US-based biopharmaceutical company Panacea Pharmaceuticals has received a new US patent that covers antibodies against human aspartyl beta-hydroxylase, a proprietary human cancer biomarker and therapeutic target.
These antibodies were developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Panacea has exclusive, worldwide rights to this patent for the development of human cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Panacea is developing PAN-622, an all-human sequence anti-human aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase (HAAH) monoclonal antibody covered under this patent, as a cancer therapeutic antibody drug and anticipates the start of Phase I clinical trials in early 2009.
Panacea has demonstrated the efficacy of PAN-622, an all-human sequence anti-HAAH monoclonal antibody, in animal models of cancer. In these experiments PAN-622 inhibited tumor growth in 90% of animals, with 40% showing no visible tumor. Due to its all-human sequence, PAN-622 is anticipated to have low toxicity in humans.
In addition, the presence of HAAH protein in serum has been demonstrated to be highly sensitive and specific for cancer in hundreds of patients with a range of cancer types, and Panacea has developed serum diagnostic tests measuring HAAH for prostate lung, breast and colon cancer.
Hossein Ghanbari, chairman, CEO and chief scientific officer at Panacea Pharmaceuticals, said: “We are quickly advancing PAN-622 toward clinical trials and we are confident that this monoclonal antibody will prove to have tremendous potential as a cancer therapeutic agent.”
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