Biota gains rights to new anti-cancer compound
Biota Holdings Limited announced today that the company has signed an
agreement with La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, for the
exclusive worldwide rights to newly synthesised anti-cancer chemical
compounds.
The new compounds have shown encouraging results in reducing the growth
of colon cancer cells in tests conducted in animals. It is anticipated
that they may also be useful in treating other solid tumours such as
cancers of the lung and stomach.
The compounds, developed by Dr Les Deady and a PhD student, Anthony
Kaye, in the Department of Chemistry at La Trobe University, have been
tested in the Cancer Society Research Laboratory, University of
Auckland, New Zealand.
"This is a very exciting development in the field of anti-cancer
research and it holds the prospect of a substantial advance in the
effectiveness of our fight against cancer", Dr Hugh Niall, Biota's Chief
Executive Officer said today.
"The compounds join a small number of agents that can simultaneously
inhibit two enzymes involved in DNA replication. Other chemical
compounds have been able to inhibit one or the other of the two enzymes
and this has been shown to have an anti-cancer effect in humans and
animals.
"It is believed that simultaneous inhibition of the two enzymes, which
these new compounds achieve, will be more effective in killing cancers
than current drugs.
"Under the Agreement with La Trobe, additional research will be
undertaken by the University before a lead compound is selected for
further development and Phase I trials in humans.
"This agreement is consistent with our strategy of continuous
development of our pipeline of pharmaceutical research. With positive
results in animal models of cancer, this project is at a relatively
advanced stage, though earlier than our well publicised influenza
therapeutic which is about to commence Phase III trials", Dr Niall said.
Dr Niall said that Biota was committed to maintaining and developing a
balanced portfolio of pharmaceutical product candidates in its focus
areas of cancer and respiratory virus diseases, and that the company
continues to seek out novel compounds for development both in Australia
and overseas through its network of consultants and collaborators.
Biota is an Australian listed company (BTA), based in Melbourne and
engaged in the funding and management of a research and development
program focussing principally on the discovery of new human
pharmaceuticals for the treatment of viral respiratory diseases and
cancer. The Company's ADRs trade in the USA on the pink sheets at a
ratio of three shares to each ADR.
For further information :
Dr Hugh |
