Amorfix to investigate lung cancer misfolded proteins for therapeutic intervention
TSX: AMF
TORONTO, April 25, 2013 /CNW/ - Amorfix Life Sciences announced today that it has signed a collaboration agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for the use of the Company's anti-cancer antibodies in a lung cancer research program. Under the agreement, Apar Pataer, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at MD Anderson will use the Amorfix antibodies to identify misfolded proteins expressed on the surface of various human lung cancer cell lines. In addition, studies will be conducted to identify other potential candidate misfolded protein targets for analysis with the Company's proprietary ProMIS™ discovery technology to identify immunotherapeutic targets for the generation and development of therapeutic antibodies for use in the treatment of lung cancer.
Dr. Robert Gundel, Amorfix President and CEO, said of the collaboration, "As a pioneering company in the area of misfolded proteins in cancer, we are very pleased to be collaborating with Dr. Pataer and the MD Anderson Cancer Center on this important research to investigate novel and potentially ground breaking approaches to the treatment of lung cancer. One of our primary goals is to establish important and productive collaborations with leading institutions to further advance our knowledge of tumor cell biology and based on that knowledge, develop innovative therapeutics that could help the millions of people who suffer from this killer disease".
Dr. Pataer, the principal investigator and his project mentor Stephen G. Swisher, M.D. professor and chair of the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, said, "Proteins must fold into three-dimensional shapes in order to function properly. The failure of protein folding and host defense mechanisms can results misfolded protein with gain or loss of function, and cause various diseases, including cancer, Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease."
"This collaboration agreement with MD Anderson will enable more rapid translation of Amorfix discoveries to the patients in need of them" said Dr. Neil Cashman, Amorfix Founder and Chief Scientific Officer.
The ability to successfully treat solid tumors remains difficult in part because of a lack of understanding of the complex biology of tumors that allow them to avoid the immune system and grow, spread and invade vital organs. Early drugs developed for the treatment of cancer include chemotherapeutic agents that non-specifically kill rapidly dividing cells which include normal cells as well as tumor cells. As a result, these agents have significant side effects that compromise the ability to effectively eradicate tumors. More recently there has been a large effort to develop targeted therapeutics that would have a greater killing effect on tumors compared to normal cells. Amorfix's approach to cancer is to use its expertise in protein misfolding to develop antibodies that will only bind to tumor cells and leave normal cells unaffected.
About the ProMIS Discovery Technology
Amorfix's proprietary drug discovery technology, ProMIS™, is a computer based algorithm that predicts Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs), those regions of proteins most likely to misfold in diseases. Misfolded proteins are found in numerous diseased cells, including various cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. The Company uses this technology to identify DSEs that are only expressed on tumor cells and not normal cells. This enables it to develop antibodies that only bind to and kill tumor cells without affecting normal cells. Using this technology, Amorfix has the potential to create antibody therapeutics that are more efficacious and have a much better safety profile, with fewer side effects than current cancer therapeutics.
About Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death worldwide, with an overall five-year survival of less than 16% and upwards of 1.5 million deaths from the disease annually. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which makes up about 85% of all lung cancers, continues to have a dismal prognosis despite advances in early detection and standard treatment. Better treatment of NSCLC is a major unmet medical need that can only be ameliorated by a better understanding of its molecular underpinnings. NSCLC is a molecularly heterogeneous disease, with a variety of cell signaling pathways driving progression.
About Amorfix
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. (TSX:AMF) is an early-stage product development company developing therapeutic antibodies and diagnostics targeting misfolded protein diseases. Amorfix utilizes its computational discovery platform, ProMIS™, to predict novel Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this technology, Amorfix is developing novel antibody therapeutics and companion diagnostics for cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, Amorfix has developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample: Epitope Protection™ and AMFIA™, an ultra-sensitive dual-bead immunoassay. Use of these technologies has generated a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) screening test for both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and an ultrasensitive method for detecting the hallmark of AD, aggregated beta-Amyloid, in brain tissue, CSF and blood from animal models of AD. For more information about Amorfix, visit www.amorfix.com.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release may contain certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law.
ProMIS™, Epitope Protection™ and AMFIA™ are trademarks of Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
SOURCE: Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
For further information:
Dr. Robert Gundel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
Tel: (416) 847-6957
Fax: (416) 847-6899
[email protected]
Warren Whitehead
Chief Financial Officer
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
Tel: (416) 644-7358
Fax: (416) 847-6899
[email protected]
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