financial details of the license agreement are confidential but will not have an impact on Heidelberg Pharma’s cash reach
About Heidelberg Pharma
Heidelberg Pharma AG is a biopharmaceutical company based in Ladenburg, Germany. Heidelberg Pharma is an oncology specialist and the first company to develop the toxin Amanitin into cancer therapies using its proprietary Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugate (ATAC) technology and to advance the biological mode of action of the toxin as a novel therapeutic principle. This proprietary technology platform is being applied to develop the Company’s proprietary therapeutic ATACs as well as in third-party collaborations to create a variety of ATAC candidates. The proprietary lead candidate HDP-101 is a BCMA ATAC for multiple myeloma. Heidelberg Pharma AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange: ISIN DE000A11QVV0 / WKN A11QVV / Symbol WL6. More information is available at http://www.heidelberg-pharma.com/.
About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world’s most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution’s sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey. It has ranked as one of the nation’s top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 13 times in the last 16 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
SOURCE: Heidelberg Pharma
Post Views: 146
– Heidelberg Pharma has acquired an exclusive license from the University of Texas System, on behalf of MD Anderson, related to its patent rights for diagnosis and treatment of select patient groups with RNA polymerase II deletion based on data created in cooperation with Heidelberg Pharma
– The preclinical results demonstrate enhanced efficacy of Amanitin and Heidelberg Pharma’s Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates (ATACs) in aggressive tumors with TP53 deletion demonstrated in vivo
LADENBURG, Germany I March 1, 2018 I Heidelberg Pharma AG (FSE:WL6 ) today announced the signing of a license agreement between its affiliate, Heidelberg Pharma Research GmbH and The University of Texas System, on behalf of MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson), for patent rights related to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with RNA polymerase II deletion. The application, filed in the name of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, covers important aspects of a potential personalized treatment based on Heidelberg Pharma’s ATAC technology (Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates).
Heidelberg Pharma is developing a new cancer therapy based on the compound Amanitin. Due to its biological mode of action (inhibition of RNA polymerase II), it has the potential to be particularly effective against aggressive tumors in connection with a TP53 deletion. TP53 encodes for a tumor suppressor protein and tumors often lose a copy of the TP53 gene, which leads to uncontrolled growth of the tumor cells. Since RNA polymerase II is also frequently suppressed, the altered tumor cells are particularly sensitive to Amanitin and Heidelberg Pharma’s Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates (ATACs). The TP53/RNA Polymerase II deletion is also part of the chromosomal deletion 17p which is frequently observed in tumor cells and connected to aggressive tumors with poor prognosis.
Professor Andreas Pahl, Chief Scientific Officer of Heidelberg Pharma AG, said: “With the exclusive license to use the important results from our research along with work by MD Anderson, we are in a strong position to advance the development of a new cancer therapy based on our ATAC technology. Work is already underway to develop a companion diagnostic to identify and quantify a TP53/RNA polymerase II deletion in patients, the next step to advance this program. We believe that this personalized medicine approach will enable us to identify those patients who are likely to benefit the most from our ATAC programs.”
The patent application is based on research that was co-published by MD Anderson and Heidelberg Pharma in the peer-reviewed journal, Nature, in April 2015. Heidelberg Pharma had the option to license the results of this research, which it has now exercised. This research is serving as the foundation to evaluate the potential of this drug candidate and advance the program into clinical testing.
The financial details of the license agreement are confidential but will not have an impact on Heidelberg Pharma’s cash reach
About Heidelberg Pharma
Heidelberg Pharma AG is a biopharmaceutical company based in Ladenburg, Germany. Heidelberg Pharma is an oncology specialist and the first company to develop the toxin Amanitin into cancer therapies using its proprietary Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugate (ATAC) technology and to advance the biological mode of action of the toxin as a novel therapeutic principle. This proprietary technology platform is being applied to develop the Company’s proprietary therapeutic ATACs as well as in third-party collaborations to create a variety of ATAC candidates. The proprietary lead candidate HDP-101 is a BCMA ATAC for multiple myeloma. Heidelberg Pharma AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange: ISIN DE000A11QVV0 / WKN A11QVV / Symbol WL6. More information is available at http://www.heidelberg-pharma.com/.
About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world’s most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution’s sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey. It has ranked as one of the nation’s top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 13 times in the last 16 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
SOURCE: Heidelberg Pharma
Post Views: 146
