Gemin X Identifies Molecules That Inhibit Telomere Maintenance Proteins Important to Cancer Cell Survival
Posted on: Wednesday, 24 October 2007, 09:00 CDT
Gemin X Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that its abstract titled "Targeted approach towards inhibition of telomere-hnRNP A1 interaction" was selected for inclusion in a panel press conference and poster presentations at the American Association of Cancer Research-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in San Francisco.
A study to identify small molecule compounds that can disrupt the hnRNP A1/telomeric DNA interaction and induce cancer cell death was discussed at the AACR-NCI-EORTC-sponsored press conference at noon yesterday and presented at same day poster sessions. Gemin X researchers described the coordinated effort to develop an efficient and novel screening approach to systematically screen millions of molecular compounds. The analysis lead to the successful identification of two related compound classes that would appear to serve as potent inhibitors of hnRNP A1 and A2 proteins. It is suggested that inhibiting these validated anti-cancer targets would compromise the stability of telomeres, which are specialized structures that cap the ends of chromosomes, and specifically induce cancer cell death.
"We are encouraged with the success to date of this discovery-stage program and we will continue development of this potentially new class of inhibitors toward a pharmacologically active drug in cancer treatment strategies," stated Dr. Gordon Shore, Chief Scientific Officer of Gemin X. "Gemin X is focused on discovering and developing small molecules that target specialized cancer pathways, particularly key regulators of cancer cell progression and survival. Our telomere program fits into this strategy and complements our existing clinical-stage pipeline candidates, including obatoclax and GMX1777, whose unique mechanism of action we also presented in a poster session at this conference."
About Gemin X
Gemin X Pharmaceuticals, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary Gemin X Biotechnologies Inc., specializes in the discovery and development of target-based novel cancer therapeutics. Gemin X's lead product, obatoclax (GX15-070), is a small molecule, pan-inhibitor of Bcl-2 proteins and is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials. Gemin X is also developing GMX1777, a small molecule that targets cancer metabolism by a p53-independent mechanism, now in Phase 1 clinical trials. Gemin X is privately held and is located in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Montréal, Québec. For additional information please visit Gemin X at www.geminx.com.
Source: Business Wire
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