Therapeutic area |
Cancer |
Goal |
To obtain a polypeptide of high antitumoral therapeutic index derived from the Serratia marcescens useful to cancer therapy. |
Description |
A particular strain of Serratia marcescens protected BALB/c mice to a tumor challenge with a hybridoma. An extract prepared from culture supernatant showed little toxicity on mice, very high anti-tumor activity in several experimental mouse tumors, selective in vitro citotoxicity for human cancer and mouse transformed cell lines, and anti-angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. Apoptosis and anti-angiogenic phenomena appear to be the basis of many of the observed effects. A polypeptide (CIGB-370) related to the described effects have been isolated, characterized, sequenced, and expressed in E. coli. The pre-formulation studies were performed for the recombinant CIGB370.
Anti-tumor compounds studied from Serratia marcescens have been: (a) ImuVert a preparation of ribosomal membranes that activates the immune system; (b) Serratial 56 kDa protease, which trigger necrotic cell death depending on alpha-2 macroglobuline expression; and (c) prodigiosin, a pigment with carcinostatic and proapoptotic properties in cell lines derived from hematological, colon and gastric cancer.
The effect obtained with CIGB-370 compound is novel and different from any of the previously reported in association to: (a) low toxicity -high selectivity for human cancer and mouse transformed cell lines-, (b) broad apoptotic effects, and (c) anti-angiogenic effect.
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Patent Status |
Patent filed to claim the desire polypeptide product derived from Serratia or other source (natural, recombinant or synthetic) with an broad antitumoral effect |
Project Status |
Preclinical. Proof of concept in animal models. Scale up and Formulation in process.
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Type of collaboration requested |
Corporate partnership for joint development of the project focused on:
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To test in other models the effects of the different polypeptides variants derived from Serratia marcences.
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Completing preclinical and clinical studies of one candidate.
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Out-licensing by territories for specific indications.
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Competitives advantages Milestones |
Experience in genetic engineering and experimental oncology, highly skilled staff, versatility of the technology (either DNA-or protein-based). Other novel anti-cancer products can be based on our therapeutic preparations, using combination of different effects, or targeting distinct antigens.
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Host Insitutions |
Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB). Ave 31, e/158 y 190 Cubanacán, Playa. PO Box 6996, La Habana, 10600, Cuba. Tel. (53-7) 2712397; 2716022. Fax. (53-7) 2736008; 2718070. E-mail: ernesto.lopez@cigb.edu.cu
Web site: http://gndp.cigb.edu.cu
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Project code:
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BIO/CIGB/2008-08
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