Maybe I should start a new biotech thread "Where are they now?" <g>
These two MYGN releases from 2001 would fit in nicely:
Myriad Genetics reports advanced pre-clinical progress with anti-HIV drug
IND Filing for Human Clinical Trials Expected This Fiscal Year Salt Lake City, September 20, 2001
Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MYGN), today reported pre-clinical data on its lead Anti-HIV compound, MPI-49839. The drug addresses a novel mechanism in the viral-host interaction and holds the potential for an entirely new class of AIDS therapeutics.
In pre-clinical tests, MPI-49839 has demonstrated strong anti-HIV activity without harming human cell survival. MPI-49839 is based on a novel drug target developed at Myriad that depends on an interaction between the AIDS virus and human cellular machinery. In order to replicate and infect other cells, the virus takes over a normal biological process that is used in all human cells. Myriad's anti-HIV compound prevents this action by the virus, thus preventing spread of the virus. Myriad intends to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA this fiscal year.
In a series of experiments designed to test the ability of the compound to inhibit viral replication, Myriad researchers infected purified white blood cells with the HIV virus. The virus was allowed to multiply in the cells and the new viruses were released into the extra-cellular medium. The extent of viral release was measured by quantifying an enzyme used by the virus to replicate. After adding MPI-49839, viral release was completely inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Increasing the concentration of the compound corresponded with lower viral load until it was virtually undetectable. Importantly, MPI-49839 exhibited a very low level toxicity and accomplished its antiviral activity without harming the human white blood cells.
"This pre-clinical data supports our view that Myriad has developed an important series of compounds that may be able to prevent viral proliferation in humans," said Dr. Adrian Hobden, President of Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "We also believe that, due to the drug's mechanism of action, the virus may have a very difficult time developing resistance against this compound."
Drug-resistant strains of the AIDS virus are a significant and rapidly increasing medical problem. A recent University of California study estimated that 42% of AIDS patients will have drug-resistant disease by 2005. New classes of drugs, using novel mechanisms, will be required to maintain long-term control over the virus in infected patients. An article describing the cellular pathway targeted by MPI-49839 has been accepted for publication by a major peer-reviewed journal and is expected to publish later this fall.
Anyone have a reference to this paper? A quick search didn't turn up any authors with a MYGN affiliation in this area. I think, but am not sure, that their target was Tsg101.
And for exhibit two:
Myriad Genetics Discovers Novel Anti-Cancer Drug
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MYGN) has discovered a novel drug target for the treatment of a broad range of cancers, and has initiated lead optimization with a series of compounds that selectively kill cancer cells, the Company announced today. The anti-cancer target was discovered using Myriad's ProNet(R) proteomics technology to investigate the protein interactions that lead to normal programmed cell death (apoptosis). Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated strong anti-cancer activity without harming normal human cell survival.
Myriad researchers found that MPI-176716 induces apoptosis in several cancers, including prostate cancer cells and T cell lymphomas. In a series of experiments designed to test the selective ability of the compound to drive cancer cells into apoptosis, Myriad researchers used cell lines that are not responsive to current chemotherapy drugs. After the addition of MPI-176716, the percentage of cells killed increased in a dose-dependent manner, reaching 98% of prostate cancer cells and 99% of T cell lymphoma cells that were forced into apoptosis. In addition, Myriad scientists were able to block the activation of apoptosis by inhibiting a key enzymatic step in the pathway. In this case, the cancer cells survived following the addition of MPI-176716, demonstrating that the drug is not generally toxic to cells, but uses the cell's own biological mechanism to kill them.
These encouraging results have led to a series of experiments that are underway at Myriad to use medicinal and organic chemistry techniques to maximize the desired characteristics of the compound, while maintaining their selective ability to eliminate cancer cells and leave normal cells unharmed.
"The compounds we are developing against this target show broad anti-cancer activity," said Dr. Adrian Hobden, President of Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "They further our cancer emphasis by joining our prostate cancer drug, MPC-7869, which is in human clinical trials, and our colon cancer drug, MPI-42511, which is in advanced pre-clinical testing."
The target of MPI-176716 is a protein that, Myriad believes, has not been explored previously for drug development, and represents a totally new approach to killing cancer cells. Cancer is essentially uncontrolled cell growth. Normal cells are destroyed after they have served their function or have become senescent. If this process, called apoptosis, is not functioning properly or damaged, cells may continue to divide and grow, resulting in cancer. Alternatively, if cancerous cells could be forced into the apoptotic pathway, they would be destroyed and control restored. Myriad has discovered a novel approach to inducing this cellular destruction.
Current cancer therapies are designed to kill cancer cells, however they are not selective in their action. Traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy kill all rapidly dividing cells, including those that are normal and healthy. Broadly active anti-cancer therapies without such toxic effects on healthy cells are needed. By selectively inducing cell death in cancer cells, Myriad hopes to eliminate the toxicity associated with the current generation of therapies.
Peter |
