Read the latest from Biocurex and then the recent article below.
"This is one of our most significant technical advancements since the RECAF cancer test was announced," said BioCurex CEO and President Dr. Ricardo Moro-Vidal. "The product of several years of work, this patent will improve everything we do while reducing the complexity and cost of the process. Most importantly, the granting of this new patent application will extend the life of our current patents by two decades. Furthermore, this peptide opens a wide range of possibilities for delivering killing agents to cancer cells."
By MELLY ALAZRAKI Posted 9:30 AM 08/24/10
Roche Holding (RHHBY), the Swiss pharmaceutical giant and the world's largest maker of cancer drugs, said Tuesday it is entering a deal with U.S.-based Aileron Therapeutics worth up to $1.1 billion to gain access to a new class of drugs called stapled peptide therapeutics.
Cambridge, Mass.-based Aileron is set to get an upfront payment of $25 million and up to $1.1 billion in payments if drug candidates are successfully developed against five targets, as well as royalties on any future sales. The five undisclosed targets will be selected from Roche's key therapeutic areas, which include oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and central nervous system.Attacking Intractable Disease Targets
One of the challenges in creating treatment is sometimes the drug's ability to reach and penetrate its target cell. Aileron is working on a technology that can help deliver the drugs.
Aileron aims to develop a stabilized peptide, a small protein. It's doing so by "stapling" the peptide into an alpha-helical shape, which optimizes its ability to link and penetrate the cells, as well as stay active longer. The stapled peptide can therefore help a drug penetrate a cell and remain stable after entry to ensure effective treatment of the patient.The deal with Aileron should help Roche develop a new class of drugs that are based on Aileron's technology and become a potential solution for drugs of intractable disease targets.
"This collaboration with Aileron is a strategically important endeavor for advancing a novel approach to developing new medicines and will accelerate our progress toward our ultimate goal of bringing important new treatments to patients with unmet medical needs," Jean-Jacques Garaud, Global Head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development said.
The work was in an early stage and clinical trials could start in about three years, Roche spokeswoman Claudia Schmitt told Reuters.
