Tim, the enrollment suspension will continue until evaluation of the data gathered so far has been done. At least, that's my understanding. I would say several months at least. As to what else CNSI has going for them...they have a few other things in the pipeline, like GGF2. Also, there was this today (if anyone wants to help decrypt this for us laymen, please do!):
Cambridge NeuroScience Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant for Development of Novel Cancer Treatments
July 22, 1997 07:45 AM
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge NeuroScience, Inc. CNSI today announced that it has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health for the identification and development of therapeutic candidates for cancer. In collaboration with Repligen, the Company is identifying small organic molecules that block a key growth factor signaling pathway, the neuregulin-erbB pathway.
In the few years since the neuregulin growth factor family was discovered, it has been shown that this signaling pathway is involved in a wide range of physiological and developmental processes, as well as in pathological states. One component of this signaling pathway, the erbB-2, has been implicated in cancer development, particularly in breast cancer. Several erbB-2 blocking monoclonal antibodies are in clinical trials for breast cancer, one of which demonstrated positive effects in a Phase II clinical trial. Cambridge NeuroScience believes that a small molecule blocker of this signaling pathway may be a more appropriate therapeutic agent for treating cancers.
Preliminary studies at Cambridge NeuroScience and Repligen indicated that an essential interaction between neuregulins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) is required for growth factor signaling. Under the grant, the companies are developing compounds that block the signaling pathway for cell proliferation. The companies are using Repligen's combinatorial chemistry-based approach combined with high-throughput screening and Cambridge NeuroScience's functional assay to identify potential drug candidates to treat a broad spectrum of cancers, including breast, ovarian and skin cancers.
"This Phase I grant will allow us to expand the application of our expertise in growth factors signaling to the field of cancer," said Robert N. McBurney, Senior Vice President, Research and Chief Scientific Officer of Cambridge NeuroScience. "In the more advanced part of our growth factors program, we are pursuing the therapeutic uses of our neuregulin GGF2 to regenerate nervous system tissue damaged by diseases such as multiple sclerosis or peripheral neuropathies. Studies of GGF2 have demonstrated its potential to improve outcomes in animal models of these diseases."
To date, Cambridge NeuroScience has received 15 SBIR grants, totaling approximately $4 million. Six of these grant proposals were submitted by the Company for extension from Phase I SBIR grants to Phase II, and all six were awarded.
Cambridge NeuroScience, Inc. is a leading neuroscience company engaged in the discovery and development of proprietary pharmaceuticals focusing on nerve cell survival. The Company is developing a number of products to treat stroke, traumatic brain injury and chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathies and other degenerative diseases.
Repligen is a company that is involved in the development of tools for accelerating drug development. |
