Tamir Biotechnology Inc. (ACEL)

[Perris]

Let's not forget about Amphinase - the second RNA

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ACEL's other anti-cancer product:
link: http://www.bio.org/splice/20070629.asp

The Frog Prince and His Latest Molecule
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June 22, 2007


Structure of the Amphinase molecule isolated from the leopard frog.
credit: University of Bath

A princess was walking in the woods with her golden ball, tossing it in the air until it fell into a deep spring. "Alas! if I could only get my ball again, I would give all my fine clothes and jewels, and everything that I have in the world," wailed the princess in the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "The Frog Prince." Of course the princess got her ball back with the help of the frog prince. That story was first published around 1812 in Germany by the Brothers Grimm. Today, there are people with cancer who would do anything for help. And as the frog prince helped the princess so may the leopard frog help future generations of cancer patients.

Research published this week in the Journal of Molecular Biology by scientists from the University of Bath (Bath, U.K.) and Alfacell, a biotechnology company in New Jersey (U.S.) describes a new molecule found in the egg cell of the amphibian, the leopard frog. The molecule, aptly named Amphinase, exerts it's cancer-killing power by recognizing the sugars on the surface of the tumor cell, binding to the cell surface, and inactivating its RNA. The end result, a dead tumor cell.

The researchers say that although Amphinase could be used as a treatment for many forms of cancer it offers the most hope for treating brain tumors, for which surgery and chemotherapy are the only treatment options.

"It is rather like Mother Nature's very own magic bullet for recognizing and destroying cancer cells." says Ravi Acharya, one of the researchers in the U.K. "It is highly specific at hunting and destroying tumor cells, is easily synthesized in the laboratory and offers great hope as a therapeutic treatment of the future," he adds.

The researchers say that Amphinase is in the very early stages of development. That is, several years and many trials away from being developed into patient treatment.

Alfacell is now working on pre-clinical trials of Amphinase. Amphinase is the second RNA - attacking, anti-tumor molecule isolated by Alfacell from leopard frog egg cells. The first, Onconase, is currently in clinical trials for mesothelioma, non-small lung cancer and other solid tumors.


Rana pipiens, the leopard frog